

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

Mar 14, 2022 • 49min
1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalog, Grocery Department
Let's grab a basket and take a relaxing stroll through the Grocery Department of the Amazon of its day. Coffee beans, cherry phosphate, canned gooseberries—Sears had it all. 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. Huzzah! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Music: "Heaven Be Here" by PCIII, 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 7, 2022 • 52min
The Woman and The Car, by Dorothy Levitt, Part 2
Let's motor to sleep with more from this wonderful manual for the lady driver, written by race car and speedboat champion Dorothy Levitt. Mechanics and manners are all you need! Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Woman and The Car" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58956 Music: "Gentle Whisperings," 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.

Feb 28, 2022 • 56min
The Poetics of Aristotle, Part 2
Let's return to the earliest known work on Western dramatic theory and learn about character, verbs, and why Homer is always right. Also "women can also be good," which is…something? No worries, it gets a lot better after that. Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Poetics of Aristotle" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1974 Music: "earth 2 earth," by PCIII 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.

Feb 21, 2022 • 41min
The Principles of Chemistry, by Dmitry Mendeleev, Part 3
Let's return to the relaxing wonders of science with more from a foundational work of modern chemistry. This time, we finally finish…the introduction! It's the perfect compound for sleep. We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who supports us in February 2022 will be entered into a raffle to win a made-just-for-you episode! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Principles of Chemistry" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51326 Music: "Exit Exit," by PCIII 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.

Feb 14, 2022 • 51min
Natures Garden for Victory and Peace, by George Washington Carver
This week, let's appreciate the culinary wonders of weeds with this relaxing guide to nature's bounty by George Washington Carver. Salads have never seemed so special. We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who supports us in February 2022 will be entered into a raffle to win a made-just-for-you episode! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Music: "Heaven Be Here," by PCIII 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.

Feb 7, 2022 • 49min
On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin, Part 3
Let's return to sleepy science with more from Charles Darwin on domestic breeding, pigeon mating, and messy definitions. What is a species anyway? It's a mystery! We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who supports us in February 2022 will be entered into a raffle to win a made-just-for-you episode! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "On the Origin of Species" 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, boringbookspod.com.

Jan 31, 2022 • 52min
The Decoration of Houses, by Edith Wharton, Part 1
Sink into tasteful slumber this week with the history of home decor from the Queen of The Gilded Age. Basically, "like Italy and be rich" seems to sum it up. We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who supports us in February 2022 will be entered into a raffle to win a made-just-for-you episode! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Decoration of Houses" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40367 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, boringbookspod.com.

Jan 28, 2022 • 54min
Farm Engines and How to Run Them, Part 4
Let's relax and sleep with more from this bucolic delight, and learn about managing our traction engine, getting out of life's inevitable ditches, and the qualities of a good grease. Help keep us 100% listener supported here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Farm Engines and How to Run them" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43867 Music: "Exit Exit," by PCIII, 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.

Jan 17, 2022 • 43min
Manual of Egyptian Archaeology and Guide to Antiquities, Part 4
Let's return to the sleepy sands of Egypt and finish our exploration of religious architecture, with symbolic temples, towering obelisks, and shrines that held...puppets, apparently? Who knew! Support us and keep us 100% listener supported here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Manual of Egyptian Archaeology" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14400 Music: "Exit Exit," by PCIII, 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.

Jan 10, 2022 • 47min
Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 5
Let's return to the heavens and relax with some sleepy stardust about our solar system, learn a bit about our neighbor planets, and consider how they got here in the first place. Far out! Support us here: 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 PCIII, 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.


