Updated at: 26-02-2022 - By: Jane

My roommate, Winston, had been listening to an audiobook on his tape player while I was having problems falling asleep for days. It was my first trip away from home, and it was difficult to get a good night’s sleep in the Never Sleeping City. No kid in an American suburb would be able to sleep well at night after hearing the unfamiliar sounds of gunfire and sirens at Bedford Park and Grand Concourse.

When I was a kid, I was hooked on books. As an ardent reader, I was also a bit of a snob, feeling that the only way to truly enjoy a narrative was to read it on paper. That’s why when I first heard the phrase “HarperAudio Presents The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” I couldn’t make out anything. Who in their right mind would want to add additional noise to the circus that is already going on around us?

No problem there! I was too fatigued to dispute because it was a children’s title and it was 11 at night. Just turn it off when he goes to sleep.

But that wasn’t the case. I was transported back to being a small child being read to by my father as we settled into our beds.

My worries about adjusting to life in New York City and missing my family were absorbed into the plot by the time I finished the audiobook. I soon fell asleep soundly.

Music, TV, and Audiobooks – The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown (Mostly)

MUSIC – The Good

Almost from the moment we were born, music has been a sleep aid. Lullabies and classical music have been used to soothe children for centuries. In the 21st century, artists like Radiohead, LORDE, and Adele have helped them go off to sleep. Even one of my close friends can’t sleep unless Kanye is playing in the background.

It didn’t work for me when I tried it.

In a research conducted in 2006, students with sleep problems listened to classical music while they tried to drift off to sleep. When it came to sleep quality, those who listened to music had a considerable advantage over those who didn’t. This is only one of many studies showing how relaxing music can be for people’s sleep patterns.

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Visit our page on the Best Sleep Music for more information.

TV – The Bad

Not only did our parents warn us that watching TV would damage our brains, but now a growing body of medical and scientific research suggests that it may also harm our ability to have a good night’s sleep.

According to experts at Harvard Medical School, blue light from screens delays the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. This type of light is distinguished by its short wavelengths, which are capable of releasing a lot of power. It is possible that these wavelengths can penetrate the eye, causing the mind to be more attentive and potentially resetting the body’s internal clock, or our circadian rhythm.

This means that the body and mind aren’t ready to fall asleep when melatonin production is impaired.

Loma Linda University conducted the research for this study.

AUDIOBOOKS – The Unknown

In terms of night-time listening, where do audiobooks fall?

As a media, audiobooks and podcasts aren’t new, but their appeal has increased significantly in recent years. Despite the fact that so many people tune in to these shows immediately before going to bed, there is surprisingly little research on how effective they are at lulling them to sleep.

Music has been shown to help people who have difficulty sleeping in a study conducted in 2006, as previously noted. Using audiobooks as a variable, this study found a small improvement in sleep quality, even if it wasn’t considered “statistically significant.”

Despite the lack of scientific support for audiobooks, there is still a nightly benefit to listening to these books.. Blue light disruptors such as social media, television, and other sleep-robbing devices can be reduced by listening to audiobooks at night. They may also help you relax by taking your mind off of the stresses of daily life. You also get to read more, which is a win-win!

Does Reading While Sleeping Make People More Intelligent?

Yes, I’d like to say that. You can become a more intelligent person by listening to audiobooks while you’re in deep sleep.” That would be a huge help. However, the truth is that it doesn’t truly work.

While sleeping, people have been reported to improve their foreign language skills and recall experiences that were processed through the auditory system. Sleepers have also been shown to be able to pick up new information when they’re asleep.

Isn’t that something out of a sci-fi novel? Is it possible to learn quantum physics and ancient Aztec languages while snoozing? Even though it was amazing in and of itself, the information that was gleaned wasn’t all that interesting. Recalling particular sound patterns while asleep was also possible, according to the reports.

There’s a lot to be said about long-term memory. People who want to remember knowledge better may benefit from listening to a book that recounts the material. However, the idea of studying while you sleep isn’t yet relevant to audiobooks.

Students preparing for an exam or test may benefit from listening to instructional resources. Listening to a book in a foreign language can assist people learn a new language, although there are no studies to support this claim.

Listening to audiobooks while you’re sleeping isn’t likely to raise your IQ. However, it is unlikely to have any effect on it. It’s simply a little inconvenience if you wake up to find that your audiobook has been playing all night.

Tips

How to Select the Best Book

It’s critical to try different things when listening to audiobooks as you sleep. Listen to a variety of genres and see which one helps you relax and drift off to sleep the best. Some books are better for sleeping than others, and it’s up to you to decide what works best for you.

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When I can’t sleep, it’s usually because I’m worrying about something or because I’ve had a brilliant thought. Here’s an example of how an audiobook didn’t work for me in the second scenario:

My life’s work is to tell stories on screen and in other mediums. I downloaded a screenwriting guide called Save the Cat a few weeks ago. While lying in bed, I made a terrible mistake by listening to this. All of a sudden, I was bursting with tale concepts. Before I knew it, I was scribbling them all down on my computer. I couldn’t go to sleep because I was so enthralled by what I was hearing and writing.

The upshot was that I slept very little and had a difficult day at work the next day.

This was a poor choice for bedtime listening, even if I was enjoying the book.

