Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep

By Sharon Handy

What's Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep about?

Boring Books for Bedtime is a weekly sleep podcast in which we calmly, quietly read something rather boring to help silence the brain chatter keeping you awake. Think Galileo, Aristotle, Emerson, and whoever wrote the 1897 Sears Catalog—mostly nonfiction, mostly old, and 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.

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An Account of Egypt, by Her...

06.27.2022

Let’s travel the sands of sleep once again with Herodotus, and learn about flying serpents, fish migration, and the third-cheapest way to embalm your loved ones. It’s balmy bookishness for your weary mind. Help us stay 100% listener-supported and ad-free ...

Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep episodes:

06.27.2022 An Account of Egypt, by Herodotus, Part 2 Let’s travel the sands of sleep once again with Herodotus, and learn about flying serpents, fish migration, and the third-cheapest way to embalm your loved ones. It’s balmy bookishness for your weary mind. Help us stay 100% listener-supported and ad-free ...
06.20.2022 Moving Pictures - How They Are Made and Worked, Part 1 This week let’s relax with information about a revolution in visual entertainment and education. We learn about the persistence of vision and some history that led us to what we today call “movies.” Help us stay 100% listener-supported and ad-free ...
06.13.2022 REWIND! The Politics, by Aristotle, Part 1 (Remastered) This week, while your reader tussles with a certain virus, let’s revisit a perfectly sleepy combo of ponderous Victorian introduction and ancient Greek philosophy, freshly remastered for your relaxation pleasure. Help us stay 100% listener-supported and ad-free for all! Patreon: ...
06.06.2022 REWIND! Bacteria, by Sir George Newman, Part 1 (Remastered) This week, while your reader is laid up with a certain virus, let’s revisit one of my favorite sleepy science reads. Enjoy this remastered intro to a brand new branch of study (in 1899), bacteriology! Help us stay 100% listener-supported ...
05.30.2022 The Book of the Ocean, by Ernest Ingersoll, Part 3 Let’s sail to sleep with more from this lovely work about the seas. This time, we learn the rigging of a schooner, praise the prowess of Pacific Islanders, and head to Iceland with Vikings. Help us stay 100% listener-supported and ...
05.23.2022 On Molecular and Microscopic Science, by Mary Somerville, Part 2 Let's relax with more sleepy science from a woman so talented that the word “scientist” was coined to describe her. This time, we learn about all the forces holding us together. Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in ...
05.16.2022 A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Part 5 Let’s continue our sleepy stroll through history with the fall of Assyria, the literary bedrock of the Jews, and the birth of philosophy in Greece. Rather a lot to cram into an hour, but Wells makes it sound easy. Help ...
05.09.2022 Spices, Their Histories, Part 1 Let’s take a sleepy tour of the spice cabinet and the origins of allspice, chilies, cinnamon, and cloves, with a pinch of insight into faking spices with brick dust. Useful! Help us stay 100% listener supported! All supporters in May ...
05.02.2022 Bird Biographies, by Alice E. Ball, Part 3 Let’s fly off to relaxation with more from this lovely book about our feathered friends. This time, we learn about the birds of early spring, and marvel at the sleepy songs of the sparrows. Help us stay 100% listener supported! ...
04.25.2022 Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 2 Let’s conclude a month of relaxing travels with more from this tour of America’s national parks, sleepily agog at the Grand Canyon and the weird grandeur of Yellowstone. Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me a Coffee: ...
04.18.2022 Faery Lands of the South Seas, by Hall and Nordhoff, Part 1 Our month of relaxing voyages continues as we head to the distant South Seas. We set off first for sleepy Tahiti and meet a man with little history but a lot of chickens. And profuse apologies if I sound a ...
04.11.2022 Pictures From Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 2 Let’s continue our month of relaxing voyages and rejoin Charles Dickens on his sleepy sojourn to Italy. On the way, we visit a dungeon, pass a madhouse, and end up bemused in Genoa. Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: ...
04.04.2022 Mount Everest - The Reconnaissance of 1921, Part 2 Let’s kick off a month of relaxing travelogues with more from the first attempt to map the world’s tallest mountain. This time, we take the road from India to Tibet, marvel at flowered forests, and consider the leech. Help us ...
03.28.2022 Ten Acres Enough, by Edmund Morris, Part 1 Let’s throw off the stress of city cares and head out into the country for a simpler life, which apparently was as much a desire back in the 1850s as it is today. If you support us in March 2022, ...
03.21.2022 The ABC of Relativity, by Bertrand Russell, Part 1 Let’s relax with some sleepy physics, as Bertrand Russell unravels the Theory of Relativity. Drugging people and putting them in balloons is somewhat mentioned. Science! If you support us in March 2022, you’ll help us stay 100% listener supported AND ...
