Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Apartment Therapy

70% vs. 91% Isopropyl Alcohol: Which Disinfects Better?

A microbiologist chimes in on which rubbing alcohol is most effective.

MIT Press Reader

The Breakthrough Problem, or Why the Drugs Don’t Work Like They Used To

Thinking may have become easier, but thinking big is as challenging as ever.

MEL Magazine

Why Talking to Strangers Is the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Mental Health

If we can only break through the awkwardness barrier, striking up conversations at random is the cheapest form of therapy there is.

Knowable Magazine

Moving Trees North to Save the Forests

As the world warms, trees in forests such as those in Minnesota will no longer be adapted to their local climates. That’s where assisted migration comes in.

GQ

You’re Probably Not Getting Enough Fiber: Add These 5 High-Fiber Foods to Your Plate

The least sexy macronutrient finally gets its time to shine—here’s everything to know about consuming fiber.

CityLab

The Timeless Bliss of Eating Hometown Food

For many travelers, a trip back to where they grew up is a chance to revisit the local haunts they spend the rest of the year craving.

Mental Floss

When George Washington Kept a Smallpox Epidemic From Costing Him the American Revolution

Smallpox vaccination was banned in America during the Revolutionary War, but George Washington was determined to protect his army no matter what.

Aeon

How to Tell the Difference Between Persuasion and Manipulation

Is the difference in the language used, the outcome achieved, or the intent of the influencer?

Vogue

The Best Time to Eat Dinner, According to the Experts

Is it better to stick to a strict meal schedule or eat when you’re hungry? Health experts share advice.

Narratively

My Teenage Life After Leaving a Cult

I spent my childhood waiting for the apocalypse. When it never came, I grasped at anything I could to feel in control.

Glamour

Self-Care Didn’t Work for My Anxiety—Medicine Did

After months of trying to will away panic attacks, I realized there was a problem with the Internet’s wellness complex.

Epicurious

How to Fix Mushy Rice, Undercooked Rice, Crunchy Rice, and More Rice-Cooking Fails

It’s time for you to master steaming rice once and for all.

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

Saturday, July 19

The Week

Why Your Body Ages Rapidly in Two ‘Bursts’

Scientists have found that ageing increases in our mid-40s and 60s.

Los Angeles Times

AI Can Write a Scene. It Can Pitch a Movie. So What Happens to the Screenwriters?

As generative AI reshapes Hollywood, screenwriters like Billy Ray, Paul Schrader, Bong Joon Ho and Todd Haynes, along with a new class of tech disruptors, are navigating the uncertain future of storytelling.

New York Magazine

Inside the Media’s Traffic Apocalypse

The whole premise of internet publishing is starting to crumble.

The 19th

She Helped Get Rid of Measles in Her County. This Is Her Advice on Stopping Its Spread.

Lubbock County in Texas has been free of measles cases for more than 50 days. But Katherine Wells, director of the Lubbock Health Department, is staying vigilant.

Vanity Fair

What I Witnessed Inside an ICE Women’s Prison

Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk opens up about her 45 days in a South Louisiana processing facility—and the generous and compassionate women she met.

Virginia Quarterly Review

Dark Ride to the Source

Holding on to Joy at Disneyland.

NPR

4 Confidence-Boosting Ways to Overcome the Fear of Flirting in Real Life

Does talking to a cute stranger make your palms sweat? Confidence coach Regina Bonds offers advice on to how to put yourself out there, including how to show interest without coming off as creepy.

The New Atlantis

Does Marriage Have a Future?

From the Industrial Revolution to the pill to AI girlfriends, technology is unbundling what used to be marriage’s package deal.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Narwhal

The Climate Is in Chaos. Housing Is Unattainable. This First Nation Is Building Homes to Face Turbulent Times

The B.C. First Nation is building energy efficient, affordable homes grounded in culture

Los Angeles Times

Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Becomes Hollywood’s First $1-Billion Movie of 2025

Disney’s live-action adaptation ‘Lilo & Stitch’ has become the first U.S. film of the year to gross $1 billion in worldwide box office revenue.

