Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

A Brave and Startling Truth: Maya Angelou’s Stunning Humanist Poem That Flew to Space

“Out of such chaos, of such contradiction / We learn that we are neither devils nor divines…”

Homes & Gardens

How to Clean a Microwave – Easy Ways to Get It Spotless With Vinegar, Lemon and More

Discover the experts’ advice on how to clean a microwave and rid it of debris, splashes, and lingering odors.

Fast Company

How Writing To-Do Lists Helps Your Brain (Whether Or Not You Finish Them)

To-do lists get a lot of flack, but the simple act of planning has some psychological and productivity benefits all by itself.

Quartz

Tea If by Sea, Cha If by Land: Why the World Only Has Two Words for Tea

”Tea” if by sea, ”cha” if by land.

Scientific American

Why Social Media Makes People Unhappy—And Simple Ways to Fix It

Research suggests platform designs make us lose track of time spent on them and can heighten conflicts, and then we feel upset with ourselves.

The Conversation

A Hot Bath Has Benefits Similar to Exercise

A hot bath burns calories, helps control blood sugar and keeps your blood vessels healthy. What’s not to like?

MEL Magazine

An Oral History of ‘Snake’ on Nokia

Taneli Armanto is an unsung hero of mobile gaming. Meet the Finnish software engineer who developed ‘Snake’ for the late-’90s Nokia 6110 — launching a $100 billion industry.

Literary Hub

Ian Fleming Explains How to Write a Thriller

“You have to get the reader to turn over the page.”

MIT Press Reader

Scientists Are Finally Taking Altered States of Consciousness Seriously

If we want to understand our consciousness, we must not be afraid to break new ground.

The Atlantic

How a Stroke Turned a 63-Year-Old Into a Rap Legend

The story of Dr. Rapp.

WIRED

How to Actually Find Good Recipes Online

So many food blogs and recipe sites are full of pretty pictures but untested recipes. Don’t worry, it’s possible to find something you’ll love to cook and eat.

Narratively

The Warriors of a Failed Revolution

Over fifty years ago, young idealists swore to end American injustice. When their movement splintered, their lives diverged—from quiet college prof to infamous kidnappers to filthy-rich hotelier.

Popular Collections

Curated guides to the best reads on the web

Pocket Collections

The Art of Navigating Thorny Office Politics

From bad bosses to gossipy colleagues and, of course, office refrigerator drama.

Today’s Pocket Hits

Thursday, July 31

Punch

Are Kava and Kratom Drinks Addictive?

In detox centers and online support communities, it’s called “the little blue devil.” But its real name is less insidious: “Feel Free” is a drink sold in tiny blue bottles in gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops to people 21 years or older.

Rolling Stone

How a ‘King of the Hill’ Revival Brings Hank, Bobby, and Dale Into an America Gone Mad

'King of the Hill' showrunner talks about the Hulu revival and updating the characters and stories for today's culture of political extremes.

The Walrus

Millennials Are Becoming Caregivers Whether They’re Ready or Not

Still under 40, many are responsible for aging parents while raising kids and managing debt

The Independent

Meet the Childfree Communities Planning for a Future Without Kids

As increasing numbers of us can’t or won’t have children, Helen Coffey talks to those who are planning their lives without a nuclear family, and investigates why government policy has yet to catch up with this rapidly growing demographic.

The San Francisco Standard

‘Jerry Is Rolling in His Grave’: The Deadheads Boycotting Anniversary Shows 

Some Deadheads are sidestepping San Francisco entirely ahead of the anniversary shows. “There’s no more Grateful Dead family — this is a business, through and through,” one said.

The American Scholar

Hundreds and Thousands

I didn’t know how you could inventory memories. I might search for a particular one, bring it up, dust it off. But how to count five days’ worth?

The Hustle

The Only State Without a Walgreens Pharmacy

Many independent pharmacies are in turmoil throughout the US. But a unique law has made North Dakota a haven for mom-and-pop operators.

ProPublica

Now That They’re Free

Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration say they endured months of physical and mental abuse inside a Salvadoran prison. Though happy to be home, they say the fact that they were released is proof of how senseless their detentions were.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Hollywood Reporter

Knives Out: Celebrities Reveal Plastic Surgery Secrets—but One Procedure Still Taboo

Knives out: Cosmetic surgery is finally out of the closet, turning actors into evangelists and top doctors into superstars, yet there’s still a very common procedure that nobody wants to talk about.

