Sleepless Planet: A Graphic Guide to Healing from Insomnia

A lifelong insomniac, Burdock (Queen of Snails) finds herself caught in a “frustrating loop of anxiety, sleeplessness, and fatigue” in this thought-provoking graphic narrative. The volume is organized in sections titled after the four elementts: “Air,” “Fire,” “Earth,” and “Water.” In “Air,” Burdock is diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and takes up the didgeridoo to improve her breathing. In “Fire,” she examines menopause and its accompanying hot flashes, drawing a line from the production of “healthy” seed oils to the mass production of cotton in the 1800s, an industry that relied on enslaved labor. Throughout, she weaves examples from contemporary medicine with historical and cultural analysis. She observes, for example, that “obesity is most often a symptom of health issues rather than being the main cause,” and as such is fueled by inherited trauma, stress, and lack of access to healthy food. “Everything is connected,” she adds. Humor is key to Burdock’s delivery, including a koala co-narrator and a beauty contest–styled Miss Information who dispels nutritional myths. By the time the conclusion rolls around, Burdock has found a routine that works for her, though the space and privilege to exercise, journal, and meditate every day is not available to everyone. Throughout, Burdock’s expressionistic comics art (e.g., a bed becoming a monster) enlivens the analysis. Restless readers would benefit from putting this on their nightstand. (Nov.)