Dr. Matthew Walker’s MasterClass Review on the Science of Better Sleep [2022]

We can all benefit from better sleep (at least I know I can) and Dr. Matthew Walker is here to help us with that in his MasterClass The Science of Better Sleep. I took Walker’s MasterClass in its entirety, including reaching through the guidebook, and these are my thoughts and opinions.

Read on to learn if Dr. Matthew Walker’s MasterClass is worth your time and money.

Who Is Dr. Matthew Walker

Dr. Matthew Walker is a British neuroscientist and the author of Why We Sleep. He is also the founder and director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at UC Berkeley.

What Dr. Matthew Walker’s MasterClass Covers

Dr. Matthew Walker’s is an extremely comprehensive look at sleep science and improving your sleep. In fact, prior to this class, I don’t think I’ve ever thought so much or so critically about my own sleeping scheduling.

Class Length

This class is 15 lessons long with lessons that skew longer on average than 8 minutes. The total length of the class in watch time is 3 hours and 13 minutes.

Lesson List

Let’s take a quick look at the lessons offered in this class:

• Meet Your Instructor
• What Is Sleep?
• How Sleep Works
• Night Owl or Morning Lark?
• The Buzz on Alcohol and Caffeine
• Prevent Sleep Debt
• Fire Up the Brain
• Sleep Across Our Life Span
• Overnight Therapy
• The Absurd Act of Dreaming
• Sleep and the Human Body
• Diet and Sleep
• Sleep to Thrive
• How to Sleep Better
• Reclaim Your Sleep

Class Price

Matthew Walker’s MasterClass is offered with the yearly membership to MasterClass. The prices for memberships are currently as follows:

• Individual – $15/mo or $180
• Duo – $20/mo or $240
• Family – $23/mo or $276

If you consider the total number of classes available at the time of writing (including the new Sessions classes) then you’re only paying 0.85 cents for each class.

Course Materials

This class comes with a 24-page guidebook. This guidebook has quite a few infographics which make the content easily digestible. Overall it’s a quick read and there is information that isn’t covered in the class that you’ll want to review.

What We Liked

There was much to like about this MasterClass but I’ve summarized it into two clear points: Walker is an interesting teacher and the information he provides is actionable.

Easy to Listen to

I feel it may be a bit rude if one of the main positives I highlight is his voice, but let’s face it: Matthew Walker is easy to listen to. And honestly, that makes paying attention much easier, especially when we get into the thick of sleep science.

Useful and Applicable Information

The content was incredibly applicable. I stepped away from this MasterClass with a critical look at my sleep schedule plus ways to improve upon it. A common problem with many MasterClasses is how heavily they lean into the expert’s own journey. This course isn’t like that.

You get information from preventing sleep debt to sleep changes across our life span. You’ll also learn how to find your natural sleep rhythm.

What We Didn’t Like

This is tricky because there isn’t anything specific that I didn’t like about this MasterClass.

Not Everyone Can Benefit From Changing Sleep Habits

I can see where the information in this course can be discouraging for some. In a way, sleep is a luxury in our world today. Based on your personal situation, more sleep and better sleep may be so far outside of the realm of possibility you could downright go into mourning.

If you’re a new parent, a busy student, working multiple jobs, or in any other situation where improving your sleep isn’t something you have much control over, you might find yourself annoyed with the information in this course. I still encourage you to watch it, however, as the information can become useful to you in the future.

How to Get the Most Out of This Class

To get the most from this MasterClass, you should listen attentively and not skip out on any of the lessons. You’ll also want to read through the guidebook that is free to download with your membership.

Best Lesson: Night Owl or Morning Lark?

Most of the lessons in this MasterClass could fit into the ‘best’ category, but if I’m giving my own opinion I’m going to have to select ‘Night Owl or Morning Lark?’. We have created a sleeping pattern in which we all are forced to fit in with a typical day. The world operates on 9-to-5s and sleeping for eight consecutive hours each night. Unfortunately, not all of us do our best when we sleep like that. This lesson explores chronotypes and other information about sleep rhythms.

Worst Lesson: Fire Up the Brain

This lesson wasn’t terrible necessarily and I feel a tad bad about marking it as the ‘worst’. Matthew Walker is so incredibly interesting to listen to and so passionate about sleep that the information is still intriguing. However, the overall gist is something that most of us might consider common sense: we need sleep to focus better and be more creative.

Who Is This MasterClass Best For?

If you need to improve your sleep schedule and feel like you just can not get a good night’s rest, this is definitely the MasterClass for you. Personally, I think we could all benefit from it. Sleeping is very important and many of us either get too little or too much.

Who Is This MasterClass Not For?

As I mentioned previously, if you don’t have much control over a hectic and unhealthy sleep schedule then you may not immediately benefit from this MasterClass. I do recommend you still take the course if you have time, however, if you have no ability to change your sleeping habits (I’m looking at your especially, new parents.) then circle back to this one.

Similar MasterClasses You Might Like

‘Science & Tech’ is a strongly neglected category on MasterClass. While this might be because the information doesn’t always translate well to shorter classes, the ones that have been produced are quite interesting and definitely worth the time.

If you like Matthew Walker’s MasterClass, you’ll likely enjoy the following:

• Bill Nye – Science and Problem-Solving
• Terence Tao – Mathematical Thinking
• Neil deGrasse Tyson – Scientific Thinking and Communication
• Chris Hadfield – Space Exploration
• Dr. Jane Goodall – Conservation

Final Takeaway – 5/5

I recommend you take this MasterClass by Matthew Walker. It provides actionable advice and makes sleep science entertaining, even for those who aren’t science-minded. I give this course 5 stars.