Axios

Trump’s Billion-Dollar Settlement Spree

A potential $500 million settlement with Harvard would be the largest scalp to date.

The Hollywood Reporter

What’s Behind Universal Music Group’s U.S. Stock Listing Plan?

How soccer violence and the meaning of “intrinsic value” plays into the plan to list UMG in both Amsterdam and New York.

Vanity Fair

Remembering Wallis Annenberg, “The Brooke Astor of Los Angeles”

She disliked the term “giving money away.” Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who died at 86 at her home in Los Angeles on Monday, much preferred “using it wisely,” which she did—and often.

Education Week

Sandy Hook Survivor: Teachers Need a Louder Voice in School Safety Debates

Aspiring teachers also need the opportunity to talk about gun violence during their time in college, Abbey Clements said.

Boston

The Great Massachusetts Nicotine Prohibition

Smart public health policy or government overreach? Bay State will soon decide.

Martha Stewart

8 Smart Ways to Avoid Getting Stung by a Wasp

Don’t let stinging pests ruin your time outdoors. Learn expert-approved tips for avoiding getting stung by wasps and keeping wasps away.

NBC News

Superhero Movies Are Back, but They’re Sharing the Spotlight

“Superman” and “The Fantastic Four” join a summer box office bonanza fueled by audiences hungry for big movies on even bigger screens.

NPR

Teen Artists Portrayed Their Lives — Some Adults Didn’t Want to See the Full Picture

“What is it like to be a teen right now?” Young artists explored that question for two different exhibitions of their work this summer. But on the National Mall, their work was deemed too political.

Time

How to Excel at Small Talk When You Have Social Anxiety

Script yourself some go-to phrases ahead of time.

Parents

Your Teen Was Unproductive This Summer—What Now?

Gen Z teens experience more pressure than ever to be productive and active during their time off. Here’s what to know if your teen spent most of their time on the couch during the summer.

Smithsonian Magazine

Seventy Years Ago, Johnny Cash Recorded ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and Became a Folk Hero for the Ignored and Downtrodden

A man of the people, the artist put his money where his mouth was by visiting prisons around the country and performing the song

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Maclean’s

Confessions of the Working Poor

I work hard, buy quality clothes and know how to fake my way through dinner-party conversations. But behind the scenes, I’m part of a fast-growing Canadian underclass.

CNBC

Back-to-School Shopping Is More Expensive This Year — Here’s the Breakdown

This year, parents will pay more for back-to-school essentials such as pens, pencils and backpacks.

CNBC

While the Fed Kept Its Benchmark Unchanged, Here’s What Happened to Consumer Borrowing Rates

When it meets this week, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep its key short-term interest rate at its current target range — where it has stayed for all of 2025.

CNN

‘Ozempic Face’ May Be Driving a Cosmetic Surgery Boom

“You can only refill a deflated balloon so much, and often surgical intervention is necessary.”

The New York Times

Study May Undercut Idea That Cash Payments to Poor Families Help Child Development

Rigorous new research appears to show that monthly checks intended to help disadvantaged children did little for their well-being, adding a new element to a dispute over expanded government aid.

The Guardian

Trust Your Gut and Fail Bravely: Seven Influential Women on the Advice They Would Give Their 30-Year-Old Selves

It’s tempting to imagine what we might have done differently. But, as Diana Nyad says: ‘We earn our wisdom.’

Vox

How to Make the Hardest Choices of Your Life

From picking a career to picking a spouse, one radical philosophical idea will guide you.

NPR

In a First, the Senate Confirms a New CDC Director

Susan Monarez is the first director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to require Senate confirmation. She’s also the first director without a medical degree in more than 70 years.

CNBC

Even Many High-Earning Americans Don’t Feel Wealthy. Here’s Why

Many high earners in the U.S. still feel broke. Between lifestyle creep, debt and social pressure, even $200,000 per year doesn’t always buy peace of mind.

The Guardian

‘It Would Destroy Me’: Fear of Student Loan Default Haunts US Borrowers

The Trump administration has ended the pandemic-era pause on repayments, leaving many facing colossal debts.

NPR

The Manhattan Gunman Believed He Had CTE. What Does That Mean?

The gunman accused of killing four people in New York City suspected he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE — a degenerative brain disease often associated with football players.

The Associated Press

If You Don’t Have Diabetes, Do You Really Need a Continuous Glucose Monitor?

A quarter-size device that tracks the rise and fall of sugar in your blood is the latest source of hope — and hype — in the growing buzz around wearable health technology.