Podcast
Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep
Hosted by Sharon Handy · EN
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.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Faery Lands of the South Seas, by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff, Part 5
2w ago00:51:48Tap to summarizeLet's continue our sail to sleep through a month of travel readings with more from this wonderful wander through the South Seas. This time, another interesting fellow passenger, notes on linguistics, a scary reef crossing, and…the island version of a kegger? Cheers! 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 "Faery Lands of the South Seas" by Hall & Nordhoff at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54479 Music: "Ocean Tapping," 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →Pictures from Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 4
3w ago00:52:40Tap to summarizeLet's continue our sojourn to sleep through a month of travel readings with more from Charles Dickens and his tour through Italy. This time, we conclude our visit to Genoa, have a strange experience with puppets, an even stranger visit to Marseilles, and consider that things are often more beautiful seen from a distance. Truth indeed. 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 "Pictures from Italy" by Charles Dickens at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/650 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →Sailing Alone Around the World, by Captain Joshua Slocum, Part 4
4w ago00:51:37Tap to summarizeLet's sail to sleep with the first read of our new theme month, Travels! This time, we return to an epic journey around the world in a handmade boat, and wrestle with Cape Horn, seasickness, and williwaws. Also, the benefits of carpet tacks and the kindness of strangers. Useful! 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 "Sailing Alone Around the World" by Captain Joshua Slocum at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6317 Music: "Ocean Tapping," 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalog - Sewing Machines
May 2500:58:25Tap to summarizeLet's celebrate our 400th (!!!) episode with more from one of your sleepiest favorites from 1897. This time, thanks to a Patreon poll, we're shopping for that most useful of newfangled devices, the sewing machine. Singer has nothing on Sears, according to Sears, especially with a three percent discount for cash. It's a bargain of boredom! Help us stay ad-free and 100% listener-supported! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW Music: "Heaven Be Here," 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →Ecclesiastical History of England, by the Venerable Bede, Part 3
May 1800:53:18Tap to summarizeLet's relax in the wayback machine with more from the religious history of England. This time, Saint Bede recalls Saxon double-dealings, divine healings, the Pelagian heresy, and the somewhat cowardly companions of Saint Augustine, who get politely yelled at by the pope. Miraculous! 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 "Ecclesiastical History of England" by The Venerable Bede at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38326 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →The Story of a Boulder, by Archibald Geikie, Part 2
May 1100:45:35Tap to summarizeLet's take a relaxing trip back to Scotland and explore geology through the details of a single boulder. This time, glacial effects, the cyclical nature of formations, life in the past, and ideas about how an ocean boulder ended up in a river valley. So much lovely speculative imagery to delight your dreams! 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 Story of a Boulder" by Archibald Geikie at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66703 Music: "Calling to Other Worlds" 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →Symmes' Theory of Concentric Spheres, Showing That the Earth Is Hollow, Part 5 (Conclusion)
May 401:03:13Tap to summarizeLet's relax with the conclusion of this most remarkable book of geological theory. This time, a plea to scientific advancement and nation-building in the form of an expedition to the Earth's interior, an outline of the voyage, and a glowing portrait of Captain Symmes and his genius. Well, at least he tried, I guess? 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 "Symmes' Theory of Concentric Spheres" by John Cleves Symmes at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54329 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →Farm Engines and How to Run Them, by James H. Stephenson, Part 8
Apr 2700:52:43Tap to summarizeLet's finish our theme month of "Long-time Favorites" with more from this surprisingly relaxing guide to running powered farm machinery. This time, starting a gas engine, how to hook up a newfangled gadget called a battery, and the many parts of your threshing machine. To the fields! 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 "Farm Engines & How to Run Them" by James H. Stephenson at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43867 Music: "Exit Exit," 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 10
Apr 2000:54:59Tap to summarizeLet's continue our theme month of "Long-time Favorites" with more from this quickstep march through the history of our world. This time, the revolutionary teachings of Jesus, the rise of the Christian church, barbarian hordes, and the final fall of the Roman Empire, all in less than hour. Short indeed! 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 "A Short History of the World" by H.G. Wells at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35461 Music: "Cosmic Tingles," 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →The Book of Household Management, by Isabella Beeton, Part 12 - Fish Recipes
Apr 1300:55:57Tap to summarizeLet's continue our theme month of "Long-time Favorites" with this most favored work of all things home and comfort. This time, recipes for fish, along with interludes about the life and habits of particular species, and a poem about hermit crabs, because of course there is. Anchovy and carp and cod, oh my! 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 Book of Household Management" by Isabella Beeton at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10136 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
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