[germinalphrase]

The "4-5 hours a night" story is so prevalent among government and business leaders that I've always assumed that they are A) lying, or B) medicating to reduce their sleep needs.

President Obama was reported to have regularly taken Modafinil to reduce jet lag while on international trips. He's also reported to only sleep five hours a night. Why not just medicate to increase your productivity for a few years?

[dTal]

Because Modafinil is a Schedule IV controlled substance, and "I want to be a productive superman like President Obama" probably won't fly with your doctor?

[germinalphrase]

I was suggesting that he was medicating to keep those hours.

[cafard]

It was said of Napoleon that he slept little, but apparently that is not so, though he could when necessary stay awake for long hours.