Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Atlantic

The Tchaikovsky Cure for Worry

If you have anxiety, or simply want a greater sense of well-being, getting creative is just about the best thing you can do.

Mental Floss

Can You Solve Albert Einstein’s Famous House Riddle?

Using 15 clues, see if you can figure out the answer to Albert Einstein’s famously tricky house riddle.

Literary Hub

10 Works of Labyrinthine Literature to Get Lost In

Celebrating the life and works and Jorge Luis Borges.

BBC Future

Cosmic Megastructures: The Largest Objects in the Universe

The discovery of giant superclusters of galaxies are challenging our very understanding of the Universe.

The Conversation

The Body’s Secret Weapon for Staying Healthy and Active

Flexibility is crucial for keeping your body in top shape.

PC Gamer

This Cozy Painting Game Has Me Feeling Like the Next Van Gogh

Cozy up and paint the town.

Elle

Why Won’t People Just Let Me Not Be a Mom?

No, I’m not a “fur mama,” a “plant mommy,” and I did not “birth” my book.

Glamour

How to Calm Anxiety: 23 Ways to Reduce Stress

We asked mental health experts for their favorite ways to find some calm.

The Hustle

The Economics of Broadway Shows

Even though megahits happen every few years, the formula for success remains elusive.

The Guardian

How Woodworking Is Helping People Carve Out Inner Peace

The craft is gaining popularity among those in search of a way to slow down, switch off and improve mental health.

The Atlantic

A Sneaky Theory of Where Language Came From

It might have hijacked our early ancestors’ brains.

Knowable Magazine

How to Overcome Political Polarization on Climate Change

Conversations — in real life — can help bridge the partisan divide, but the trick is to have some structure to the discussion, says a human ecologist.

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

Sunday, August 10

The Guardian

Knife Throwing and Cheeseburger Spinning: The Agony and Ecstasy of Being a Viral Trickshot Video Star

Think you could throw a basketball off a 540ft dam, into a hoop – while blindfolded? Meet the talented and ludicrously patient people putting hours into the internet’s most joyful (and pointless) clips.

BBC

How ’Keep Calm and Carry On’ Became a Divisive 21st-Century Phenomenon

After a forgotten WW2 propaganda poster was discovered in 2000, it found an astounding new resonance in 21st-Century Britain – becoming an endlessly memeable template that is both cherished and mocked.

Atavist

The Talented Mr. Bruseaux

He made his name in Chicago investigating race riots, solving crimes, and exposing corruption. But America’s first Black private detective was hiding secrets of his own.

Saveur

That Chewy, Bouncy Texture You Love Has a Name

Whether in boba tea, cuttlefish, rice noodles, or cassava dough, the texture of QQ connects people across cultures and generations.

Lifehacker

Are ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Really That Bad for You?

They’ve been linked to heart disease and other health conditions.

The New Yorker

The Internet Wants to Check Your I.D.

New safety rules require users to verify their identities before gaining access to sites. This spells the end of the relative anonymity that we’ve come to expect online.

The Hollywood Reporter

Last Call for Late Night

After 70 years of tucking America into bed, it looks like the curtain is about to come down on the late night genre. What’s being lost is more than a TV tradition but a backdrop for some of America’s most memorable moments.

Condé Nast Traveler

16 Golden Rules That Business Travelers Swear By

People who constantly hit the road for work share what they wish they’d known from the jump.

What It Means When You Fall for Your Psychiatrist

It’s surprisingly common—and not just a romantic fantasy that makes for juicy TikTok drama.

Vox

How “The Grim Reaper Effect” Stops Our Government From Saving Lives

When curing disease is bad for the federal budget.

Kiplinger

Do Baby Boomers Spend More on Travel? What You Can Learn From Each Generation

Baby Boomers lead in travel spending, but younger travelers may be getting better value. See how older travelers compare with younger ones — and what each generation can learn about smarter travel.

Word In Black

Why We Need More Diverse Special Education Teachers

Teachers of color positively impact all kids, including students with disabilities. Yet, the SPED teacher workforce is overwhelmingly white.

Parents

Here’s What Parents Need to Know About That New Instagram Map Feature

Yes, it's intrusive. And yes, you can turn it off.

Los Angeles Times

The ‘Hamilton’ Musical Movie Is Coming to Theaters This September

Ten years after its Broadway debut, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical ‘Hamilton’ will appear in movie theaters across the country on Sept. 5.

Martha Stewart

4 Flooring Trends on Their Way Out in 2025, According to Designers

Flooring can have a big impact on a room—especially when it feels outdated. Here are a few materials and finishes to avoid, according to designers.

The New York Times

Remains of 3 Victims of 9/11 Are Identified From Minuscule Evidence

New York’s medical examiner is working methodically through a backlog of bones. “We’re talking about people putting in overtime 24 years later, for us,” said the son of one victim.