Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep

By: Sharon Handy
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  • Summary

  • 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.
    Copyright Sharon Handy, All Rights Reserved
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Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
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Episodes
  • Mexican Archaeology, by Thomas A. Joyce, Part 1

    Mexican Archaeology, by Thomas A. Joyce, Part 1
    May 5 2025

    Let’s voyage to sleep with this history of the peoples of Mexico, travel with migrating tribes, consider the ways geography groups languages, and ponder some origin stories of the Aztecs. Also, your reader probably mispronounces everything, so apologies in advance.


    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 “Mexican Archaeology” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/74836

    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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.
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    57 mins
  • Experimental Researches in Electricity, by Michael Faraday, Part 1

    Experimental Researches in Electricity, by Michael Faraday, Part 1
    Apr 28 2025

    Let’s attract sleep with these early experiments to master a fundamental element of modern life, electromagnetism. How do magnets create a charge? What is making that needle twitch? How did anyone ever figure this stuff out? Curiosity is a powerful force 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 “Experimental Researches in Electricity” at Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14986


    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, http://www.boringbookspod.com.
    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • 1890 Gardiner and Co. Seed Annual, Part 2, Flowers for the Garden

    1890 Gardiner and Co. Seed Annual, Part 2, Flowers for the Garden
    Apr 21 2025

    Let’s beautify our dreams with blooms, as we shop for seeds for the garden. From sweet peas to succulents, Gardiner & Co. has exactly what you need to create a wonderland of floral finesse.


    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: "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.
    Show more Show less
    51 mins
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Featured Article: The Best Sleep Podcasts to Count Your Sheep and Get Some Zzzs


Though sleep is vital, many people struggle with falling and staying asleep. It’s just not as easy as getting into bed, turning off the lights, and lulling into blissful dreams. Meditations, affirmations, bedtime stories, and thoughtful blends of music and soundscapes can help provide the background you need to get in the right headspace for sleeping. Explore some of the best sleep podcasts to help you craft a nighttime routine that supports restful slumber.

Featured Article The Best Sleep Podcasts to Count Your Sheep and Get Some Zzzs

What listeners say about Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep

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Profile Image for Ruthie Bosch

Boring Books Rock!

Ms. Handy’s wonderful voice and the excellent books she selects bore me to sleep every night. This allows me to wake up rested and ready to be engaging and not bore my college students! :-)

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Sleep like a baby

I didn’t realize how much I would love this. My favorite was the JCPenney catalog

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Profile Image for Jdcsmith83

Perfect for bedtime listening!

If you’re looking to relax and clear your mind, look no further! This is a hidden gem!

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The topics.

I find the topics interesting because these stories were written years ago. The stories are about science from years ago.

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Profile Image for Spencer Potter

Best sleep cast out there.

Sharon Handy’s reading is superbly paced. Her vocal tone is warm and soothing. The perfect mix for a relaxing listen. The source materials are delightfully dull. Interesting enough that I look forward to new updates and looking through old episodes. The range of materials from dense philosophy to cheese making and reading antique catalogs out-loud is the perfect mix of experiences. Novel enough to engage my mind and relaxing enough to let my mind doze off. If I end up sleepless, the episodes are informational enough that time awake doesn’t feel wasted, which is particularly soothing for my sleep anxiety.

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Excellent podcast for insomnia

I love everything about this podcast. I usually prefer a deep male voice (who doesn't?) but the narrator does a wonderful job of lulling me to sleep.

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Profile Image for Cari

The best/boring podcast

Does exactly what I want it to do by putting me to sleep and allowing me to focus on a story rather than all my racing thoughts. The length of story and tenor of voice is great.

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Profile Image for Annabelle marie

wish I could stay awake for a full program

I was looking for a storytelling that would be good for both myself and my four year old. The child bedtime stories all have filler noise that keep him and myself up. This podcast was our remedy. He falls asleep almost instantly with no fight, and unfortunately sometimes so do I! I've reset my bedtime routine with the expectation that his bedtime will be mine! Just an overall excellent storytelling series. A+ on voice and tempo as well.

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Interesting enough to keep me focused…

…But not too interesting that I have to start awake and found out what happens next. Perfect.

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Profile Image for kelle

Sleep magic

The best for sleep and her voice is like magic to the ears. I recommend very highly.

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