Dangerously Sleepy

Book summary

Alan Derickson, a historian and professor at Pennsylvania State University, specializes in the history of labor and the working class. His other books include Black Lung, Health Security for All, Worker’s Health and Worker’s Democracy.

The 2016 presidential election solidified Donald Trump as a polarizing figure, but one trait has defined him since his rise in the 1980s: his rejection of sleep as a necessity. Trump’s public image, shaped through his real estate ventures and books like *The Art of the Deal* and *Think Like a Billionaire*, glorified relentless ambition and minimal rest, echoing a broader cultural celebration of sleeplessness. This ethos has roots in figures like Benjamin Franklin, who initially advocated for disciplined sleep but later dismissed it as wasteful, and John Calvin, whose disdain for rest influenced Franklin’s evolving views. The glorification of overwork extended to industries like healthcare, where tragedies like Libby Zion’s death in 1984 exposed the dangers of sleep deprivation, prompting limited reforms. Historical labor struggles, such as the *Lochner v. New York* case, further highlighted the tension between productivity and worker well-being. Meanwhile, icons like Charles Lindbergh and Thomas Edison epitomized sleepless determination, with Edison’s light bulb revolutionizing nighttime work and cementing a culture of tireless effort. By the 1980s, this mindset intensified, as business leaders like Walmart’s Sam Walton embraced grueling schedules, while psychologists and authors promoted the supposed benefits of reduced sleep. These historical and cultural forces collectively shaped a modern ideal of sleepless ambition, setting the stage for the next chapter’s exploration of its broader implications.

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