A cat is sleeping on a sofa at the Cat Museum in Amsterdam. People come and go around it, but the cat remains undisturbed. Nora Hille watches it in amazement. At that moment, she finds it almost unimaginable to be able to sleep so peacefully.
This brief scene at the beginning of her new book has really stuck with me. It conveys what Nora longs for: a sense of peace that others take for granted and that she has been missing for years. While her family is enjoying a vacation in Amsterdam, she herself finds herself in the midst of a severe sleep crisis.
In *Finally Sleeping Peacefully*, Nora Hille takes us along on her journey through this crisis. She recounts sixteen years of sleep disturbances, anxiety, exhaustion, and the desire to finally find rest again without prescription sleep aids. And she describes how a three-month sleep coaching program—with psychological support via an app and intensive journaling—helped her regain trust in her own ability to sleep.
This book moved me because Nora also writes down the thoughts that one might otherwise keep to oneself. Her openness creates a sense of closeness that can mean a lot, especially when dealing with such a lonely topic.
Content
How Sleepless Nights Affect a Person
Nora vividly describes how deeply sleep disturbances affect everyday life. Even spending the night in an unfamiliar place becomes a challenge. Noises take on a different meaning. Even during the day, anxiety about the evening grows. And even on vacation, the fear of the next night follows her.
As you read, it becomes clear how inadequate a casual remark like “You just need to relax” is in the face of such experiences. Nora wants to sleep. She’s been trying for years. That’s precisely why her despair is so understandable—as the familiar sources of help become less and less effective.
Throughout it all, she maintains a remarkably keen awareness of her surroundings: her family, her cats, a cup of tea in the morning, and the little quirks of daily life. These observations lend the book a sense of warmth. We meet a woman with a sense of humor, curiosity, and a keen sensitivity to language—a woman who suffers through her nights yet repeatedly turns toward life.
Writing to Understand Yourself Better
I find Nora’s description of journaling particularly worth reading. In the morning, she logs her sleep in the app. Then she takes time to write. This gives rise to thoughts, questions, little scenes, poems, and new perspectives on her own experiences.
This letter accompanies her journey of change. What’s on my mind? What am I afraid of? What idea I have about sleep is putting additional pressure on me? Nora takes a close look, even when the answers are uncomfortable. She discovers connections and finds words for feelings she could barely grasp before.
This gives her book a special vitality. We get to watch her evolve as the story unfolds. Doubt stands side by side with confidence, a new insight alongside yet another difficult night. This makes it clear just how much patience it takes to change familiar fears and habits.
For me, this is one of the book’s greatest strengths: Nora lets us experience how self-efficacy can grow. At first, perhaps, only in that brief moment when she gains insight into herself or responds differently to a distressing thought. Over time, this develops into greater confidence in her own potential.
Leona Rudolph: Expertise and Personal Guidance
An important mentor is Leona Rudolph, a health psychologist with an M.Sc. degree, lead psychologist at eaze, and sleep expert at BLACKROLL AG. She personally guides Nora through the three-month coaching program via chat and also serves as the book’s expert psychological editor.
Nora describes how valuable this exchange is to her. Leona provides feedback, selects appropriate exercises, and takes into account what Nora experiences in her daily life. The coaching is based on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. In the book, we learn from Nora’s perspective how she works with the suggestions and what changes she notices as a result.
In the foreword, Leona writes a sentence that, to me, could serve as a guiding principle for the entire book:
“Sleep isn’t a competitive sport.”
Even falling asleep can so easily become a task that simply must be accomplished. This idea is likely familiar to women in particular who shoulder a lot of responsibility during the day: even rest is expected to happen reliably. Nora’s story invites us to question this expectation and to approach our own need for rest with greater understanding.
The combination of professional guidance and personal storytelling works well for the book. With her questions and fears, Nora remains recognizably herself. At the same time, her experience shows how relieving it can be to receive support that addresses one’s own situation.
Little companions that make a big difference
One of my favorite details is Birni, a little pear-shaped nightlight. As the book progresses, it takes on a voice of its own and becomes a loving companion for Nora. A cuddly bunny also finds its place on her journey.
Nora talks about it with a candor that I find very endearing. She takes seriously the things that give her a sense of security. Her conversations with Birni, in particular, bring a lightheartedness to the story and reveal how her attitude toward herself is changing.
Scenes like these stick with you. They depict a very personal form of comfort and remind us that, even as adults, we’re allowed to need security and affection. Nora finds her own images and rituals to express this. As you read, you’ll find space to reflect on what does you good.
Hope That Endures Even Through Difficult Nights
For me, the book’s greatest strength lies in its honesty about what happens next. Nora describes progress, but also setbacks. She speaks openly about the difficult journey away from the benzodiazepine Tavor and about how challenging nights continue to occur even after the coaching.
In the epilogue, she looks back on her progress with more perspective. Her confidence continues to grow. She finds that she can get through even difficult nights without resorting to medication, which used to be such a familiar crutch. At the same time, she remains someone who is sensitive to sleep.
It is precisely this accuracy that makes her story so encouraging. Those who are going through this themselves don’t have to measure themselves against a perfect success story while reading. Improvement takes time. One bad night doesn’t undo the progress you’ve already made.
