The Insomnia Diaries – the book: Announcement Day!

Eighteen months ago, I started a little blog, here. It became an online column for the Daily Telegraph: now it’s a Proper, Grown Up, Actual book.

Sadly, they still have to print it, design it and send it out to the shops and warehouses etc, so it won’t be out til 3rd June. But here’s what lovely Octopus Books had to say this morning.

You can pre-order here!

Aster acquires insomnia memoir by journalist Miranda Levy

Aster (part of Octopus Publishing Group) has acquired The Insomnia Diaries: How I Learned to Sleep Again by journalist Miranda Levy. Stephanie Jackson, Octopus Books publishing director, acquired UK Commonwealth excluding Canada from Charlotte Seymour at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. The book will be published on 3 June 2021 at £9.99.

After a single, catastrophic event, journalist Miranda Levy had one sleepless night, then another, and then another. She sought help from anyone she could: doctors, an acupuncturist, a reiki practitioner, a hypnotist, a therapist, a personal trainer – but nothing seemed to work.

Sleep, wellbeing and mental health are intrinsically linked. Yet sleeplessness is surprisingly common: 16 million of us suffer from insomnia, and the sleep industry is worth £100 billion (Daily Mail). Insomnia affects about a third of adults at least once a week (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Lack of sleep costs the UK economy £40 billion each year (Rand Corporation). And rates of sleep disturbance have skyrocketed during the

pandemic – with worry-related sleep loss rising by 34% overall, and more than doubling in some groups (Public Health England – Every Mind Matters).

In The Insomnia Diaries, Miranda Levy tells the story of her experience of severe, crippling insomnia that affected every aspect of her life for years, and how she ultimately recovered. Part memoir, part reportage, this book will help anyone who struggles to get a good night’s sleep – whether occasionally or all of the time – appreciate the issues and understand the options as they find their best way to get the rest they need.

Dr Sophie Bostock, scientist, sleep expert and member of the team who developed the award- winning digital programme Sleepio, contributes a foreword. She and a host of expert contributors have advised on the medical elements within the text throughout.

Miranda Levy commented; ‘Insomnia – or even a few nights’ missed sleep – can be incredibly debilitating. It’s also the loneliest condition one can imagine. I hope this book can be of solace and support when it’s just you, at 3.52, and only the numbers on your alarm clock for company.’

Publishing Director Stephanie Jackson said of the acquisition: ‘Who among us – especially these days – hasn’t encountered a sleepless night or two? Add the daily grind, parenthood (perhaps) or the challenges of midlife, and the notion of refreshing nights of deep sleep on the regular might feel out of reach. What Miranda Levy’s extraordinary story shows us is the extremes it’s possible to reach, the potential impact on every aspect of life and why it’s incredibly important to seek help when normal function is interrupted.

Shocking – yet warm, relatable and optimistic too, The Insomnia Diaries will resonate with anyone who’s ever struggled to sleep.’

The Insomnia Diaries by Miranda Levy will be published by Aster on the 3rd of June 2021 at

health – for titles including the Telegraph platforms, the Mail on Sunday and the i. Miranda hascontributed to the Spectator, the Jewish Chronicle