Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep

Sharon Handy
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Sep 15, 2025 • 51min

On Molecular and Microscopic Science, by Mary Somerville, Part 3

Let’s sleep scientifically this week, with more from a woman of such deep and broad accomplishment that the word "scientist" had to be coined to describe her. This time, colors, molecular heat conduction, what constitutes smells, and why gold is really blue.   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 “On Molecular and Microscopic Science” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55886   Music: "Cosmic Tingles,” 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
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Sep 8, 2025 • 55min

The Book of the Ocean, by Ernest Ingersoll, Part 5

Let’s sail the seas of sleep with more from this volume about the history of our oceans. This time, the Age of Exploration south and north, the mythical Isles of the Blessed, Magellan’s remarkable voyage, and how America really got its name. Hint, it was easy to pronounce.   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 the Ocean” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56311   Music: "Ocean Tapping,” 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
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Sep 1, 2025 • 51min

The Ethics of Aristotle, Part 3

Let’s philosophize our way to sleep with more from this 2,300-year-old work on the art of being. This time, what is happiness? How is it related to good character and, more importantly, acting in a good way? Can a person who does bad be happy, even beyond the grave? You know, simple stuff like that.   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 Ethics of Aristotle” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/8438 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
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Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 14min

The History of Bread, by John Ashton, Part 6 - Conclusion

Let relaxation rise with this conclusion to one of our most (understandably) popular books. This time in we learn of gingerbread, penny loaf scrambles, riots, and bread-related superstitions like sin-eating and . . . floating corpse compasses? Oh, delicious bread, is there anything you can’t do?   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! All paid supporters in August will be entered into a giveaway for exclusive swag! ALSO, Patreon supporters will be getting all six episodes of this book as a single long recording. Hurrah! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “The History of Bread” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53219   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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
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Aug 18, 2025 • 52min

Old Country Inns of England, by Maskell and Gregory, Part 2

Let’s relax with more about the evolution of that useful place to sleep, the inn. This time, we travel from pilgrimage hostels to lodging for wool guilds and secret meeting places for the first trade unions. Also, some history behind many common inn names. Inn-teresting indeed!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All paid supporters in the month of August will be entered into a giveaway for exclusive swag, hurrah! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “Old Country Inns of England” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44382 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
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Aug 11, 2025 • 49min

The Book of the Hamburgs, by L. Frank Baum, Part 1

Let’s roost into relaxation with this rather charming guide to the Hamburg chicken from an author better known for wizards and wicked witches. This time, speculations on the origins of the Hamburg breed and characteristics of the beautiful Black Hamburg. So fancy!   Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All paid supporters in the month of August will be entered into a giveaway for exclusive swag, hurrah! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW   Read “The Book of the Hamburgs” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53965   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.
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Aug 4, 2025 • 53min

The Story of a Boulder, by Archibald Geikie, Part 1

Let’s chip away at sleeplessness with some 19th century naturalist writing, more specifically the “gleanings from the notebook of a field geologist.” This time, we spot an odd boulder in a Scottish ravine, trace its origins back to the Ice Age, and ponder the monumental workings of glaciers. Perfection.   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 Story of a Boulder” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66703 Music: "Calling to Other Worlds,” 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.
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Jul 28, 2025 • 57min

The North Pole - Its Discovery in 1909, by Robert Peary (Part 3)

Let’s conclude our month of relaxing travels to sleep with a journey to the farthest reaches of the Arctic and the search for the North Pole. This time, we meet the region’s people, learn about various home constructions, and appreciate the grandeur of a land of seasonal extremes.   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 North Pole: Its Discovery in 1909” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18975   Music: "Dream Colours,” 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.
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Jul 21, 2025 • 52min

Pictures from Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 3

Let’s continue our month of relaxing travels to sleep as we return to 19th century Italy with Charles Dickens and wind through the maze-like, mysterious, miasmatic, marvelous streets of Genoa. You can practically smell the place, which…was probably better avoided. Yikes. 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 “Pictures from Italy” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/650 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.
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Jul 14, 2025 • 56min

Faery Lands of the South Seas, by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff, Part 4

Let’s continue our month of relaxing travels to sleep with further tales of adventure from the South Seas. This time, we head to the atoll of Ahu Ahu, learn about gossiping ghosts, and drink rather a lot of rum punch. As one occasionally does.   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 “Faery Lands of the South Seas” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54479   Music: "Ocean Tapping” 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.

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