

Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep
Sharon Handy
Boring Books for Bedtime is a weekly, ad-free, AI-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

May 23, 2022 • 48min
On Molecular and Microscopic Science, by Mary Somerville, Part 2
Let's relax with more sleepy science from a woman so talented that the word "scientist" was coined to describe her. This time, we learn about all the forces holding us together. Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in May will be entered into a drawing for our first-ever SWAG! Details here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "On Molecular & Microscopic Science" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55886 Music: "Cosmic Tingles" by Lee Rosevere, 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, boringbookspod.com.

May 16, 2022 • 52min
A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 5
Let's continue our sleepy stroll through history with the fall of Assyria, the literary bedrock of the Jews, and the birth of philosophy in Greece. Rather a lot to cram into an hour, but Wells makes it sound easy. Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in May will be entered into a drawing for our first-ever SWAG! Details here: 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: "Cosmic Tingles" by Lee Rosevere, 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, boringbookspod.com.

May 9, 2022 • 49min
Spices, Their Histories, Part 1
Let's take a sleepy tour of the spice cabinet and the origins of allspice, chilies, cinnamon, and cloves, with a pinch of insight into faking spices with brick dust. Useful! Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in May will be entered into a drawing for our first-ever SWAG! Details here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Spices, Their Histories" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60192 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, boringbookspod.com.

May 2, 2022 • 57min
Bird Biographies, by Alice E. Ball, Part 3
Let's fly off to relaxation with more from this lovely book about our feathered friends. This time, we learn about the birds of early spring, and marvel at the sleepy songs of the sparrows. Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in May will be entered into a drawing for our first-ever SWAG! Details next week. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Bird Biographies" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59880 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, boringbookspod.com.

Apr 25, 2022 • 51min
Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 2
Let's conclude a month of relaxing travels with more from this tour of America's national parks, sleepily agog at the Grand Canyon and the weird grandeur of Yellowstone. Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Our National Parks" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60929 Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon" 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, boringbookspod.com.

Apr 18, 2022 • 46min
Faery Lands of the South Seas, by Hall and Nordhoff, Part 1
Our month of relaxing voyages continues as we head to the distant South Seas. We set off first for sleepy Tahiti and meet a man with little history but a lot of chickens. And profuse apologies if I sound a bit stuffy. I am! Help us stay 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, boringbookspod.com.

Apr 11, 2022 • 51min
Pictures From Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 2
Let's continue our month of relaxing voyages and rejoin Charles Dickens on his sleepy sojourn to Italy. On the way, we visit a dungeon, pass a madhouse, and end up bemused in Genoa. Help us stay 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 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, boringbookspod.com.

Apr 4, 2022 • 46min
Mount Everest - The Reconnaissance of 1921, Part 2
Let's kick off a month of relaxing travelogues with more from the first attempt to map the world's tallest mountain. This time, we take the road from India to Tibet, marvel at flowered forests, and consider the leech. Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Mount Everest, The Reconnaissance of 1921" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39421 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime," by Lee Rosevere, 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, boringbookspod.com.

Mar 28, 2022 • 52min
Ten Acres Enough, by Edmund Morris, Part 1
Let's throw off the stress of city cares and head out into the country for a simpler life, which apparently was as much a desire back in the 1850s as it is today. If you support us in March 2022, you'll help us stay 100% listener supported AND be entered into a raffle for your very own printed copy of the 1897 Sears Catalog, which is neat. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Ten Acres Enough" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48753 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, boringbookspod.com.

Mar 21, 2022 • 50min
The ABC of Relativity, by Bertrand Russell, Part 1
Let's relax with some sleepy physics, as Bertrand Russell unravels the Theory of Relativity. Drugging people and putting them in balloons is somewhat mentioned. Science! If you support us in March 2022, you'll help us stay 100% listener supported AND be entered into a raffle for your very own printed copy of the 1897 Sears Catalog, which is neat. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The ABC of Relativity at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67104 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, boringbookspod.com.


