Do audiobooks help you sleep? Can reading or listening to audiobooks before sleeping improve sleep? For me, the answer is yes. I love reading and do typically find that it does help to me to wind down and relax before sleep. It also tends to bring on sleepiness for me earlier than if am on the smart phone or watching TV.
Not everyone reports these positive benefits. However, great feedback has proved that listening to audiobooks while sleeping is a helpful way to improve sleep. So, what to listen to while sleeping is a very important thing. Here I would introduce best audiobooks to fall asleep to. Now just go and read it.
Part 1. What Makes a Good Sleep Audiobook?
1. Soothing Narration
The ideal narrator's voice is both pleasant and evenly paced. However, the exact pitch and texture of the voice may be personal. For some, a low, clear voice is calming, while others prefer a softer, quieter tone. For the most part, however, audiobooks that are suitable for falling asleep should avoid narration with highly animated or varied intonations.
2. Comforting Storyline
On the one hand, this means that the story should unfold slowly, minimizing tension or excitement. Cozy stories about everyday life, gentle adventures, or calm, reflective stories are ideal. In addition, if the story content is meditative and gives spiritual resonance, it is also considered a good choice for bedtime audiobooks as it allows one to meditate before going to bed.
Aside from that, you can also choose audiobooks that you have already read and know the plot because then you won't feel the temptation to stay awake to find out what happens next.
3. Minimal Distractions
Some audiobooks will have multiple layers of sound effects and multiple narrators to make your listening more immersive, but if it's a bedtime audiobook, it's best to choose one with only one narrator and no background sound effects.
Part 2. Best Audiobooks to Fall Asleep To
#1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Narrated by: Rosamund Pike
Length: 11 hours and 35 minutes
Listen to a Sample: Available on Audible
Rosamund Pike's serene, measured narration of this classic romance is incredibly calming. The familiar plot and sophisticated language can be both engaging enough to distract a busy mind, but also repetitive and predictable enough to not keep you on the edge of your seat. The gentle pace and Pike's smooth voice make it a perfect choice for unwinding.
#2. Early Riser by Jasper Fforde
Narrated by: Thomas Hunt
Length: 15 hours and 16 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
While this is a fantasy/suspense novel, the premise is surprisingly sleep-friendly. Set in a world where everyone hibernates during the long, dangerous winter months, the narrative focuses on the peaceful life of the "Winter Consul" who stays awake. The theme of sleep, combined with Thomas Hunt's varied and soothing narration, makes for a particularly calming listen.
#3. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Narrated by: Rob Inglis
Length: 7 hours and 17 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
The world of Earthsea is a quiet, contemplative one, and Rob Inglis's reading fits it perfectly. His voice is low and calm, and the pace of the reading is slow and thoughtful. The story itself is more philosophical than action-packed, so it's not easy to wake up. This is a beautifully written story with a serene atmosphere.
#4. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
Length: 6 hours and 23 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
Neil Gaiman is known for his signature calming voice and storytelling rhythm. Norse myths are interludes of ancient myths, and Gaiman tells them at a pace that is both entertaining and incredibly soothing. While the subject matter is epic, his narration feels like listening to a series of folklore stories around a campfire.
#5. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Narrated by: Michael Hordern
Length: 6 hours and 56 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
This classic tale of Mole, Mouse and their adventures by the river is full of cozy idylls and gentle whimsical charm. Michael Horton's narration is warm and reassuring, like a cozy bedtime story. The slow, meandering narration perfectly captures the serenity of the countryside and helps the listener enter a peaceful, dreamlike realm.
#6. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Narrated by: Stephen Fry, Judi Dench, Michael Williams, Geoffrey Palmer, Jane Horrocks
Length: 2 hours and 46 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
Who better to read these classic stories than Stephen Fry? His warm, wise, and soothing voice is beloved by all. Simple, cozy, and comforting, Pooh and Friends is the perfect bedtime read. The short chapters and gentle humor are ideal for a peaceful night's sleep.
#7. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
Length: 9 hours and 44 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
Bill Bryson's narration of his fun and insightful journey on the Appalachian Trail is surprisingly sleep-friendly. His dry, witty humor and calm, matter-of-fact tone are very soothing. The book's descriptions of nature and humorous anecdotes are engaging enough to keep your mind sharp, but not so much as to make you sleepy.
