

Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep
Sharon Handy
Boring Books for Bedtime is a weekly, ad-free 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 balance 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.
If you're on Team Sleepless, lie back, take a deep breath, and let us read you to rest.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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.

Apr 28, 2025 • 52min
Experimental Researches in Electricity, by Michael Faraday, Part 1
Let’s attract sleep with these early experiments to master a fundamental element of modern life, electromagnetism. How do magnets create a charge? What is making that needle twitch? How did anyone ever figure this stuff out? Curiosity is a powerful force indeed. 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 “Experimental Researches in Electricity” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14986 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Apr 21, 2025 • 51min
1890 Gardiner and Co. Seed Annual, Part 2, Flowers for the Garden
Let’s beautify our dreams with blooms, as we shop for seeds for the garden. From sweet peas to succulents, Gardiner & Co. has exactly what you need to create a wonderland of floral finesse. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Music: "Changing 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.

Apr 14, 2025 • 59min
The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith, Part 4
Let’s purchase some peace with more from this foundational work of economics. This time, the fundamentals of supply and demand, the function of profit, and why monopolies are a pretty terrible idea unless you want to pay more for less. 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 Wealth of Nations” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3300 Music: "earth 2 earth,” 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.