

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

Apr 20, 2020 • 1h 27min
The Enchiridion, by Epictetus (Complete Work)
Tonight we relax to the dulcet words of Stoic philosophy, and learn all about not stressing out over things that are beyond our influence. But mostly, we'll just go to sleep, which is kind of the point. 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 Enchiridion" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45109 Music: "Peace" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY 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!

Apr 13, 2020 • 57min
1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalog, Agricultural Tools Department
Harvest a good night's sleep with the agricultural tool offerings of one of our favorites, the 1897 Sears Catalog. Guaranteed to relax you with the most scientific methods of the age, or your purchase price cheerfully refunded! 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 Music: "Heaven Be Here," PCIII, is licensed under CC 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 6, 2020 • 1h 2min
Symmes Theory of Concentric Spheres, Showing That The Earth Is Hollow
This evening, relax and sleep with one of the weirder scientific theories ever conceived, that the Earth is hollow and filled with other worlds. But first, there are 30 minutes of ambling preambles, because in 1826, of course there are. Enjoy! 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 "Symmes Theory of Concentric Spheres" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54329 Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY 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!

Mar 30, 2020 • 1h 4min
Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 2
Tonight, we return to one of your favorite relaxing books, and take a tour of the spring and summer skies of the northern hemisphere. A calming cosmos bathed in starlight awaits you, sleepy, stressed out friend! 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 "Astronomy for Young Folks" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45112 Music: "Exit Exit" by PC III is 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!

Mar 23, 2020 • 48min
Science Primers, by Thomas Henry Huxley, Reading 1
Tonight, let's find our happy place and sleep with this reading from an introduction to science basics, written by one of the 19th century's greatest science champions. Stay awake long enough, and you'll learn why water is a liquid! 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 "Science Primers" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60289 Music: "Dream Loop" (DL Music) is licensed under CC 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!

Mar 16, 2020 • 51min
The Practice and Science of Drawing, by Harold Speed, Reading 1
Let's rest, relax and sleep with this lovely discourse about drawing. Which is mostly about art theory for the entire hour, if I'm honest. Mr. Speed was slow to get to the actual "drawing" part. 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 Practice and Science of Drawing" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14264 Music: "Cosmic Tingles" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC 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!

Mar 9, 2020 • 57min
The Book of Household Management, by Isabella Beeton, Reading 4 (In The Kitchen)
Tonight, we return to the wisdom of Mrs. Beeton, and relax with her discussion of a well-equipped kitchen, the perfection of weights and measures, and...the history of Pompeii? Sure, why not. 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 Book of Household Management" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10136 Music: "Watching Whales on the Moon" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC 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, send a recommendation on Twitter, on our website, or on Patreon. I'd love to hear from you!

Mar 2, 2020 • 46min
The British Navy Book, by Cyril Field, Reading 1
Tonight, let's ride the relaxing waves of history and float through the history of the British Navy. From wee hide coracles to the sea-faring dragons of the Vikings, it's a lovely shanty of sleep. 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 British Navy Book" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41677 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, send a recommendation on Twitter, on our website, or on Patreon. I'd love to hear from you!

Feb 24, 2020 • 51min
The Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Claudius, by Suetonius
This evening, let's relax to the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius, immortalized as both a genius and an unstable imbecile unfit for any duty whatsoever, proving that nothing in politics ever changes. 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 Shop for Swag: https://teespring.com/stores/boring-books-for-bedtime Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "The Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Claudius" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6390 Music: "earth 2 earth," by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), is 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, send a recommendation on Twitter, on our website, or on Patreon. I'd love to hear from you!

Feb 17, 2020 • 53min
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu, Reading 2
Tonight, let's relax with the second half of one of the world's most influential philosophical texts, the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu. The journey of a thousand dreams begins with a single snore. 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 Shop for Swag: https://teespring.com/stores/boring-books-for-bedtime Connect: www.boringbookspod.com Read "The Tao Te Ching" at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/216 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, send a recommendation on Twitter, on our website, or on Patreon. I'd love to hear from you!


