Patricia Morrisroe

A fourth-generation insomniac, Patricia Morrisroe decided that the only way shed ever conquer her lifelong sleep disorder was by becoming an expert on the subject. So, armed with half a century of personal experience and a journalists curiosity, she set off to explore one of lifes greatest mysteries: sleep. Wide Awake is the eye-opening account of Morrisroes quest -- a compelling memoir that blends science, culture, and business to tell the story of why she -- and millions of others -- cant sleep at night. Over the course of three years of research and reporting, Morrisroe talks to sleep doctors, drug makers, psychiatrists, anthropologists, hypnotherapists, wake experts, mattress salesmen, a magician, an astronaut, and even a reindeer herder. A mesmerising mix of personal insight, science and social observation, Wide Awake is for the millions who suffer from sleepless nights and hazy caffeine-filled days. A humorous, thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful book is an essential bedtime companion. It does, however, come with a warning: reading it may promote wakefulness.

A fourth-generation insomniac, Patricia Morrisroe decided that the only way shed ever conquer her lifelong sleep disorder was by becoming an expert on the subject. So, armed with half a century of personal experience and a journalists curiosity, she set off to explore one of lifes greatest mysteries: sleep. Wide Awake is the eye-opening account of Morrisroes questa compelling memoir that blends science, culture, and business to tell the story of why sheand forty million other Americanscant sleep at night. Over the course of three years of research and reporting, Morrisroe talks to sleep doctors, drug makers, psychiatrists, anthropologists, hypnotherapists, wake experts, mattress salesmen, a magician, an astronaut, and even a reindeer herder. She spends an uncomfortable night wired up in a sleep lab. She tries sleep restriction and brain music therapy. She buys a high-end sound machine, custom-made ear plugs, and a quiet house in the country to escape her noisy neighbors in the city. She attends a continuing medical education course in Las Vegas, where she discovers that doctors are among the most sleep-deprived people in the country. She travels to Sonoma, California, where she attends a Dream Ball costumed as her dream self. To fulfill a childhood fantasy, she celebrates Christmas Eve two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle, in the famed Icehotel tossing and turning on an ice bed. Finally, after traveling the globe, she finds the answer to her insomnia right around the corner from her apartment in New York City. A mesmerizing mix of personal insight, science and social observation, Wide Awakeexamines the role of sleep in our increasingly hyperactive culture. For the millions who suffer from sleepless nights and hazy caffeine-filled days, this humorous, thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful book is an essential bedtime companion. It does, however, come with a warning: Reading it will promote wakefulness.

A funny, poignant coming-of-age memoir told through the shoes that she wore. From baby booties to orthopedic brogues (and all the high and low heels in between) shoes mark important rites of passage, reminding us of both the good and bad times: the road not taken, the prince that got away, the missed opportunities, the traveling, the fun. Most of all, they bring to mind the people weve loved and sometimes lost along the way.Combining tidbits of cultural history, Morrisroe chronicles her life as a bullied Catholic schoolgirl in Moby Dick brogues; a besotted college student in granny boots; an aspiring journalist in Annie Hall oxfords; a skeptical bride in her first Manolos; a reluctant fashionista in towering peep-toe pumps; and a concerned daughter, whose elderly mother hoped that her New Balance sneakers would help her regain her old balance. With wit and compassion, she introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters, from her grandfather, who treated the family to legendary foot rubs, to her husband, whose vast collection of vintage Puma sneakers threatened to overwhelm their apartment and derail their marriage.Morrisroes coming-of-age is, at its heart, the story of a generation of women whove enjoyed a world of freedom and opportunity that was unthinkable to their mothers. Spanning five decades and countless footwear trends, 9 Narrow is, like Love, Loss and What I Wore, about how we remember important events through a coat, or a dress, or in this case, a Beatle boot or Confirmation wedgie. With her charming sense of humor and irresistible voice, Morrisroe not only recounts her own story but also everywomans. Funny, candid and unexpectedly poignant, 9 Narrow is about how we grow up, grow older, and finally grow into our own shoes.

With Robert Mapplethorpes full endorsement and encouragement, Morrisroe interviewed more than three hundred friends, lovers, family members, and critics to form this definitive biography of Americas most censored and celebrated photographer. Eventually I found several hundred people who knew Robert Mapplethorpe in all his various incarnationsCatholic schoolboy; ROTC cadet; hippie; sexual explorer; celebrated artist; and famous AIDS victim. Their stories helped animate his pictures and bring his visual diary to life. What I discovered wasnt one Perfect Moment but a series of momentssome pure, some blemished, but all emblematic of the paradoxical times in which he lived.Patricia Morrisroe, from the IntroductionNOTE: This edition does not include photographs.