Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Scientific American

Who Created Maslow’s Iconic Pyramid?

An investigation into the real origins of Maslow's pyramid.

MEL Magazine

Why Is It So Much Harder to Be Nice to Ourselves Than to Other People?

Psychologists have the answer — and, for once, a fairly straightforward solution.

The Hustle

How Nuns Got Squeezed Out of the Communion Wafer Business

Altar bread was once made by hundreds of communities of nuns across the US. Now, a for-profit company controls nearly the entire market.

BBC Worklife

Why Overly Kind and Moral People Can Rub You up the Wrong Way

‘Do-gooders’ are often judged harshly. Why do we resent their acts of altruism or question their motives?

Stylist

The Scorpion Stretch Will Loosen Your Tight Hips and Lower Back

One of the best ways to release the tissue and decompress the bones and joints.

Outside

The Case for Killing the Campfire

Outdoor tradition or dangerous, polluting, wasteful relic of the past?

Nautilus

Never Underestimate the Intelligence of Trees

Plants communicate, nurture their seedlings, and get stressed.

The Washington Post

This Pasta Dish Makes Brussels Sprouts Taste Positively Indulgent

A recipe from Ed Barrow’s “The Monday Pasta Club” bathes the shredded sprouts in generous amounts of butter, cream and cheese.

Homes & Gardens

12 of the Best Vegetables to Grow in Pots – Easy Crops for Spaces of Any Size

There is a wide selection of vegetables that will happily grow in pots and provide you with a fantastic harvest.

Quanta Magazine

A Child’s Puzzle Helped Unlock the Secrets of Magnetism

People have known about magnets since ancient times, but the physics of ferromagnetism remains a mystery. A familiar puzzle is getting physicists closer to the answer.

Smithsonian Magazine

Seven of the Wildest and Weirdest Attempts to Curb Animal Pests

Why use fences or traps when you can use deadly viruses or lustful snakes?

Fatherly

How to Raise a Child Who Feels at Home in Their Body

A psychologist’s advice on how to talk to kids about their bodies and physical insecurities.

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, August 14

BBC

How Kentucky Bourbon Went From Boom to Bust

Tariffs, oversupply and teetotaling Gen-Zs have all contributed to the downfall of one of America’s most iconic liquors.

The Guardian

Why Do I Feel So Much Worse After a Nap – and How Can I Avoid It?

Waking up from a nap feeling groggy, tired or ill? Experts say it’s common. Here’s what could be going wrong.

The New York Times

Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens.

Over 21 days of talking with ChatGPT, an otherwise perfectly sane man became convinced that he was a real-life superhero. We analyzed the conversation.

Psyche

Why Do We Hesitate to Talk About Our Own Good Deeds?

Disclosing acts of kindness could encourage even more altruism – if we can find a way around the awkwardness.

BBC

A Dating App, a Niqab and a 9mm Gun—How a US Woman Was Hired to End a UK Family Feud

US woman Aimee Betro was hired to come to the UK to kill a Birmingham man as part of a family feud.

Food & Wine

I Tracked a Wild Salmon From Sea to Plate — What I Learned Surprised Me

Wild salmon is abundant in Alaska and coveted by chefs — but most Americans eat the cheaper, milder farmed kind. Journalist Kim Cross set out to learn why — and how to cook the real thing right.

Condé Nast Traveler

Inside the Leather Workshops of Andalusia

With a history dating back almost 1,000 years, leatherwork remains at the heart of Andalusian life—thanks to the modern-day artisans working diligently to preserve the craft.

The Dial

The Future of Climate Change Is on Mauritius

Freak tornadoes, “explosions” of jellyfish, flash floods and dried up pumps.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Conversation

Antarctic Leopard Seal ‘Songs’ Are Surprisingly Similar to Nursery Rhymes

The fact that animals don’t use words makes it hard to decode their communication. But technology is starting to make it easier.

CNN

The ‘Godfather of AI’ Reveals the Only Way Humanity Can Survive Superintelligent AI

Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “godfather of AI,” fears the technology he helped build could wipe out humanity — and “tech bros” are taking the wrong approach to stop it.

The Ringer

The Biggest Question Facing Every 202 : 6 Premier League Team

It’s that time of year again: new hopes, new stars, and plenty of unanswered questions. Here’s what to look out for.

