Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Guardian

How to Spot a Liar: 10 Essential Tells – From Random Laughter to Copycat Gestures

An ex-FBI agent, a psychologist and a fraud investigator share their best tips for detecting dishonesty.

Aeon

My Mom

I love her and it’s a secret. I love her so much it kills me, and you bet I’d sooner die than tell her.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

The Good Luck of Your Bad Luck

Marcus Aurelius on the Stoic strategy for weathering life’s waves and turning suffering into strength.

Bon Appétit

Peach and Prosciutto Sandwich

A sandwich that’s sure to be your next picnic MVP.

Fast Company

Want to Cut Your Work Hours in Half? Create an A/B Schedule

"You can get more done with more power to spare."

Glamour

This Easy Trick Will Give You Heavenly, Fluffy Pancakes in Minutes

You can making perfect brunch pancakes with this recipe, even if your cooking skills usually rely on a microwave.

The Conversation

There Are 2 Main Ways to Stretch: How to Choose the Way Right for You

There are many different types of stretching, but the two most common are static and dynamic stretching.

Nautilus

How to Understand Extreme Numbers

Some numbers are so large they are difficult to grasp, yet still necessary.

Esquire

How to Wear Cologne

They’re not rules; they're guidelines. And they’ll help you find the right spritz for you.

GQ

The True Story of the ‘Ferrari’ Crash That Changed Racing Forever

‘Ferrari’ recreated a bygone—and often deadly—age of motorsports.

Country Living

Pro Tips For Your Car Camping Adventure

Explore America like you haven’t before.

Atlas Obscura

The Brief, Baffling Life of an Accidental New York Neighborhood

Welcome to Haberman, Queens: Population 0.

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

Monday, July 28

The Guardian

The Rise and Fall of the British Cult That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated.

The Guardian

How Video Games Are Keeping Romance Alive – One Level at a Time

Some are using Final Fantasy and GTA Online as dating sites and long-time lovers are finding comfort and connection through Resident Evil. Could video games be the ultimate relationship tool?

Vanity Fair

How Goop Culture Helped Create MAHA

The California-based gynecologist and Gwyneth biography source, Dr. Jen Gunter, on everything from how she views Gwyneth Paltrow’s legacy to the most difficult aspects of fighting pseudoscience claims.

Business Insider

Return Fraud Is Running Rampant

Whether it’s sending back broken items or claiming a package never arrived, Americans are committing return fraud at Amazon and other retailers.

Esquire

What I Didn’t Understand About My Autistic Son, and What I’m Learning Now That He’s an Adult

I have opened my heart and my mind to Sam, and he’s brought both of us to the place we so desperately need to be.

Vox

Why Your Energy Bill Is Suddenly So Much More Expensive

And why it’s not getting cheaper any time soon.

NPR

Are High-Protein Snacks Worth the Hype? Here’s How to Assess

Protein has taken over the packaged-snack aisles at the grocery store. But do you need extra protein in your chips and muffins?

SELF

3 Simple Steps to Keep Your Bananas From Rotting Way Too Soon

Expert-approved strategies for extending the life of this potassium-packed—but short-lived—fruit.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

NBC News

As Texas Plows Ahead With New Maps, Governors Grapple With the Prospect of Mid-Decade Redistricting

Some Democrats are urging governors in other states to counter Texas Republicans with their own redistricting efforts, despite major obstacles.

CBS News

U.S. Postal Service to Celebrate 250th Anniversary Amid Trump Threats to Privatize

The USPS is celebrating with two new commemorative stamps and a celebration at the Smithsonian on July 26.

SELF

5 High-Protein Vegan and Vegetarian Breakfasts to Power Your Morning

Eating plant-based may be good for the environment (not to mention you!), but it can make it tougher to get enough of certain nutrients from food alone, including one key macro: protein.

Real Simple

Hummus Vs. Guacamole: Which Dip Packs More of the Good Fats?