It’s crucial to know your personality type before you start listening to audiobooks. If you’re able to drift off to sleep while listening to a nice narrative, by all means do so. Nonetheless, if you’re the type of person who gets sucked into the story and can’t wait for the next big scene to fall asleep, fast-paced stories may not be for you.

Because creative nonfiction and fiction tend to be more engrossing, historical books can be excellent alternatives.

It’s also a good idea to read self-help books. Nick Littlehales, the author of “Sleep,” has written a book about sleep called “Sleep,” which is a lot more interesting than you may think.

If you’re not careful, self-help literature might potentially keep you awake at night. People can have a very restless night if they start thinking about all the ways they can quickly better their lives.

In recent years, podcasts have grown in popularity as an alternative to audiobooks. History, technology, cinema, and more are among the topics covered. Regardless of your interests, you’re sure to find a podcast on the subject that will help you go off to sleep.

It is he/she who is telling the story.

A good book can be ruined by a poor narration. Similarly, a competent narrator with a calming voice may put you to sleep in a matter of minutes. In order to fall asleep while listening to an audiobook, the narrator may be more crucial than the book itself.

Whenever I’m stumped as to what to listen to, Harry Potter is my go-to audiobook. Not only do I enjoy the stories, but I know them so well that I don’t actually need to listen in order to keep up with them. There is no doubt that Jim Dale’s performance will put me to sleep in less than five minutes.

Additionally, many authors read their own novels in audiobooks. Side comments and ad libs that are not included in the printed versions are common.

Try a variety of narrators, just like with genres. You should persist with a sleep aid for as long as you can if you find one that works for you.

Set a Sleep Inducer.

Timer options are available in most audiobook apps. This helps them get to sleep faster and makes it easier to pick up where they left off the next day.

Depending on how long you estimate it will take you to fall asleep, this feature can be configured to a different period of time. Even after the end of a chapter, these might be configured to expire.

Listen to the world around you without using your phone.

Listening to an audiobook while doing other things like checking email, Instagram, or even Tinder can be a tempting option. Lock your phone, turn down the lights, and let the book to do its thing for you. Listening to a book while trying to go asleep is a great way to get some shut-eye.

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Audio Book Sources

Subscription services have made media, including audiobooks, more accessible than ever before. There are numerous titles that cost up to $50 per on their own. It’s easy to find nice books at reasonable prices at these locations.

Audible

In the world of online books, Amazon is the undisputed leader. Readers can download a free book for 30 days as part of a free trial. After that, it’s $14.95 for one download each month to use their service. Listeners can exchange books they’ve finished or don’t like for extra credit, and they get access to hundreds of thousands of titles.

Libby

By using Microsoft OneDrive’s Libby service, you can access online libraries. The library’s ebooks and audiobooks can be accessed through this portal. A smaller selection of titles (or a longer wait time) may result from this method, but it is free to use and requires only a copy of your library card and the app.

Podcasts

There are several fantastic places to find decent podcasts, however they aren’t exactly a resource per se. Apple, Spotify, and a slew of others Even a podcast called Sleep With Me is dedicated to helping grownups fall asleep. You can utilize YouTube to extend your search, but if you do this route make sure not to watch, turn your phone screen facing down so that you are forced to only listen to the audio.

The Library

This is how I got my start in the industry. As a last resort, you can always go to your local library and borrow CD or cassette audiobooks, which can then be listened to. Find out what’s available at your local branch.

A Starting Place

I’ve previously linked a few novels, but here are a few more audiobooks and podcasts that I think are worth checking out.

  • Amy Poehler reads the book Yes Please, written by Amy Poehler.
  • In Jill Tanner’s narration of Ian McEwan’s Atonement,
  • There is an adaptation of The X-Files: Cold Cases narrated by several artists from Joe Harris, Chris Carter, and Dirk Maggs to the television series.
  • Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, read by Scott Brick.
  • Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls and narrated by Anthony Heald
  • Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried, narrated by Bryan Cranston, is out now.
  • Rob Inglis narrates J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring.
  • Anthony Heald’s narration of Homer’s The Iliad
  • Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People narrated by Stephen R. Covey.
  • Jason Isaacs reads Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls.

Podcasts

  • A Sarah Koenig-hosted podcast called Serial
  • Otis Gray hosts a sleepy show.
  • It’s Drew Ackerman’s “Sleep with Me”
  • The Paul Scheer and Amy Nicholson Unspooled podcast is available for listening and downloading.

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Honorable Mentions

These audiobooks and podcasts are excellent, but you may find them too entertaining or humorous to sleep with them on. However, there are certain people who can fall asleep to them, and I am one of them.

  • narrated by Jim Gaffigan is Jim Gaffigan’s Dad Is Fat.
  • Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, read by Rodger Wayne
  • Wil Wheaton narrates Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.
  • In Fred Sanders’ narration of Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run,
  • Dax Shepard is the host of Armchair Expert.

Conclusion

To properly understand how audiobooks may or may not benefit sleepers, more research is needed. However, they are not suitable for everyone, especially if you need a good night’s sleep.

A good narrative can keep some individuals up, while others can easily fall asleep. You’ll have to give one a shot to find out for yourself.

Even if they don’t work as a sleep aid, you’ve at least discovered a new way to appreciate a book. Regardless, I’ll continue to use them when the lights go off. It’s time to go to sleep!

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