03.14.2022 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalog, Grocery Department Let's grab a basket and take a relaxing stroll through the Grocery Department of the Amazon of its day. Coffee beans, cherry phosphate, canned gooseberries—Sears had it all. If you support us in March 2022, you’ll help us stay 100% ...
03.07.2022 The Woman and The Car, by Dorothy Levitt, Part 2 Let’s motor to sleep with more from this wonderful manual for the lady driver, written by race car and speedboat champion Dorothy Levitt. Mechanics and manners are all you need! Help us stay 100% listener supported: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me ...
02.28.2022 The Poetics of Aristotle, Part 2 Let’s return to the earliest known work on Western dramatic theory and learn about character, verbs, and why Homer is always right. Also “women can also be good,” which is…something? No worries, it gets a lot better after that. Help ...
02.21.2022 The Principles of Chemistry, by Dmitry Mendeleev, Part 3 Let’s return to the relaxing wonders of science with more from a foundational work of modern chemistry. This time, we finally finish…the introduction! It’s the perfect compound for sleep. We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who ...
02.14.2022 Natures Garden for Victory and Peace, by George Washington Carver This week, let’s appreciate the culinary wonders of weeds with this relaxing guide to nature’s bounty by George Washington Carver. Salads have never seemed so special. We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who supports us in ...
02.07.2022 On the Origin of Species, by Charles Darwin, Part 3 Let’s return to sleepy science with more from Charles Darwin on domestic breeding, pigeon mating, and messy definitions. What is a species anyway? It’s a mystery! We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone who supports us in ...
01.31.2022 The Decoration of Houses, by Edith Wharton, Part 1 Sink into tasteful slumber this week with the history of home decor from the Queen of The Gilded Age. Basically, "like Italy and be rich" seems to sum it up. We are 100% listener supported, and you can help. Everyone ...
01.28.2022 Farm Engines and How to Run Them, Part 4 Let’s relax and sleep with more from this bucolic delight, and learn about managing our traction engine, getting out of life’s inevitable ditches, and the qualities of a good grease. Help keep us 100% listener supported here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy ...
01.17.2022 Manual of Egyptian Archaeology and Guide to Antiquities, Part 4 Let’s return to the sleepy sands of Egypt and finish our exploration of religious architecture, with symbolic temples, towering obelisks, and shrines that held...puppets, apparently? Who knew! Support us and keep us 100% listener supported here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me ...
01.10.2022 Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 5 Let’s return to the heavens and relax with some sleepy stardust about our solar system, learn a bit about our neighbor planets, and consider how they got here in the first place. Far out! Support us here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy ...
01.03.2022 Practical Mind Reading, by William Walker Atkinson, Part 2 Let’s sense our way to sleep with a book I forgot reading from! This time we learn exercises to hone our skills as psychic parlour performers, which was a for-real thing in 1907. Support us and keep us 100% listener ...
12.27.2021 The Book of Household Management, by Isabella Beeton, Part 7 (Maids, Dairy & Stable) Let's dive back into one of your sleepy favorites, and learn about the life of the maid-of-all-work, the perfect dairy layout, and some fine advice about stable ventilation. Support us and keep us 100% listener supported here: Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy ...
12.20.2021 Night and Moonlight & Walden Pond in Winter, by Henry David Thoreau Let’s relax into the natural world with two essays by Henry David Thoreau, in which we take a poetic walk by moonlight, and then contemplate the wintry depths of Walden Pond. Transcendental! December Raffle! Support us on Patreon or Buy ...
12.13.2021 The Hive and the Honey Bee, by LL Langstroth, Part 2 Let’s once again be lulled to sleep by the hum of beautiful, busy bees, learn all about the workings of the queen bee, and hear every permutation of the word “fecund” possible. December Raffle! Support us on Patreon or Buy ...
12.06.2021 The History of Bread, by John Ashton, Part 3 Let’s return to the relaxing world of bread and fall asleep to European peasant loaves, the origin of the croissant, and the heraldry of London’s bread guilds. Delish! Also, I announce our December raffle for supporters! Support us on Patreon ...
11.29.2021 The Characters of Theophrastus, Part 2 Let’s relax with the second half of this classic of Greek literature, in which the great Theophrastus defines 30 character types found in literature and life. Trust me, you know a few. Support us here: Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A ...
11.22.2021 Our National Parks, by John Muir, Part 1 Let’s wander through the wonders of nature, as conservationist John Muir guides us through the wild spaces of the American West and the flower-filled tundra of Alaska. Honestly, friends, this one is just lovely. Support us here: Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy ...