#8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Scott Baker
Length: 4 hours and 55 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
For those familiar with this classic, its elegant lyrical prose will be very soothing. The storyline has ups and downs and is relatively short, so it won't keep you enthralled for long. However, the classic, unhurried narration is what makes it a good sleep audiobook. If you are an easily distracted listener, watch out for the more dramatic plot.
#9. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
Length: 1 hour and 59 minutes
Best for: Available on Audible
This warm and philosophical tale is short and delightful. The steady pace and soothing tone of Humphrey Bower, complements the contemplative nature of the story. The short length of this book makes it perfect for an evening's listening, allowing you to fall asleep before the book is over.
#10. Bedtime Stories for Stressed Out Adults by Lucy Mangan
Narrated by: Joan Walker & Jonathan Keeble
Length: 7 hours
Best for: Available on Audible
This audiobook is designed to help with sleep. It contains a series of modern, non-sensual, soothing stories with titles such as "The Sound of Snow Falling on a Quilt" and "The Joy of Tidy Drawers." The stories are intentionally written to be boring and calming, and the narrator's voice is gentle and pleasant, making it a very effective sleep aid.
Bonus Tip:
All 10 of these audiobooks are available on Audible, and you can click on the sample links to go straight to listening. If you prefer to get these calming audiobooks on a free audiobook site, check out the guide below to find where you can get and listen to one of the best audiobooks to fall asleep for FREE!
wanna enjoy audiobook everywhere with free of charge? This article introduces the best websites to download free audiobooks, DRM free audiobook.
Part 3. Tips for Using Audiobooks as a Sleep Aid
Tip 1. Use a Sleep Timer:
Setting the sleep timer allows audiobooks to stop playing automatically after a set amount of time, such as 15, 30, or 60 minutes. This prevents the story from playing all night, which not only drains your device's battery, but also gets you lost in the book. Most audiobook apps (like Audible) have a built-in timer feature. Simply select the "Sleep Timer" option and set the desired length of time before you enter dreamland. You can also shake your phone (on iOS) to extend the timer by a set amount if you're not quite asleep.
How to set the Audible sleep timer? What to do when the Audible sleep timer not working? Check out here! You can also adjust settings to improve your listening experience with your Audible sleep timer!
Tip 2. Use the Right Gear
Choosing the right listening device can make all the difference. If you're a side sleeper, earbuds may be uncomfortable; if you charge your phone and play audiobooks at night, your phone's speakers may not be loud enough and your phone may get hot. Consider using a bedside speaker or a smart home device like the Amazon Echo, Goofle Nest, or whatever you prefer.
If you primarily play audiobooks from Audible, but want to put your audiobooks on other devices that aren't integrated with Audible or don't have a good connection to ensure seamless playback of long audiobooks.
One solution is to use a third-party tool like ViWizard Audible Converter. This software lets you download Audible audiobooks and convert them to DRM-free formats such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A, M4B, and AIFF, which means that you can listen to your audiobooks on any device, and better yet, customize the pitch, volume, and speed of the narration to a point where it's best suited for you to listen to it while you sleep.
Convert any protected Audible audiobook to lossless audio, MP3, FLAC, M4A, M4B, WAV, and AIFF formats with full ID3 tags, up to 100 times faster.
Tip 3. Choose the Right Playback Speed
While the narrator's voice may be perfect, their default playback speed may be too fast to fall asleep quickly. Many audiobook apps, like Audible, allow you to adjust the playback speed. For a more soothing experience, try slowing down the narration slightly, perhaps 0.9x or 0.85x speed. This gentle pace is very effective at lulling you to sleep. Try different playback speeds to find the one that works best for you.
Do you have too many Audible audiobooks to listen quickly? Check this article to find out how to speed up the Audible books.
Tip 4. Don't Try Too Hard
The purpose of using audiobooks as a sleep aid is to relax your mind and help you sleep, not to follow a complex plot. Don't focus on every word. If you find yourself missing parts of the story, or even entire chapters, this is a good sign! It means your mind has relaxed enough to stop actively listening and drifting into asleep.
Conclusion
Finding the best audiobooks to fall asleep to isn't just about the story; it's also about finding soothing voice and gentle rhythms that help you relax. From familiar classics to calming non-fiction, these sleep-friendly audiobooks will give you the peace and quiet you need to take a break from your busy schedule.
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Matt Smith, a digital entertainment industry enthusiast at ViWizard, is dedicated to providing insightful commentary and solutions for music and media-related topics, including industry trends, analysis, and recommendations.
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