

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

Apr 7, 2025 • 1h 5min
The Handbook on Cheese Making, by George E. Newell, Part 3 (Conclusion)
Let’s sink into sleep with the final reading from this handy guide to making a very popular food indeed. This time, we hear maxims for the cheesemaker, are then immediately told to ignore maxims, learn how to box cheese neatly, and bewail the scandal that is low-fat, “skimmed” cheese. Testify! Patreon Supporters, since we finished this book, as always, you will be getting all three readings stitched into a single recording for those nights when a long boring book is just the ticket for sleep. Cheesy! 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 Handbook on Cheese Making” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70813 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.

Mar 31, 2025 • 55min
Sailing Alone Around the World, by Captain Joshua Slocum, Part 3
Let’s sail to sleep with more from this remarkable journey around the world. This time, our author is chased by pirates! Also, we cross the doldrums, accidentally ground the ship on the coast of Brazil, and receive kind offers of assistance, which is very nice 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 “Sailing Alone Around the World” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6317 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.

Mar 24, 2025 • 57min
Flatland, by Edwin A. Abbott, Part 5 (Conclusion)
Let’s relax with the conclusion of this curiously wonderful blend of mathematics, philosophy, and social commentary. This time, our square throws off the chains of dimensional thinking and gets rewarded with chains of a different sort. Free thinking is costly, it seems. Patreon Supporters, next week you will be getting all five readings from this book as a single recording for those nights when a long boring book is just the ticket for sleep! 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 “Flatland” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/201 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.

Mar 17, 2025 • 52min
The Story of Ancient Irish Civilization, by P.W. Joyce, Part 1
Let’s relax with some historical details about Ireland up to the 12th century, including the structure of kings and chiefs, the kingly retinue, and the brehon system of laws that applied to both ruler and ruled, which…seems like a good idea, really. 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 Ancient Irish Civilization” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41666 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.

Mar 10, 2025 • 57min
The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, by Suetonius - Nero, Part 1
Let’s return to this classic history of the Roman emperors and hear a bit about a ruler both famous and infamous in his need for public adulation. Why pay attention to affairs of state when you can perform for judges you’ve bribed? Stately! 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 Lives of the Twelve Caesars” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6400 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.

Mar 3, 2025 • 55min
Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 5
Let’s relax with more of this sleepy stroll through some of America’s greatest natural wonders, protected for the enjoyment of all people as national parks. This time, we continue our tour of Yosemite and its mighty glacier-carved mountains. Majestic! 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 “Our National Park” 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Feb 24, 2025 • 50min
Ten Acres Enough, by Edmund Morris, Part 4
Let’s relax with more advice about successful farming. This time, we get snookered in the purchase of a cow, wage endless war on weeds, and sell some blackberry bushes. Profitable! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. 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: "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.

Feb 17, 2025 • 58min
Etiquette, by Emily Post, Part 7
Let’s continue with more of the finer arts of behavior as we conclude our instruction in the etiquette of invitations, consider the well-appointed house, and are reminded that looking down on the serving class is inexcusably ill-bred. Well said, Mrs. Post! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Etiquette” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14314 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.

Feb 10, 2025 • 54min
On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin, Part 6
In our annual celebration of Darwin Day, let’s continue our sleepy stroll through this fundamental text of biology. This time, why natural selection works better in big spaces, the perils of extinction, and the strength that comes from diversity. It’s science! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1228 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.

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 4min
How To See The British Museum in Four Visits, Part 3
Let’s continue our sleepy tour of the zoological collections of the British Museum and discover the wonders first being seen by the general public circa 1850. This time, reptiles, the fauna of Great Britain, and some philosophy about our place in the history of living things. Because of course that’s included in a 19th century book. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener supported! All supporters in the month of February will be entered into a drawing for a personal, made-just-for-you episode of the book of your choice. Neat! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “How To See the British Museum in Four Visits” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13755 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.