11.15.2021 How to See the British Museum in Four Visits, Part 1 Let's take a relaxing wander through the mind-boggling British Museum, learn a bit about its origins, consider the mullingong, and ponder why our author holds such a low opinion of owls. Support us here: Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy Me A Coffee: ...
11.08.2021 REMASTERED - The Problems of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell, Part 1 In this remastered episode from 2018, we revisit a relaxing work that poses interesting philosophical questions, like "When is a table not a table?" Don't worry, there's no actual answer, so you won't miss anything when you fall asleep. NOTE: ...
10.31.2021 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, Part 2 Tonight, we conclude the mysterious happenings in Sleepy Hollow, which involve a surprising amount of charming detail about autumnal harvests, twittering birds, and pastries, come to find out. And all our lovely supporters in October will be getting a full, ...
10.25.2021 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, Part 1 Let's wrap ourselves in the secrets of Sleepy Hollow, which seem a lot less scary than cartoons would have us believe. Irving’s descriptions of country life are surprisingly relaxing. This is Part 1 of a two-parter that concludes next week. ...
10.18.2021 Wild Flowers Worth Knowing, by Neltje Blanchan, Part 1 Let’s sleep among the wildflowers with this relaxing tour through some lovely native American blooms, plus skunk cabbage and the murderous Jack-in-the-pulpit. Flowers…so much more than pretty! Want to help us stay 100% listener supported and ad-free? Support us here! ...
10.11.2021 Utopia, by Sir Thomas More, Part 2 Let’s return to this classic of social and political commentary from the 16th century. If you stay awake long enough, you’ll discover how little has changed in 500 years. So, no need to pay attention. PS You're not seeing things. ...
10.04.2021 A General History of the Pirates, by Daniel Defoe, Part 2 Let’s sail the high seas of sleep with more from this classic of pirate history. Enjoy a booty chest of boredom, including the story of Henry Avery, King of the Pirates, who was…a bit of a coward, come to find ...
09.27.2021 REMASTERED - American Pomology (Apples), Part 1 In this remastered episode, we revisit a perfectly sleepy book that celebrates a symbol of autumn. This 19th century ode to apples includes history, health advice, and a nod to Johnny Appleseed, because of course it does. NOTE: This is ...
09.20.2021 Mars and Its Canals, by Percival Lowell, Part 2 Let’s relax and sleep with more studies of the beautiful red planet, including observations of its icy poles, which, unlike that whole “Mars has canals” thing, are actually correct. Everyone who helps us stay 100% listener supported will get a ...
09.13.2021 Pictures from Italy, by Charles Dickens, Part 1 Let’s relax and sleep on a journey with famed author Charles Dickens, as he wends his way to Italy to spend a year in Genoa. We don’t actually get there, but never mind. The journey is still a delight. Want ...
09.06.2021 The Book of the Ocean, by Ernest Ingersoll, Part 2 Let's rock to sleep on the waves as we learn all about the workings of tides, currents, climate, and the early history of boats. It’s an ocean of relaxing information, just for your tired mind. Want to help us stay ...
08.30.2021 The Book of Tea, by Kakuzo Okakura, Part 3 Tonight, let’s relax and allow thoughts of art appreciation, the perfection of flowers, and the long reach of the tea masters to brew a beautiful elixir of sleep. Want to help us stay 100% listener supported and ad-free? We have ...
08.23.2021 Etiquette, by Emily Post, Part 2 This week, we relax and sleep with more from this classic guide to manners, and complete our education about proper introductions, handshakes, hat lifting, and the horrors of bundle-carrying. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: ...
08.16.2021 The Voyage of The Bounty to the South Sea, by Lt. William Bligh, Part 1 For our 150th episode, let’s take a relaxing trip to the South Seas aboard the good ship Bounty, which maybe you’ve heard of? Don’t worry, this bit’s mostly about breadfruit and bad weather. Sleep ahoy! Want to support us and ...
08.09.2021 Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius, Part 3 This week, let’s relax and sleep to more from this classic of Stoic philosophy, and hear all about the fleeting nature of fame, the foolishness of being too busy, and the briefness of our little lives. Want to support us ...
08.02.2021 Bird Biographies, by Alice E. Ball, Part 2 Let’s relax with more sleepy studies of the birds of eastern North America, and discover our author’s surprisingly ardent admiration of the bobwhite, which is admittedly adorable. Want to support us and help us stay ad-free? Neat! Patreon: www.patreon.com/boringbookspod Buy ...
07.26.2021 Symmes Theory of Concentric Spheres, Showing That The Earth Is Hollow, Part 2 Let’s relax and sleep with more from one of the weirder scientific theories ever conceived, that the Earth is hollow and filled with other inhabited words. Newton is mentioned, so you know it’s science. Want to support us and help ...
07.19.2021 Book of Household Management, by Isabella Beeton, Part 6 (Housemaids) Let's return to a sleepy favorite, and a day in the life of an upper and under housemaid. From blacking fire grates to making beds and buffing gilt frames with onions, it…sounds exhausting, if I’m honest. Want to support us ...

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