Book Nook: 'Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan'

THE SLEEP DOCTOR'S DIET PLAN:Lose Weight Through Better Sleep, by Michael Breus, PhD, with Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD. Rodale Books, 254 pp., $25.99.

A clinical psychologist, the "Sleep Doctor," a frequent guest on TV shows like "The Doctors," dedicates this book to "everyone who has ever been on a diet and wondered why it didn't work."

Could it be that your 4 p.m. espresso shot can't make up for hours of surfing the Net instead of getting into bed? If one of Breus' subheads, "Feeling Tired Is Not Normal," rings a bell, you may need this book.

THE SCOOP

Breus emphasizes 5 Simple Rules for Better Sleep -- Stick to 1 sleep schedule; eliminate all caffeine after 2 p.m. (including energy drinks); stop alcohol 3 hours before bedtime; stop exercising 4 hours before bed; and give the sun a high 5 every morning for 15 minutes.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The Sleep Yourself Thinner plan includes a sleep log -- and even a guide for choosing a pillow. Sleep tight.