
Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep
Boring Books for Bedtime is a weekly sleep podcast in which we calmly, quietly read something rather boring to silence the brain chatter keeping you awake. Think Aristotle, Thoreau, and whoever wrote the 1897 Sears Catalog—mostly nonfiction, mostly old, a perfect blend of vaguely-but-not-too interesting.
If you're on Team Sleepless, lie back, take a deep breath, and let us read you to rest.
Latest episodes

Jul 7, 2025 • 48min
The Railway Traveller's Handy Book, Part 3
Let’s kick off a month of relaxing travels to sleep with more from this handy guide to riding a train. This time, how to purchase your ticket, class differences, the best place to sit, and why rudely stolen seats are never worth the embarrassment of a kerfuffle. Facts! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “The Railway Traveller’s Handy Book” at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/railwaytraveller00unse Music: "Healing,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Jun 30, 2025 • 51min
Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making, Part 3
Let’s launch ourselves to sleep with more from this rather detailed look at fireworks. This time, we complete our historical retrospective of firework displays in Europe through the early 1900s, marvel at the fiery spectacles held at the Crystal Palace, and pity a guy that gets stuck on a wire. Whoops! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Pyrotechnics” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64922 Music: "Peace,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 4min
Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 10 (Conclusion)
Let’s journey through the stars to sleep with our final reading from this marvelous book. This time, binary star systems, how to measure the vastness of our universe, and a quick summary of key astronomical facts, including the reminder that the parsec is a distance, not a unit of time. Take note, fans of a certain film. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Astronomy for Young Folks” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45112 Music: "Exit Exit” by PC III, licensed under CC BY If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Jun 16, 2025 • 53min
Bicycling for Ladies, by Maria E. Ward, Part 4
Let’s pedal a path to sleep with more advice about the newfangled sport of bicycling. This time, the difference between racing and touring postures, getting the most from your fulcrums, and how to mount your bike without falling over, which seems helpful to know whether you're a lady or not. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Bicycling for Ladies” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62227 Music: "Heaven Be Here” by PC III, licensed under CC BY If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Jun 9, 2025 • 59min
The Book of Household Management, by Mrs. Isabella Beeton, Part 11 - Fish
Let’s relax and sleep to more advice from the redoubtable Mrs. B. This time, fish soup recipes, followed by a surprisingly detailed discourse on the natural history of fishes, their use as food, and general advice for preparing them. Also, a bit of poetry about oysters, because of course there is. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “The Book of Household Management” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10136 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Jun 2, 2025 • 50min
A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 9
Let’s continue our relaxing journey through history with the twin empires of Rome and China, social structures in ancient Rome, and the evolution of religions in the wake of conquest. Wells weaves a wonderful tale for your tired mind. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “A Short History of the World” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35461 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

May 26, 2025 • 54min
All About Dogs, by Charles Henry Lane, Part 1
Let’s sleepily celebrate one of mankind's closest companions with this charming guide for "doggy people." In this first reading, dog care basics, a detailed look at some hounds, and how chasing beagles keeps cricketers in shape in the off-season. Helpful! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “All About Dogs” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45377 Music: "Heaven Be Here” by PC III, licensed under CC BY If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

May 19, 2025 • 43min
Symmes' Theory of Concentric Spheres, Showing That the Earth is Hollow, Part 4
Let’s theorize our way to sleep with more about a hollow Earth that contains unseen multitudes. This time, the mystery of whales migrating under Greenland, groaning lakes, and rebuttals to five arguments against the theory, including the opinion that not being hollow is an ungodly waste of space. Science! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Symmes’ Theory of Concentric Spheres” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54329 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

May 12, 2025 • 55min
William Shakespeare, by Victor Hugo, Part 1
This week, while your reader checks off a long-held Life List item at the Globe, let’s relax as one literary genius waxes rather lyrical about another, as well as the nature of artistic genius itself. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep,” says the Bard. We quite agree. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “William Shakespeare” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53490 Music: "Peace,” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY, https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

May 5, 2025 • 57min
Mexican Archaeology, by Thomas A. Joyce, Part 1
Let’s voyage to sleep with this history of the peoples of Mexico, travel with migrating tribes, consider the ways geography groups languages, and ponder some origin stories of the Aztecs. Also, your reader probably mispronounces everything, so apologies in advance. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Mexican Archaeology” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74836 Music: "Exit Exit,” by PC III, licensed under CC BY If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.