Nora writes in the introduction:
“We can rediscover our self-efficacy and our ability to sleep soundly.”
After reading it, this sentence carries a lot of weight for me. We’ve witnessed what this discovery costs her and how much it gives her.
“The Ankle Bracelet”: A Loving Perspective from a Relationship
A special gift awaits in the appendix: the bonus chapter “The Ankle Bracelet,” written by Nora’s husband, Tobias Hille. He is one of those people who can sleep almost anywhere. From his perspective, he describes how his wife’s sleep disturbances affect their life together.
This is where things get wonderfully concrete. A watch with a vibration alarm finds its way onto his ankle so that Nora can be left as undisturbed as possible in the morning. Small agreements and acts of consideration take on a significance that outsiders easily overlook.
I really like this shift in perspective. It adds a warm, humorous angle to Nora’s story and shows what support can look like in everyday life. Even those who sleep well themselves will find a way to relate to what their partner is going through.
Why I Recommend This Book
As the editor of FemalExperts, I’m especially delighted about this third book by Nora Hille. Our readers already know her from her mental health column. Here, too, she combines personal experiences with carefully researched information and a desire to encourage others.
I recommend “Finally, a Restful Night’s Sleep” to anyone who feels alone in dealing with stressful nights and is looking for a personal, heartwarming read. It’s also a worthwhile read for family members who want to better understand what chronic sleep disorders can mean.
Nora’s storytelling style is approachable, vivid, and, in many places, surprisingly humorous. She finds the words to express despair without leaving us behind in it. What I find particularly valuable is the sense her story conveys: here is someone who knows this struggle and is willing to share her own journey so openly that others can find hope in it.
A book published just in time for Mental Health Week
“Finally, a Good Night’s Sleep” was published by moockbooks on October 1, 2026. Nora Hille specifically requested this release date so that her book would be available in time for Mental Health Week, which runs from October 10 to 20.
Behind this publication are people who believe in the importance of her story. Sebastian Moock, as a sponsor, made the book possible through his publishing house, moockbooks, as part of an independent, curated nonprofit project, without any financial contribution from the author. His statement, “There are projects that simply have to see the light of day,” perfectly captures this attitude. I am very pleased that Nora’s story has received this support.
Tabea Schmidt also made an important contribution: She was responsible for the cover design, layout, and typesetting. When you open a book, you often take this work for granted. Yet it plays a crucial role in shaping how we engage with a text. Tabea has provided a carefully crafted framework for Nora’s words. This creative work deserves just as much recognition as the courage it took to publish such a personal story.
You can find more information and an excerpt on the publisher’s book page.
The following editions are scheduled for release:
- Paperback for 24 euros: available through the BoD Bookshop and Amazon, and can be ordered at local bookstores.
- Limited Edition for 34 euros: only 50 hardcover copies with thread-bound pages, a ribbon bookmark, an embossed book seal, three artistically designed inserts, and Nora’s signature, available in the publisher’s online store.
- E-book at an introductory price of 4.99 euros: from October 1 to 20, 2026; regular price 9.99 euros.
Listen to Nora Hille and explore her thoughts further
If you’d like to spend a little more time with Nora and her story after reading the book, you can also hear her speak. In episode 17 of the somnofunk podcast from the German Society for Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine, she talks about her personal journey: “Relearning Sleep—Nora Hille on Her Journey Out of Insomnia.”
A post by Nora is also scheduled to appear on Mad in Deutschland on October 6, in which she explores writing as a resource in the context of tapering off psychiatric medications. Another podcast episode featuring her is set to be released on October 10 on “Bipolar Disorder – Life in Extremes.”
The book also includes a personally curated Spotify playlist. Nora deliberately chose the order of the songs to musically capture the feelings and experiences of sleepless nights. It’s a lovely additional way to engage with her story, one that also conveys her joy in creative expression.
Mental Health Week: Meet Nora Online
Throughout the campaign week, you can join Nora at two free online events:
“Overcoming Sleep Disorders: A Personal Account and Reading with Nora Hille”
Thursday, October 8, 2026, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
In this online talk and reading, organized in collaboration with Pronova BKK, Nora will share her personal journey. Advance registration is required. According to the author, the recording will remain available online until the end of the year.
For more information and to register
“Building Confidence in Sleep Through Journaling and an App”
Monday, October 19, 2026, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Together with Leona Rudolph, Nora will speak about her experiences at an online event hosted by BLACKROLL AG. The event will feature a reading and a live Q&A session. Participation is free and does not require registration.
More information and access to the talk
You can find more events in the Mental Health Week calendar.
Editor’s Note: Nora Hille is a columnist for FemalExperts magazine. We were provided with a digital review copy for this article.
The book describes personal experiences and is not a substitute for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment. Sleeping pills should only be reduced or discontinued in consultation with a doctor.
About the author
Kinga Bartczak advises, coaches and writes on female empowerment, new work culture, organizational development, systemic coaching and personal branding. She is also the managing director of UnternehmerRebellen GmbH and publisher of the FemalExperts magazine .