Hummus and guacamole are both healthy dips, but is one healthier than the other? Registered dietitians compare the dips and decide which one is more nutritious.

The Conversation

Mysterious Fossil May Rewrite Story of Skin and Feather Evolution in Reptiles

The fossil creature has outgrowths on its back that are neither hair nor feathers.

Polygon

Inside the Explosive ‘Brainrot’ Game That’s Got Millions of Kids Crashing Out

’Steal A Brainrot’ has become the biggest game on Roblox by making kids miserable.

Inverse

The First Great Crime Thriller Changed Cinema Forever

An iconic actor's only foray into directing is one of the most haunting and influential movies in cinema history.

Mashed

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork That’s Sweet, Tangy, and Got a Kick

This slow cooker recipe transforms pork butt into the ultimate sandwich filler. Canned cranberry sauce and chipotles add a mix of sweetness, tartness, and heat.

BBC

Screams and Chaos: The Moments After Bangladesh Fighter Jet Hit a Primary School

At least 31 people were killed, many of them schoolchildren, when a fighter jet crashed into a school in Dhaka.

Marie Claire

Laufey Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What’s on Her Playlist Now

The Icelandic singer told us what she grew up listening to, from jazz to 2000s pop, and opened up about her upcoming album ‘A Matter of Time.’

CBS News

A Dog Trainer Had No Symptoms. A Scan of His Lungs Found a Terminal Disease

Christopher Kennedy didn’t think anything was wrong. Soon, doctors were telling him a double lung transplant was his only option.

Reuters

Trump Signs Order Aimed at Curbing Big-Money College Sports Payouts

President Donald Trump waded into a debate over the influence of big-money payouts in college sports on Thursday, signing an executive order adding federal government scrutiny to the practice.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Parents

A Parent Let Their Son Choose What to Do With Money They Found–Here’s What He Decided

Doing real-time experiments like this in the wild can teach us a lot about our kids and ourselves as parents.

NPR

Dear Life Kit: My Friend Says Ugly Things About Her Body and It Makes Me Anxious

Body-acceptance advocate Katie Sturino and Ronald Young Jr., host of the podcast Weight for It, answer listener questions about body image, weight loss drugs and bullying.

Harvard Business Review

The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation

Before commercial pilots push back from the gate, they complete a comprehensive preflight check to verify that every system functions correctly during the journey ahead.

The Atlantic

The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards

Their fees are getting higher—and their benefits are sometimes wildly complicated to redeem.

Kiplinger

Are You an Auto Theft Target? Discover the Clues

Thieves seized over 850,000 cars last year. See which models, states and behaviors draw the eyes of opportunists.

NPR

Home Sales Are Down. So Why Are Prices at an All-Time High?

Those with equity in a home can trade up more easily, while many first-time homebuyers are still stuck on the sidelines.

Fast Company

How to Go From Quiet to Commanding

An executive coach offers introverts five tips for sounding more confident. You’re smart, capable, and consistently deliver results. But in meetings, your voice disappears.

USA TODAY

Young People Always Worry About Social Security. Older People Are Joining Them.

Americans are worrying more about Social Security, and the Trump administration may be partly to blame.  In an AARP survey released July 22, only 36% of Americans voiced confidence in the future of the retirement trust fund, down from 43% in 2020.

USA TODAY

Estate Sales Are Booming. Thank Gen Z

Environmentally-conscious young people are heading to estate sales for low cost, well-made products.

The Week

How Will the New Tax Deductions on Auto Loans Work?

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited.

The Guardian

‘Old People Are Capable of More’: Meet the Female Weightlifters in Their 70s and 80s

Forget the stereotype of the frail old woman who needs help carrying groceries – fitness mavens like Joan MacDonald show you can strength train at any age.

NPR

Doctors Urge FDA to Remove Black Box Warning on Hormone Therapy for Menopause

The FDA may remove the warning labels on hormone replacement therapies used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Doctors say the warning is scaring people who could benefit from these treatments.