Sleep Stories to Fall Asleep Fast

Want to fall asleep quickly? Try this bedtime ghost story for adults! This reading is from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, famous for the headless horseman! Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading will help you get to sleep no time.

This spooky tale is perfect for Halloween or any time of year.

Ichabod Crane, a lanky and superstitious schoolteacher, competes for the affections of the beautiful ...

Want to fall asleep quickly? Try this relaxing reading from Dracula by Bram Stoker! Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this makes a great bedtime story for adults!

Dracula by Bram Stoker is a Gothic horror novel that revolves around Count Dracula, an ancient vampire from Transylvania, and the brave few determined to thwart his evil machinations. This famous novel is a classic tale of the most famous vampire of all ti...

A sleep audiobook in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading from Frankenstein will help you fall asleep fast! The full title is Frankenstein or, the Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley, also known as Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) Shelley.

In the shadowed halls of Ingolstadt, driven scientist Victor Frankenstein breaches the boundaries of life and death. Stitching together remnants of the departed, he births a...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of Metamorphosis offers a surreal and quietly haunting bedtime listen.

In this strange and dreamlike story by Franz Kafka, Gregor Samsa wakes one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As his family grapples with this shocking change, the tale unfolds with eerie calm, exploring themes of alienation, identity, and the fragility of human connection. A sur...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of The Art of Money Getting will help you fall asleep with clever money tips from one of history’s most famous showmen.

Written by P.T. Barnum, this short and practical guide offers simple advice on building wealth through honesty, frugality, and common sense. Whether you're curious or just looking to unwind, Barnum’s friendly and down-to-earth voice makes this a su...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading from The Lost World will help you fall asleep fast. Drift off to thoughts of misty jungles, ancient cliffs, and creatures from a forgotten time.

In this adventurous tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Professor Challenger leads a daring expedition to a hidden plateau deep in South America—one untouched by time. There, the explorers encounter dinosaurs, strange landscapes, an...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of The House of Mirth will help you drift off to sleep with its quiet reflections on beauty, society, and the longing for true connection.

In Edith Wharton’s poignant novel, Lily Bart is a charming young woman navigating the glittering but unforgiving world of New York high society. As pressures mount and her position becomes more precarious, Lily must choose between sur...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading from Heidi will help you fall asleep quickly. Imagine fresh mountain air, soft goats' bells, and the gentle hush of alpine meadows.

In this beloved children’s classic by Johanna Spyri, young Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps, where she quickly grows to love the beauty and simplicity of mountain life. With kindness, friendship, and the heal...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of the story of Romeo and Juliet will help you fall asleep fast! Escape to Renaissance Italy with this timeless story.

This bedtime retelling of Romeo and Juliet highlights the essence of Shakespeare’s beloved tale. Set against the backdrop of an age-old feud, two young lovers share a passion so deep and tender it defies the world around them—leading to a sorro...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of The Enchanted April will help you drift into peaceful dreams of wisteria-covered villas and sunlit gardens in Italy.

In this quiet and heartwarming novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, four very different women escape their dreary London lives to share a rented castle on the Italian Riviera. As they settle into the peaceful surroundings, each woman begins to heal and transfo...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading from The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle can help you dream of ancient kingdoms, shining swords, and the quiet call of destiny.

In this selection, young Arthur pulls the enchanted sword from the anvil and unknowingly fulfills his royal fate. Later, he discovers a second noble sword in a most mysterious way—one that will carry him through battles and l...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of A Room with a View will carry you gently into dreams of violet-covered hills and thoughtful awakenings in Italy and England.

In this romantic novel by E.M. Forster, young Lucy Honeychurch finds herself torn between social expectations and a freer, more passionate life after a fateful trip to Florence. Filled with gentle wit, quiet rebellion, and the stirrings of first...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of The Wind in the Willows will lull you to sleep with stories of riverbanks, cozy burrows, and woodland friends.

Join Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger in this gentle tale by Kenneth Grahame, where quiet adventures unfold along the river and through the Wild Wood. With themes of friendship, home, and the peaceful rhythm of nature, The Wind in the Willows is a timeless bedtime...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of the story of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing will help you fall asleep fast! Escape to Renaissance England with this timeless story.

This bedtime retelling of Much Ado About Nothing highlights the essence of Shakespeare’s beloved tale. In a world of sharp tongues and hidden schemes, two unlikely lovers are drawn together through wit, trickery, and ...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading from Walden will help you unwind. Enjoy the stillness of the woods, the quiet lapping of a pond, and the simplicity of a thoughtful life as you drift off to sleep.

In Walden, Henry David Thoreau reflects on his time living in a small cabin beside Walden Pond. With gentle observations about nature, solitude, and mindful living, this classic work offers a tranquil journey ...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of Ozma of Oz will help you drift off in no time. Let your dreams carry you to a magical land of talking chickens, clockwork men, and fairy-tale kingdoms.

In this enchanting entry in the Oz series, Dorothy Gale is swept away once more—this time to the land of Ev, where she meets new friends like Tik-Tok the mechanical man and Billina the chicken. As they journey together...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading from The Brothers Karamazov will help you fall asleep to Russian villages, candlelit monasteries, and deep philosophical musings.

In this famous Dostoevsky novel, the lives of the Karamazov brothers unfold through family conflict, love, and spiritual searching. With themes of faith, free will, and morality, this classic story gently explores the questions at the heart of...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of the story of Shakespeare's As You Like It will help you fall asleep fast! Escape to Renaissance England with this timeless story.

In the peaceful Forest of Arden, disguises, hidden identities, and gentle romance lead you softly toward a joyful and restful sleep.

Support the show

To hear the rest of this story (or collection) and access our entire library,...

Read in a whisper or calm reading style, this relaxing reading of The Scarlet Letter will help you fall asleep fast. Dream of candlelit streets, quiet woods, and a woman’s quiet strength in the face of judgment.

Written in 1850 by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter follows Hester Prynne, a dignified woman living in 17th-century Boston, as she endures public shame and isolation after bearing an illegitimate child. Marked by the ...