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.
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The ABC of Relativity, by Bertrand Russell (Part 5)
4d ago00:44:15Tap to summarizeLet's journey to sleep with science as we learn more about Einstein's radical new theory of relativity, why geometry is physics when it comes to space-time, and how light spectrums reveal directions of travel. Is it difficult to understand? Eh, it's all relative. 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 ABC of Relativity" by Bertrand Russell at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67104 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 →Pyrotechnics: The History and Art of Firework Making, Part 4
2w ago00:53:46Tap to summarizeLet's celebrate the sparkliest time of the year with more from this detailed guide to fireworks. This time, rules about their manufacture, the lackadaisical habits and accidents that led to those rules, good factory design, and why mixing potash and sulfur is…not a good idea. Boom! 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 "Pyrotechnics: The History & Art of Firework Making" at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64922 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 →The Railway Traveller's Handy Book, Part 4
3w ago00:50:07Tap to summarizeLet's conclude our month of travels with more from this helpful yet somewhat snarky guide to riding that newfangled device, the steam train. This time, advice for the journey itself, including how to read a book, have a chat, fall asleep, rush the snack bar, and avoid losing your head out the window. All aboard for sleep! 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 Railway Traveller's Handy Book" at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/railwaytraveller00unse Music: "Healing" 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 →Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes, by Robert Louis Stevenson, Part 5
4w ago00:49:06Tap to summarizeLet's continue our pleasant plod to sleep with more from Mr. Stevenson and Modestine as they make their way through the mountains of France. This time, quite a lot of philosophizing about the lasting nature of belief, getting along, sleeping outdoors, and the poetry of stars. The donkey says nothing. 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" by Robert Louis Stevens 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, https://www.boringbookspod.com.
Transcribe →Faery Lands of the South Seas, by James Hall and Charles Nordhoff, Part 5
Jun 1500:51:48Tap 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
Jun 800:52:40Tap 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
Jun 100:51:37Tap 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 →