

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 21, 2021 • 49min
The Travels of Marco Polo, Part 2
Let's continue our journey with Marco Polo along the Silk Road through Persia, and relax with totally, totally true facts about magical fogs, three kings, and a moving mountain. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Travels of Marco Polo" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10636 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY (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.

Jun 14, 2021 • 1h 3min
Flatland, by Edwin A. Abbott, Part 2
Let's return to a sleepy satirical world of two dimensions, and learn about seeing, irregularity, and the dreaded perils of not being dull. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Flatland" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/201 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY (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.

Jun 7, 2021 • 48min
Woodworking for Beginners, by Charles Wheeler, Part 2
Let's take "sawing wood" literally, and find relaxation and sleep with this handy manual of woodworking basics. You'll never look at lumber the same way again. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Woodworking for Beginners" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43604 Music: "Peace" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY (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.

May 31, 2021 • 51min
The Wanderings of a Spiritualist, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Part 1
Let's relax and sleep to these ruminations on psychic phenomena and the afterlife. It's all about vibrations, etheric bodies and...an argument for returning Gibraltar to the Spanish? Sure, why not. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Wanderings of a Spiritualist" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39718 Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY (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.

May 24, 2021 • 51min
Bacteria, by Sir George Newman, Part 1
Let's drift into the busy micro-world of bacteria. But first, a long and sleepy introduction to the history of bacteriology, so new, it’s barely history at all. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Everyone who supported us in April, or supports us in May by 5/31, will be entered into a drawing for an episode of your very own! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Bacteria" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48793 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.

May 17, 2021 • 57min
A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 4
This week, let's continue our sleepy stroll through history's halls and relax with nomadic wanderers, seafarers, and the ever-shifting conquerors of the Cradle of Civilization. Dreamy! Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Everyone who supported us in April, or supports us in May by 5/31, will be entered into a drawing for an episode of your very own! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "A Short History of the World" at Project Gutenberg: http://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 10, 2021 • 54min
The History of Bread, by John Ashton, Part 2
Tonight, let’s continue sifting through the sleepy history of the staff of life, including Greek myths, Pompeii’s ruins, Chinese threshing, and chapati’s role in revolution. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Everyone who supported us in April, or supports us in May by 5/31, will be entered into a drawing for an episode of your very own! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The History of Bread" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53219 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.

May 3, 2021 • 53min
In Praise of Folly, by Erasmus, Part 1
This week, let's enjoy a renaissance of relaxation with the thoughts on Erasmus. This dense mix of social commentary and satire is the perfect solution for sleep. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "In Praise of Folly" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30201 Music: “Dream Colours” 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 26, 2021 • 50min
The Book of the Ocean, by Ernest Ingersoll, Part 1
This week, let's float away on gentle waves with this exploration of our oceans. It’s a lovely dip into marine science—some good, some…not, and all sleep-inducing. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Book of the Ocean" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56311 Music: “Ocean Tapping” 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.

Apr 19, 2021 • 1h 9min
Biographical Sketch of Henry David Thoreau, by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Let's relax and sleep with a lengthy paean of praise written after the death of Thoreau by his contemporary, friend and worshipful admirer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. As obituaries go, it's...a lot. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Excursions" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9846 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.