Brad Wolgast—Gold Medal Sleep: The Everyperson's Guide for Restful Nights, Energetic Days, and a Healthy Life

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover of the book Gold Medal Sleep: The Everyperson
Gold Medal Sleep
GOLD MEDAL SLEEP:
THE EVERYPERSON'S GUIDE FOR RESTFUL NIGHTS
ENERGETIC DAYS, AND A HEALTHY LIFE
Brad Wolgast, PhD, DBSM
Amplify, July 14, 2026
Paperback: $24.95, eBook: $9.99, Audio Book: $18.01
Paperback ISBN-13: 979-8891389649
eBook ISBN-13: 979-8891389656
Audio Book ASIN: BOH6YF3KD1

Wolgast reports:

My mom has always said that I’m lucky. I see it a little differently—I believe in following the luck I find. My career in behavioral sleep medicine began with a chance meeting. Early in my career, I met Phil Gehrman, PhD, CBSM, just as he was beginning his own career in sleep medicine. We connected over a shared fascination with sleep science. Years later, I asked him to supervise the clinical training that ultimately led to my board certification in behavioral sleep medicine. Looking back, that conversation changed the trajectory of my career.

Portrait photo of Brad Wolgast
Brad Wolgast
Photo by Lisa Wolgast
My book grew just as organically. Patients, members of the public who attended my talks, and workshop participants kept asking whether I had a book or blog they could read to learn more about healthy sleep. I didn't, but I started jotting down metaphors, stories, and explanations whenever I found a way to make concepts in sleep or circadian science more accessible. A few notes became 20 pages. Then 20 pages became 40. Before long, I realized I wasn't writing notes anymore—I was writing a book. I dove into scientific research and theories related to my ideas to expand my thinking about how sleep and circadian rhythms intersect.

Then another piece of luck occurred. Three years ago, after nearly 40 years with no contact, an old high school cross-country teammate called me. During our conversation, he mentioned that he worked in publishing. Later, I asked him to look at my manuscript. He liked it. I am happy he became my publisher.

I chose the hybrid publishing route because I wanted to retain ownership of my work and the flexibility to continue building educational resources around it. It gave me the support of talented editors, designers, and production professionals while allowing me to shape the book's future. It also meant becoming responsible for marketing—something entirely outside my training as a psychologist and sleep clinician.

Writing the book taught me that science communication doesn't end when the manuscript is finished. Helping people discover reliable, evidence-based information is part of the work, too.

Contact Info:

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Promote it by submitting your report for Advance Copy.

Tell your fellow NASW members how you came up with the idea for your book, developed a proposal, found an agent and publisher, funded and conducted research, and put the book together. Include what you wish you had known before you began working on your book or what you might have done differently.

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Thinking of writing a book? If you are a NASW member, you may access a list of more than 200 books and online resources to help you craft your book proposal, find an agent and funding sources, negotiate your contract, learn about self-publishing, publicize and market your book, and more at https://www.nasw.org/article/write-book.

View the recording of a recent Virtual Skills Chat presented by NASW’s Freelance Committee The existential challenges of self-promotion. NASW member login required.

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Banner image adapted from original photo by Brad Wolgast.

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

NASW members: Will your book be published soon? Visit www.nasw.org/advance-copy-submission-guidelines for information on submitting your report.

Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.

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