
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

Oct 16, 2023 • 52min
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Part 2
Let’s continue this sleepy journey through the mountains of France and encounter cantankerous farmers, lovely vistas, and the legendary Beast of Gevaudan, which ends rather anti-climactically, as legends so often do. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes ” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/535 Music: "earth 2 earth,” by PC III, 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Oct 9, 2023 • 53min
The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, Part 2
Let’s drift off to more from this classic of politics. If you aren’t backstabbing and being backstabbed, are you even governing? Not in 16th-century Europe, apparently! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “The Prince” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1232 Music: "Dream Colours,” 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Oct 2, 2023 • 54min
Studying Art Abroad and How to Do It Cheaply, by Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Part 1
This week, we pack a trunk and head to Europe to practice art on a budget, learn where to live economically, who to study with, and the importance of taking your oldest underwear. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Studying Art Abroad and How to Do It Cheaply” at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/studyingartabroa00nier Music: "Peace,” 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Sep 25, 2023 • 57min
Ten Acres Enough, by James Miller, Part 3
Let’s run away to the country and relax with more from this guide to the simple life, which seems to involve an inordinate amount of weeding. Also, blackberries of unusual size! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “Ten Acres Enough” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48753 Music: "Changing Colours,” 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Sep 18, 2023 • 53min
Etiquette, by Emily Post, Part 5
Emily Post advises on calls, social climbing, and leaving cards. Also explores earning respect, bride's calls, establishing oneself in a new community, the art of hosting, and the etiquette of visiting cards.

Sep 11, 2023 • 58min
How to Produce Amateur Plays, by Barrett H. Clark, Part 1
Let’s relax and sleep with advice on staging a play, including roles behind the curtain, choosing actors, and blocking the action, courtesy of a scene from Oscar Wilde. The drama! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “How to Produce Amateur Plays” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39973 Music: "earth 2 earth,” by PC III, 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

Sep 4, 2023 • 54min
The ABC of Relativity, by Bertrand Russell, Part 3
Explore the concept of space-time and its significance in the theory of relativity. Discover the relationship between space and time, challenging the concept of universal time. Dive into the influence of events on our perception of time. Uncover paradoxes and measurement problems in the theory of relativity. Learn about measuring lengths and distances in motion and the reciprocal nature of observations. Delve into time dilation, intervals in relativity, and the Lorentz transformation for measurements between bodies in relative motion.

Aug 28, 2023 • 52min
Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 3
Join the hosts as they explore the beauty of Yellowstone National Park, its geysers, hot springs, and majestic landscapes. Learn about the diverse vegetation and natural features of Kaiser basins, including Mushpots and Paintpots. Discover the charm of camping in Yellowstone and the joy of spending time in nature. Experience climbing Electric Peak during a thunderstorm and learn about the geological history of the Rocky Mountains. Explore the fascinating rocks and ancient forest remnants on Emethyst Mountain. Dive into the petrification process of ancient trees and the beauty of nature as described by John Muir.

Aug 21, 2023 • 52min
The Book of Household Management, by Mrs. Isabella Beeton, Part 10 - Soups and More Soups
Learn about the preparation of vegetable soups, the history of onions and parsnips, the origin of peas, different types of soups and their recipes, and soup made with eggs and bouillon. Also, discover how to make spinach and tapioca soup while exploring their history and nutritional benefits.

Aug 14, 2023 • 54min
The Hive and the Honey-Bee, by Rev. L.L. Langstroth, Part 3
Tonight, let’s relax with more from the fascinating world of bees and learn all about murderous queens, busy workers, growing larvae, and lazy drones. It’s all sweet honey for your sleepy mind. Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Read “The Hive and the Honey-Bee” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24583 Music: "earth 2 earth,” by PC III, 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.