
Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep
Boring Books for Bedtime is a weekly 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 blend 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.
Latest episodes

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.

Apr 12, 2021 • 52min
US Internal Revenue Service Pub 583, Starting a Business
Let’s relax with one of the dullest things ever read on this podcast. Like all IRS Publications, it's 50% information, 50% references to other publications, and 100% mind-numbing boredom. Which is why you're here, after all. Enjoy! Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Music 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 5, 2021 • 1h 4min
The Characters of Theophrastus, Part 1
Let's relax and sleep with a classic of character conventions. This work may be millennia old, but you will definitely recognize these people. If you stay awake past the very long intro, that is. 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 Characters of Theophrastus" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58242 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.

Mar 29, 2021 • 51min
1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalog, Millinery Department
Let's relax with a browse through the Millinery Department, and marvel at the most beautiful, stylish and economical hats ever offered to the public. At such low prices, resistance is futile. Want to support us? Neat! Everyone who does so in March 2021 will be entered into a drawing for a hard copy of the 1897 Sears Catalog! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: 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 22, 2021 • 50min
Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, by Samuel Johnson, Part 3
Let’s continue our relaxing journey through Scotland with Dr. Johnson, and learn all about cattle, kelp and the customary duties of the laird. Tha mi sgith! Want to support us? Neat! Everyone who does so in March 2021 will be entered into a drawing for one of our most popular books, The 1897 Sears Catalog! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Journey to the Western Islands" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2064 Music: “Chrystalis,” by Sounds Like An Earful (https://soundslikeanearful.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 15, 2021 • 54min
History of Animals, by Aristotle, Part 2
Let's return to Aristotle's sleep-inducing treatise on the animal world and his very, very detailed description of the human body, plus...elephants! Want to support us? Neat! Everyone who does so in March 2021 will be entered into a drawing for one of our most popular books, The 1897 Sears Catalog! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "History of Animals" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59058 Music: “Ocean Tapping” by PC III, licensed under CC BY-NC 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 8, 2021 • 58min
Etiquette, by Emily Post, Part 1
Let’s sink into sleepy social niceties with this classic of manners, behavior and good breeding. If you ever wondered how to introduce a bishop at your fancy luncheon, Mrs. Post is here for you. Subscribe here: www.linktre.ee/boringbookspod Want to support us? Neat! Everyone who does so in March 2021 will be entered into a drawing for one of our most popular books, The 1897 Sears Catalog! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Etiquette" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14314 Music: “Boring Books for Bedtime” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC 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 1, 2021 • 56min
Cassell's Book of Birds, Part 3, The Parrots
Let's drift off into the world of birds and learn all about parrots, the flying monkeys of the avian kingdom. I promise that makes sense if you stay awake long enough. But...unlikely. Subscribe here: www.linktre.ee/boringbookspod Support here: Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Cassell's Book of Birds, Vol. 1" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48675 Music: “Ocean Tapping” by PC III, licensed under CC BY-NC 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 22, 2021 • 50min
The Color of a Great City, by Theodore Dreiser, Part 1
Tonight, let’s journey back to New York City in the early 1900s with one of America’s great writers and his dreamy portrait of the city that never sleeps. Fingers crossed you will! Subscribe here: www.linktre.ee/boringbookspod Support here: Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Color of a Great City" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61043 Music: “Watching Whales on the Moon” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC 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.