Den Of Geek

Bob Odenkirk Thinks ‘Some Version’ of Late Night Comedy Will Survive Streaming

Exclusive: The Nobody 2 star and veteran comic considers the future of comedy, late night, and SNL.

Condé Nast Traveler

In Okinawa, the Enduring Legacy of Bingata Textiles

The art of bingata has been a quiet symbol of resilience on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Now, it’s being revived by the descendants of the textile tradition’s original practitioners.

CBS News

Only 54% of U.S. Adults Say They Drink Alcohol, a Record Low. A New Poll Shows What’s Behind the Decline.

Gallup has been tracking Americans’ drinking behavior since 1939. Here’s what a recent survey found.

Variety

Tramell Tillman on His Emotional Coming Out Story, ‘Severance’ Delays and Acting With Tom Cruise the Day After He Got ‘Mission: Impossible’ Script

Tramell Tillman could become the first Black actor to win the Emmy for supporting actor in a drama series thanks to ‘Severance.’

Scientific American

The Math Hack You Didn’t Know Was in Your Credit Card

Find out how this simple algorithm from the 1960s keeps your wallet safe.

Esquire

Jovan Adepo Is in Your Next Favorite HBO Show

The actor gave up football for acting. Fifteen years later, he’s joining Stephen King’s ‘IT’ franchise and exploring the uncomfortable in the massively-hyped ‘Welcome to Derry.’

The Atlantic

Dear James: Do I Need to Shut up at Work?

I try to temper my natural brusqueness with watercooler niceties, but sometimes I can’t help but speak up.

Nautilus

Can Humanity Stem the Plastic Tide?

Tracking the health and environmental damage of plastic as a UN treaty takes shape

Inverse

PlayStation Just Got the Most Impressive Console Game of the Generation

‘Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’ is debuting on PlayStation 5 alongside a handful of new modes and enhancements, making it the perfect time to check out the most impressive console game on the market.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CBS News

Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment Could Be 2.7% in 2026, According to New Estimate

One advocacy group estimates that Social Security recipients will get a 2.7% cost-of-living increase in 2026.

USA TODAY

Can You Afford Your Friends? That Active Social Life Can Come at a Steep Price

Maria Stevens’ credit cards are maxed out, in part because she relied on them when she was laid off, but she thinks it’s also largely because she struggles to say no to invites from her friends.

USA TODAY

These Are the Wealthiest Suburbs of America’s Biggest Cities

New York’s wealthiest suburb is Scarsdale, a name long linked to affluence. Wellesley, the most well-heeled Boston suburb, is known for academia. McLean, a high-earner enclave outside the nation’s capital, houses diplomats and spies. 

Harvard Business Review

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

You have to lay off a team member, deliver hard feedback in a tense meeting, or end the day absorbing the resignation of a top performer. No crisis. Just another Tuesday.

CNBC

Nearly 1 in 5 Older Student Loan Borrowers Are Seriously Delinquent As Trump Steps up Collections

More older student loan borrowers are struggling to pay their monthly bill, as the Trump administration ramps up its collection efforts.

CNBC

The Top 10 Colleges for Financial Aid, According to the Princeton Review

The Princeton Review ranked colleges by how generous their financial aid awards are and how satisfied students are with their packages.

Scientific American

Why ChatGPT Shouldn’t Be Your Therapist

Using AI chatbots for “therapy” is dangerous, mental health experts say. Here’s why.

CBS News

Staffing Shortages at VA Health Systems Are on the Rise, Watchdog Finds

The VA’s Office of Inspector General found facilities reported 4,434 staffing shortages this fiscal year, which is a 50% increase from fiscal year 2024.

BBC

Should We All Be Taking Vitamin Supplements?

Vitamin supplements can be an efficient way to add vitamins lacking in our diet. But they're not a silver bullet.

NBC News

These Are Smart Moves for Required Withdrawals in Retirement When You Don’t Need the Money

Social Security was the most common source of retirement income last year. But 81% of retirees had one or more types of private income.

USA TODAY

Gas Prices Are Down From Last Year. Here’s Where They Could Head Next.

July gas prices were down 2.2% from June and 9.5% from the year prior, according to the latest CPI report from the Labor Department. Why prices at the pump could continue to slip in the months ahead.

The Associated Press

Why Many Americans Are Rethinking Alcohol, According to a New Gallup Poll

After years of being told that red wine was good for heart health, more Americans appear to be heeding warnings that even moderate alcohol consumption can be unhealthy.