303 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
    • 4.6 • 994 Ratings

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.

    Moving Pictures: How They Are Made and Worked, Part 2

    Moving Pictures: How They Are Made and Worked, Part 2

    Let’s relax and sleep with more about the origins of that magical medium, movies! This time, we explore motion, mess with gelatin, and call “Action!” on the development of celluloid film thanks to one George Eastman.
     
    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 “Moving Pictures” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67972
     
    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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 42 min
    Sailing Alone Around the World, by Capt. Joshua Slocum, Part 2

    Sailing Alone Around the World, by Capt. Joshua Slocum, Part 2

    Let’s relax and sleep with more from this solo journey by sailboat. This time, we cross the Atlantic, serenade dolphins, and…a seafaring ghost saves our narrator from a cheese-induced fever? Sure, why not. I don’t write them, friends.
     
    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” 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 49 min
    Flatland, by Edwin A. Abbott, Part 4

    Flatland, by Edwin A. Abbott, Part 4

    Let’s relax and sleep with more from a classic that combines mathematics and social commentary with pointed angularity. This time, our narrator is inducted into that most secret of secrets…three dimensions. Why, it’s madness, I tell you.
     
    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 “Flatland” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/201
     
    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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 59 min
    Pyrotechnics, the History and Art of Firework Making, Part 2

    Pyrotechnics, the History and Art of Firework Making, Part 2

    Let’s celebrate our 300th episode and 10 MILLION listens with a bit of fireworks! That sounds exciting, but it’s really just a sleepy catalog of firework displays in England up to the 19th century. Flaming dragon battles and “philosophical fireworks” are somewhat mentioned, so that’s fun.
     
    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” 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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 44 min
    The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, Part 3

    The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, Part 3

    Let’s return to a political classic and learn more about how to govern as a prince. This time, we hear why neither the rich nor the mercenary can be trusted, why it’s easy to earn the people’s faith by being nice, and the excellent word “dastardy” is used.
     
    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.

    • 1 hr
    1912 Ford Motor Cars Model T Instruction Manual, Part 1

    1912 Ford Motor Cars Model T Instruction Manual, Part 1

    This week, let’s relax with the intricacies of car maintenance as we learn the proper care and operation of a 1912 Model T Ford. Why, it’s so simple, anyone can fill the dope caps and grind the valves. Ford thinks you can, anyway, and isn’t that a bit cheering?
     
    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: "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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.

    • 54 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
994 Ratings

994 Ratings

this is. not. taken. 💖💖💖💖 ,

Yawning just typing

This gets me so sleepy it’s entertaining I love it thank you I can sleep anyware sooooooooo useful 💤💤💤💤😴🛌🥱

Pup and stegosaurus lover ,

Pretty good

Nice I guess

yournextleft ,

Thank you thank you

I am a classic insomniac. My brain is running amok, my lovely husband is happily snoring next to me, the cat has me trapped under my covers snoozing on my legs and I can’t get comfortable. All I do is fret, plan work life, grocery lists, stress about politics/climate change/housing market/everything that’s stressful.
How I slow it all down: I flip my pillow to the cold side, make sure my noise machine is on, pick a “boring book” (I love instruction manuals or anything with architecture).
Ideally I’m out in 10 minutes.
Thank you for your help! I love it so much.

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