Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Bon Appétit

Everything You Need to Know About Nutritional Yeast, Nature’s Cheeto Dust

Here’s why this cheesy, savory seasoning deserves a spot in your pantry.

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.

Quanta Magazine

The End of Theoretical Physics as We Know It

Computer simulations and custom-built quantum analogues are changing what it means to search for the laws of nature.

Inc.

How to Become the Best in the World at What You Do

With the right approach, and a little hard work, you can do what you love and earn a living at the same time.

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.

Literary Hub

Ian Fleming Explains How to Write a Thriller

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

BBC News

Was I Wrong to Fall for a Cheating Cat?

What should you do, asks Anisa Subedar, when a persistent pussycat in the neighbourhood decides to adopt you?

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.

The Washington Post

‘Seconds Cost Lives’: Don’t Tune Out Flight Attendants on Your Next Trip

Travelers may want to ignore them, but flight attendants play the most critical role in an emergency.

SELF

5 Questions to Ask Yourself If You Think It’s Time to Dump a Friend

Does your friendship have to end or can it change instead?

BBC Future

Why Our Pursuit of Happiness May Be Flawed

It is an emotion linked to improved health and well-being, but is our obsession with being happy a recipe for disappointment, asks Nat Rutherford.

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.

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

Wednesday, July 30

NPR

Here Are the 13 Books That Made the Booker Prize Longlist

An epic fable about two young Indian writers. A dark comedy about a loner who gets a job as a chauffeur for the mega-rich.

Mother Jones

The Surgery That Reveals Everything That’s Wrong With Women’s Health Care

From "wandering wombs" to modern biases, the troubling politics of hysterectomies

The Hollywood Reporter

Is Gen X Dying Before Our Eyes?

The tragic passing of ‘Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 80's wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and heavy-metal icon Ozzy Osbourne bring on a generation’s old familiar feeling: doom.

Outside

After the Biggest Doping Bust in Years, What’s Next?

Now that the fastest marathoner in history, Ruth Chepngetich, has been caught, is it time to give up and let athletes dope?

MIT Technology Review

Chinese Universities Want Students to Use More AI, Not Less

Unlike the West, where universities are still agonizing over how students use AI in their work, top universities in China are going all in.

Vox

The Real Reason We Tip

…and why it needs to change.

Vogue

Are Drugstore Shampoos As Good As Their Expensive Counterparts?

Everything you need to know about choosing an affordable shampoo without sacrificing hair health.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Polygon

Donkey Kong Bananza’s Identity Crisis Doesn’t Get in the Way of a Good Time

Despite not knowing what kind of game it wants to be, DK’s Switch 2 adventure is a blast.

Grist

Climate Change Has Sent Coffee Prices Soaring. Trump’s Tariffs Will Send Them Higher.

From drought-stricken farms to rising trade barriers, the global coffee industry is facing unprecedented strain.

Bustle

What Is “Bankysing” in Dating? the TikTok Trend, Explained

TikTok is currently buzzing about Banksying, possibly the cruelest type of breakup.

Fast Company

AI Embarrassed Them at Work. Don’t Let This Happen to You

Employees are pressured to use AI at work, but the rules for using it are still being written, creating an environment ripe for mistakes.

NBC News

AI Models May Be Accidentally (and Secretly) Learning Each Other’s Bad Behaviors

A recent study is the latest to highlight a core AI safety concern: that the pace of development is outpacing humans’ ability to understand their own AI systems.

Delish

This 25-Minute Salmon Skillet Dinner Is the Best Way to Use Summer Tomatoes

If you turn on the oven this summer, it better be worth it, and this spiced, tomato-y summer salmon skillet is 110% worth it.

Bustle

This Wellness App Helps Prevent “Office Chair Butt”

The Wakeout app will help you beat “office chair butt” by reminding you to get up and at ‘em during your work day.

Architectural Digest

How to Style a Teen Bedroom Without Chasing Trends

Let their maturing personality shine with these designer tips.

Inc. Magazine

Let’s Talk About What Vibe Coding Is Really For

Vibe coding is a big party, and all good parties eventually get shut down. But not before all hell breaks loose.

Discover

Building Blocks of Life in Deep Space Could Mean Life Extends Further Than Once Thought

Learn more about the prebiotic molecules who’s origins come from deep space.

Vulture

Let Your Kids Watch TV. It’s Fine.

A no-guilt screen-time guide.

NPR

Are Prices Going up Because of Tariffs? Here’s What We Know

Prices have risen a tad on some items especially affected by tariffs. But for the most part, companies are finding ways to delay price increases — for now.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

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.

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.’

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.

The Cut

What If a Child Was Terrified of Food?

The rise of ARFID, a new eating disorder driven not by body image but by fear.

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.

USA TODAY

Trump’s Trade Deal With the EU: What It Means for Your Wallet

The new tariff could increase prices on goods such as cars, furniture and pharmaceuticals. Trump's tariffs are expected to raise prices by 1.8% in the short term, per the Yale Budget Lab.

CNBC

Animal Shelters Are Crowded as High Costs Squeeze Pet Owners

Millions of animals are stuck in increasingly cramped shelters because their owners are struggling to pay rising vet bills and other expenses.

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

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.