Axios

Trump’s Soft-Power Retreat Scrambles U.S.-China Race

The administration has stepped back from key arenas in which the U.S. has sought to blunt China’s rise.

Inc. Magazine

Why Employees Are Shrinking Their Vacation Plans

Data indicates fewer workers intend to travel this summer than usual, with those who are planning shorter trips and briefer periods away from work to limit spending, as concerns over inflation and employment persist.

Harper's Bazaar

The Triumphant Return of Body Sprays

Why are these light fragrance mists coming back into the limelight? One writer finds out.

NBC News

Cost of Obamacare Expected to Soar As Subsidies Expire and Insurers Hike Premiums

People who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could see increases of more than 75% each month, one expert said.

Outside

You Don’t Need to Summit to Call It a Hike

Most hikers are summit-obsessed, but how much is too much? Here’s why I’d rather enjoy the experience than celebrate the checklist.

Quanta Magazine

How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper

Fundamental technique lets researchers use a big, expensive “teacher” model to train a “student” model for less.

Business Insider

How AI Is Helping Healthcare Startups Multiply Their Patients and Chase Profits

Healthcare startups are betting that AI can help them do more with less — including in caring for patients.

Fast Company

What Every Manager Should Know About ADHD

“Leaders need to recognize that everyone has a brain as unique as their fingerprint.”

Longreads

The Top 5 Longreads of the Week

Showcasing stories from Aaron Parsley, David Peisner, Leah Zani, Joseph Earl Thomas, and Matt Reynolds.

Gizmodo

Gastrointestinal Cancers Are Surging Among Young Americans, and No One Is Quite Sure Why

More people under 50 are being diagnosed with GI cancers, with rates rising particularly rapidly in the U.S.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Walrus

Before You Share That Health Tip, Read This

Misinformation is everywhere. And yes, some of it has probably gotten to you.

Money.com

Why You Probably Need Flood Insurance — Even if You Don't Live Near Water

Over the Fourth of July weekend, parts of central Texas were devastated by flash floods after the region was hit with the equivalent of four months' worth of rain in just a few hours. At least 134 people were killed, and more than 100 are still missing as of press time.

Yahoo

What Is ‘Revenge Saving,’ and Should You Hop on the Trend?

“Revenge saving” emphasizes making up for poor financial habits by being aggressively frugal or restrictive with your current spending.

GQ

What to Wear to a Job Interview, According to Hiring Experts

Make sure your suit fits, don’t dress too sexy, and other essential advice from professionals in law, tech, finance, and marketing.

Kiplinger

I Want to Buy an Annuity, but I’m Scared I’ll Get Ripped Off. Should I Get One Anyway?

An annuity is a way to achieve lifetime income in retirement, but you need to understand how this product works before making a purchase.

NPR

‘Panicking’: Why Recent College Grads Are Struggling to Find Jobs

Recent college graduates are facing one of the most challenging job markets in years — with the exception of the pandemic period — even as the overall unemployment rate remains low.

Business Insider

The Hot New MBA Hustle

Millennials’ hottest new career pivot: ditching the corporate grind to run unsexy small businesses.

CNBC

These College Majors Have the Best Job Prospects — and They Aren’t What Students Expect

Which college major students choose often has significant implications for job prospects and future career potential.

The Walrus

Why Everyone You Know Is Suddenly a Birder

A pandemic pastime has grown into something deeper.

The New York Times

You Saved and Saved for Retirement. Now You Need a Plan to Cash Out.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they are more worried about running out of money in retirement than dying, and many retirees could be on track to turn that fear into a stark reality.

Fast Company

Why Do We Trust Certain People (Even When We Shouldn’t)?

The science of who is (and isn’t) trustworthy. Why are some people perceived as more trustworthy than others?

Harvard Business Review

Leading Is Emotionally Draining. Here’s How to Recover.

Emotional depletion is a real and significant tax of modern leadership. Recovery is no longer a luxury.