At Day's Close: Night in Times Past
At Day's Close: Night in Times Past
Book Brief
Beta488
Book • Nonfiction
England • 17th Century
2006
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In At Day's Close: Night in Times Past, A. Roger Ekirch explores the historical transformation of nighttime from the pre-industrial era to modern times. The book delves into how people perceived and experienced night, highlighting changes in sleep patterns, social activities, and fears associated with darkness before artificial lighting became widespread.
Informative
Mysterious
Contemplative
Nostalgic
Dark
Reviews & Readership
2,041 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
A. Roger Ekirch's At Day's Close: Night in Times Past provides a compelling exploration of historical nocturnal life. Readers appreciate its rich, detailed research and engaging narrative but note it can be dense at times. The book reveals the intricate social and cultural aspects of night, offering both academic insight and anecdotal charm.
Who Should Read At Day's Close: Night in Times Past?
Readers who enjoy At Day's Close: Night in Times Past by A. Roger Ekirch are history enthusiasts intrigued by daily life in the past. Comparable to A History of Private Life, they appreciate detailed explorations of social customs and cultural shifts, particularly in how societies navigated nighttime.
2,041 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
At Day's Close: Night in Times Past explores the history of nighttime before the Industrial Revolution, detailing how the darkness influenced various aspects of life from sleep patterns to social activities.
A. Roger Ekirch's extensive research reveals the once-common practice known as "segmented sleep," where people typically had two separate periods of sleep interrupted by a period of wakefulness.
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The book sheds light on how night once had its own culture and rituals, with nighttime being a mix of fear and opportunity for different communities before artificial lighting became widespread.
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488
Book • Nonfiction
England • 17th Century
2006
Adult
18+ years
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