

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

Jun 29, 2020 • 50min
The Federalist Papers, by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison (Part 2)
Let Alexander Hamilton and his compatriots spark a revolution of sleep with arguments in favor of ratifying the US Constitution. If these words prove anything, it's that predicting what will become a Broadway hit is one of the great mysteries of our time. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "The Federalist Papers" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1404 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" 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, contact me on our website!

Jun 22, 2020 • 58min
De Re Coquinaria (On Cooking), by Apicius, Part 1
Let's cook up a recipe for relaxation with De Re Coquinaria, by Roman author Apicius. It's an hour of honey, pepper, and fermented fish sauce, plus a lengthy rumination on Pompeii. Delish! Boring Books for Bedtime is happily sponsored by BetterHelp – affordable and private online counseling you can get anywhere, any time, the way that suits you best. Get 10% off your first month by visiting trybetterhelp.com/boringbooks. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "De Re Coquinaria" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29728 Music: "Peace" 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, contact me on our website!

Jun 15, 2020 • 55min
Bicycling for Ladies, by Maria E. Ward, Part 1
Climb into the saddle of sleep and pedal to peace with this 1896 volume about the latest fad in exercise, bicycling! If you stay awake long enough, you'll know how a bicycle works, though why that's "for ladies," I cannot tell you. Boring Books for Bedtime is happily sponsored by BetterHelp – affordable and private online counseling you can get anywhere, any time, the way that suits you best. Get 10% off your first month by visiting trybetterhelp.com/boringbooks. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "Bicycling for Ladies" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62227 Music: "Heaven Be Here," by PCIII, is licensed under CC If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, contact me on our website!

Jun 8, 2020 • 51min
The Book of Tea, by Kakuzo Okakura, Part 1
Let's cozy up to a hot cup of tea and steep our weary minds in this classic treatise on tea, culture and history. We all deserve a bit of sleep thanks to this Art of Peace. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Boring Books for Bedtime is happily sponsored by BetterHelp – affordable and private online counseling you can get anywhere, any time, the way that suits you best. Get 10% off your first month by visiting trybetterhelp.com/boringbooks. Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "The Book of Tea" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/769 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" 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, contact me on our website!

Jun 1, 2020 • 54min
The Coming of the Fairies, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Part 3
Let's return to Conan Doyle's dreamy world of the Wee Folk! Drift into sleep on the observations of a clairvoyant in the fairy glen, which are totally real and scientific. Totally. This episode is happily sponsored by BetterHelp – affordable and private online counseling you can get anywhere, any time, in the way that suits you best. Get 10% off your first month by visiting trybetterhelp.com/boringbooks. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "The Coming of the Fairies" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47506 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, contact me on our website!

May 25, 2020 • 54min
Cassell's Book of Birds, Part 2
Let anxiety and stress slip away like a bird on the wing as we find sleep with another listener favorite, Cassell's Book of Birds. Orders, anatomy and the "merry-thought" defined? Just what you dreamed of! Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "Cassell's Book of Birds, Volume 1" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48675 Music: "Ocean Tapping" by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), licensed under CC BY All Boring Books for Bedtime readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, I'd love to hear from you!

May 18, 2020 • 59min
Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, by Samuel Johnson, Part 2
It's a dreamy return to Samuel Johnson's 18th century tour of Scotland. Tonight, we explore stunning Skye, speculate on ancient fortresses, and consider Calvinism's deep mark on the land. Slainte! Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Us a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2064 Music: "Crystalis," by Sounds Like An Earful (https://soundslikeanearful.com/) All Boring Books for Bedtime readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, send a recommendation on Twitter, on our website, or on Patreon. I'd love to hear from you!

May 11, 2020 • 55min
A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 3
Tonight, we jump into our sleepytime machine and let H.G. Wells carry us off into the dreamy history of Neolithic man. Agriculture, alphabets and just a dash of human sacrifice to keep your buzzing brain engaged. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com 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 3.0 http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com All Boring Books for Bedtime readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, I'd love to hear from you!

May 4, 2020 • 1h 2min
Manual of Egyptian Archaeology and Guide to Antiquities, Reading 2
Tonight, we continue our caravan from sand to sandman with the Manual of Egyptian Archaeology & Guide to Antiquities from 1895. It's everything you never knew you wanted about ancient temple columns, quarries and reservoirs. Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "Manual of Egyptian Archaeology" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14400 Music: "Exit Exit" by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), licensed under CC BY All Boring Books for Bedtime readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, I'd love to hear from you!

Apr 27, 2020 • 56min
A General History of the Pirates, Part 1, by Daniel Defoe
Get pirated off to sleep with this early chronicle of the buccaneering life. Sounds riveting? Not to worry, me hearties, it was written in 1724. A booty of boring sentences be buried here! Want to support us? Neat! Here's how: Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "A General History of the Pirates" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40580 Music: "Ocean Tapping" by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), licensed under CC BY All Boring Books for Bedtime readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading for soft-spoken relaxation to help you overcome insomnia, anxiety and other sleep issues, I'd love to hear from you!


