By Lauren Fink, ARB Intern, 2011-2012

Bible in ARB

Though no longer a large part of our socio-political life, in years passed, dreams influenced both religion and government.  In fact, in their foundation, most major religions involve some sort of divine vision and/or dream experience revealed to man from a higher being.  Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all document dream and visionary experiences in their holy books.  For example, in the Old Testament of the Bible (in Chapter 41 of Genesis) the Pharaoh has a dream which Joseph, son of Jacob (dreamer of the ladder to heaven in Gen., ch. 28), is able to interpret.  Because of his interpretation, Joseph is made a secondary ruler of Egypt, is able to prepare Egypt for the seven years of famine to come, and is ultimately able to save his kin that all move to Egypt under the Pharaoh’s blessing.  If not for Joseph’s interpretation, the 12 tribes of Israel might not have existed – Joseph’s fathers and brothers most likely would have perished in Canaan. Continue reading →

By:  Lauren Fink, ARB Intern, 2011-2012

Falling asleep reading is common problem that can result from a number of factors.  Firstly, reading typically involves the photoreception of dark text against a light background, or vice versa, which can tire out the muscles of the eye due to their repeated adjustment to contrast.  Secondly, reading may become habitual with falling asleep, i.e. if you always read before bed you will associate reading with time to fall asleep.  The following are some important considerations when trying to read and comprehend effectively:

• Make a habit of reading during a time of day when you are most awake.
• Do not read in the sun
• Avoid bare light bulbs
• Avoid light windows
• Avoid glare on your book page
• Reduce screen glare
• Reduce contrast in your room and on computer screen
• Avoid hypnotism from highlighting
• Improve sitting posture
• Get up and move around.  In general, take breaks about every 45 minutes
• Stay hydrated; take water breaks (dehydration makes you tired). Having to get up to go to the bathroom will also wake you up and get your blood flowing!
• Snack – not on something that will induce a sugar crash though!  Try fruit or nuts.
• Sit up while studying; change positions regularly; do not lay in bed or in a comfy chair

And if you’re looking for something to read, try these books about reading in the Archives and Rare Books Library: Continue reading →

By Lauren Fink, ARB Intern, 2011-2012

Though sayings like, “you can sleep when you’re dead,” abound in American, and especially college, culture, sleep is a crucial activity for maintaining health, conserving energy, and learning.  During sleep, the body decreases its temperature by about 1-2 degrees Celsius, rests its muscles, rebuilds proteins, and reorganizing synapses.  Increased brain activity occurs in the same areas of the brain that were activated by the learning of a new task during the day and correlates with improved performance on the same task the following day.

Humans spend 1/3 of their lives asleep, with about 1/5 of that time in Rapid-Eye-Movement (REM) sleep.  A typical nightly sleep cycle occurs in about 90 minutes with a pattern of stages 1-2-3-4-3-2-REM. Though the exact function of REM sleep remains a mystery, it is known that REM deprivation results in increased time spent in REM when no longer REM-deprived.  Dreams, which also remain elusive in terms of function, if not meaning, occur mainly during REM sleep but can also occur during other stages. Continue reading →