

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

Sep 14, 2020 • 57min
The North Pole, by Robert E. Peary, Part 2
Tonight let's return to a relaxing travelogue and continue with Robert Peary's detailed account of the search for the North Pole. Trials, triumphs and...a plan to pipe soup across the Arctic? This book has it all! Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed! Everyone contributing on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee in September will be entered in this month's drawing for a personalized episode of your very own. You pick the book! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The North Pole" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18975 Music: “Dream Colours” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC http://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.

Sep 7, 2020 • 51min
Lost Episode! A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 2
Tonight, we relax with The Lost H.G. Wells Episode, which mysteriously vanished six weeks after its release back in 2019. Why? Who knows! But this sleepy history of our marvelous world, from the appearance of birds to the first cousins of man, is too good to miss. Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed! Everyone contributing on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee in September will be entered in this month's drawing for a personalized episode of your very own. You pick the book! 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: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35461 Music: “Cosmic Tingles” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC http://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.

Aug 31, 2020 • 57min
Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, Part 2
It's our 100th episode! Let's return to the relaxing words of Thoreau's classic, wander the quiet woods, meet some interesting characters, and fall to sleep with thoughts on civil disobedience. Good times! Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed! Everyone contributing on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee in August will be entered in this month's drawing for a free 3-month subscription (and 3 free audiobooks of your choice) at Libro.fm! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Walden" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/205 Music: “Dream Colours” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC http://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.

Aug 24, 2020 • 52min
An Account of Egypt, by Herodotus, Part 1
Take a relaxing journey with Greek historian Herodotus as he reveals the wonders of Egypt. Clothing, crocodiles, calculations—all the sleep-inducing details of the ancient world are here. Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed! Everyone contributing on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee in August will be entered in this month's drawing for a free 3-month subscription (and 3 free audiobooks of your choice) at Libro.fm! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "An Account of Egypt" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2131 Music: “Cosmic Tingles” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC http://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.

Aug 17, 2020 • 55min
Grounds of Natural Philosophy, by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle
Relax and sleep with words from the wonderful Margaret Cavendish, and discover why science was once called "natural philosophy". So many ideas, so little clue what they mean. Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed! Everyone contributing on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee in August will be entered in this month's drawing for a free 3-month subscription (and 3 free audiobooks of your choice) at Libro.fm! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Grounds of Natural Philosophy" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58404 Music: “Watching Whales on the Moon” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC http://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.

Aug 10, 2020 • 52min
Bird Biographies, by Alice E. Ball, Part 1
Tonight, let your dreams take wing with this delightfully detailed yet poetic guide to the birds of eastern North America. A chorus of cardinals, crows and jays are all here to sing you to sleep. Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed! Everyone contributing on Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee in August will be entered in this month's drawing for a free 3-month subscription (and 3 free audiobooks of your choice) at Libro.fm! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Bird Biographies" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59880 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.

Aug 5, 2020 • 4min
Quick Podcast Update and Announcements!
Just a very quick update on monthly giveaways, our fantastic August prize from Libro.fm, and thoughts on keeping this podcast ad-free through your help. Thanks for listening! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Music: “Relaxation Loop,” 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.

Aug 3, 2020 • 56min
The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, Part 1
Rule over insomnia and go to sleep with the pithy prose of Machiavelli. But first, a long introduction to the twisted papal politics of 15th century Italy that spawned this influential book. Yawn! Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed by joining our Patreon or dropping us a tip via Buy Me A Coffee. Everyone contributing in August will be entered in this month's drawing for a free three-month subscription (and three free audiobooks of your choice) at Libro.fm! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The Prince" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232 Music: “Dream Colours” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY http://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.

Jul 27, 2020 • 53min
The South American Tour, by Annie S. Peck, Part 1
Steam away to dreamland with this travel guide to South America by explorer, archaeologist and record-setting mountaineer Annie S. Peck. If you ever wondered what to pack for a four-month trip south of the Equator, look no further. Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed by joining our Patreon or dropping us a tip via Buy Me A Coffee. Everyone contributing in July will be entered in this month's drawing for a print copy of one of your faves--the 1897 Sears Catalog! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "The South American Tour" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59715 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 www.boringbookspod.com!

Jul 20, 2020 • 49min
Farm Engines and How To Run Them, Part 2
Let's relax to more from the not-at-all-exciting world of stuffing boxes and governor balls that make farm engines go. If 30 study questions for a steam engine operator test can't put you to sleep, nothing will. Keep this podcast ad-free and relaxed by joining our Patreon or dropping us a tip via Buy Me A Coffee. Everyone contributing in July will be entered in this month's drawing for a print copy of one of your faves--the 1897 Sears Catalog! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read "Farm Engines & How To Run Them" at Project Gutenberg: http://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 www.boringbookspod.com!


