295 episodes

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.

Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep Sharon Handy

    • Health & Fitness

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.

    On Horsemanship, by Xenophon, Part 2, and Project Gutenberg License

    On Horsemanship, by Xenophon, Part 2, and Project Gutenberg License

    This week, we conclude a relaxing Greek classic about getting the best from your cavalry horse, including what to wear, and then fall asleep to the riveting legalese of Project Gutenberg’s usage license for all these free eBooks I share with you. The horse stuff is more fun, to be honest.
     
    Giveaway! All Patreon supporters in May will have a chance at one of four slots to determine our readings for August. By joining Patreon, you get exclusive episodes, keep us ad-free AND get a chance to hear your personal fave. Win-win!
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod
    Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW
     
    Read “On Horsemanship” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1176
     
    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.

    • 56 min
    The Principles of Chemistry, by Dmitri Mendeleev, Part 5

    The Principles of Chemistry, by Dmitri Mendeleev, Part 5

    Let's continue to wend our relaxing way through a fundamental text of science and explore how elements combine and de-combine with that wonderful substance, water. Truly the solution for sleep!
     
    Giveaway! All Patreon supporters in May will have a chance at one of four slots to determine our readings for August. By joining Patreon, you get exclusive episodes, keep us ad-free AND get a chance to hear your personal fave. Win-win!
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod
    Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW
     
    Read “The Principles of Chemistry” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51326
     
    Music: "Exit Exit,” 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, connect on our website, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 49 min
    The Railway Traveller's Handy Book, Part 2

    The Railway Traveller's Handy Book, Part 2

    Let’s return to this sleepily detailed guide to rail journeys in 1860, and learn what to wear, the importance of travel insurance, and how to steal a horse to get to the station on time. Handy indeed!
     
    Giveaway! All Patreon supporters in May will have a chance at one of four slots to determine our readings for August. By joining Patreon, you get exclusive episodes, keep us ad-free AND get a chance to hear your personal fave. Win-win!
     
    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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 55 min
    1890 Gardiner and Co. Seed Annual 1: Flower Novelties

    1890 Gardiner and Co. Seed Annual 1: Flower Novelties

    Tonight, let’s celebrate the sleepy splendors of spring and go shopping for the latest in floral novelties offered by Gardiner & Co. in their seed annual. Apparently, in 1890, Japanese delights were all the rage.
     
    I also announce a new Giveaway! All Patreon supporters in May will have a chance at one of four slots to determine our readings for August. By joining Patreon, you help us stay ad-free AND get a chance to hear your faves. Win-win!
    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod
    Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/d5kcMsW
     
    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.

    • 50 min
    Relaxation Rewind! How to Listen to Music, by Henry E. Krehbiel, Part 1

    Relaxation Rewind! How to Listen to Music, by Henry E. Krehbiel, Part 1

    Tonight, while your reader recovers from a snuffly illness, let’s rewind to 2021 and fall into the rhythm of sleep with a book that works hard to put meaning into music, but mostly just manages to make it boring. So…kind of perfect, really.
     
    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 Listen to Music” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17474
     
    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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 47 min
    Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 4

    Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 4

    Let’s celebrate Earth Day with more from Muir’s poetic ode to the spectacular natural wonders of North America. This time, we complete our relaxing tour of Yellowstone and head to beautiful Yosemite, the jewel of the Sierras. Truly the stuff of 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 “Our National Parks” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60929
     
    Music: "Watching Whale on the Moon,” 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.

    • 53 min

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