Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Narratively

The Portly Victorian Undertaker Who Launched the World’s First Low-Carb Craze

William Banting tried every 19th century weight-loss fad. Polite society was shocked when he unveiled the method that finally worked.

Literary Hub

25 Classic Crime Books You Can Read in an Afternoon

Terse, atmospheric brilliance in under 200 pages.

Aeon

To Be Happier, Focus on What’s Within Your Control

If you truly understand the difference between what is and what is not under your control, and act accordingly, you will become psychologically invincible, impervious to the ups and downs of fortune.

Greater Good Magazine

How to Overcome a Stubborn Regret

Regret can increase stress and negatively affect your physical health.

BBC Future

How Our Eyes Can Change Color Throughout Our Lives

Through apparently spontaneous change or through mishap or illness, our eyes can change color in surprising ways.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

When Your Parents Are Dying: The Simplest, Most Difficult and Redemptive Life-Advice You’ll Ever Receive

“Death makes human beings seem like very small containers that are packed so densely we can only be aware of a fraction of what’s inside us from moment to moment.”

The Kitchn

5 Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners with 5 Ingredients

Easy weeknight cooking at its finest.

Popular Science

Snake Hunt

Stalking pythons in Florida with a team of cold-blooded killers.

Fast Company

How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself at Work

If you’ve ever been on the cusp of achieving something big, then done something dumb to screw it up, you might be engaging in workplace self-sabotage.

Scientific American

How Does a Caterpillar Turn into a Butterfly?

To become a butterfly, a caterpillar first digests itself. But certain groups of cells survive, turning the soup into eyes, wings, antennae and other adult structures.

The Guardian

‘It’s Mind-Boggling’: The Hidden Cost of Our Obsession With Fish Oil Pills

The market in this prized commodity is worth billions—but are the supposed benefits worth the cost to global ecosystems?

The Washington Post

Getting an Airport Uber Has Become an Absolute Obstacle Course

How ride-hailing went from easy to one of the most challenging parts of air travel.

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 5

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

A new book considers how weight lifting can help you unlearn diet culture.

CNN

Here’s Who Stands to Gain From the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ And Who May Struggle

President Donald Trump has promised that the “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress will be one of the most successful pieces of legislation in American history.

The New York Times

He’s Ringo. And Nobody Else Is.

As he turns 85, one of the last surviving Beatles is still musically curious, dispensing his signature wisdom, and preaching the gospel of peace and love.

Bon Appétit

An Inside Look at the Best Snack Trends at the Summer Fancy Food Show

At the Comic Con of snacks, we track down the latest in sweet treats, sauces, and drinks.

Reuters

They Tried Made in the USA. It Was Too Expensive for Their Customers.

Tens of thousands of American small and midsize manufacturers are facing the choice between paying steep tariffs on Chinese imports or taking on significantly higher domestic production costs.

New York Magazine

'People Want That African Euphoria'

Black Americans are moving to Ghana — and driving up the cost of living for everyone around them.

KCRW

Want Better Bakes? Here’s What Your Ingredients Actually Do

Pastry chef Nicola Lamb sifts through the essential ingredients of baking — flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Boston

Did We Ruin Summer Camp by Making It Safe?

The kids are all right—but are they missing out?

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The A.V. Club

Spinal Tap Defined a Real Genre With a Fake Band

The Spinal Tap rockers led by Christopher Guest played real music, shot direct cinema, and changed mock-docs forever.

The 19th

Black Women’s Unemployment Is Rising. Economists Say It’s a Warning Sign.

Unemployment rates over the past year have remained largely steady for every group of workers but one: Black women, whose unemployment rates have been rising.

BBC

‘It’s Groundhog Day’: Ukraine’s Sky Defenders Stuck in Relentless Battle

Under fire of 100 drones a night, there’s little talk of a ceasefire in the front-line city of Sumy.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s July Book Club Pick: ‘The Bombshell’ by Darrow Farr

Farr’s “delulu” protagonist plays a Patty Hearst-like role in this novel about being 18 and becoming the face of a militant independence movement.

Real Simple

Popcorn Vs. Pretzels: Nutritionists Reveal Which Crunchy Snack Is the Better Pick

When it comes to salty snacks, popcorn and pretzels are similar, but differ nutritionally. Discover which snack nutrition experts say is the healthier choice.

Parents

Parents Want a ‘90s Kid Summer’ for Their Families—but Is It Realistic?

The ‘90s kid summer’ trend is going viral but it’s not plausible for every family. Here’s how to still reap the benefits.

Essence

How Rap Icons Gave Americana Style a Whole New Attitude

Some of the most impactful truth-tellers of our time flipped their red, white and blue to demonstrate the subversive power of Black culture.

NBC News

NBA Free Agency: Breaking Down the Best and Worst Moves So Far This Offseason

The Denver Nuggets have made shrewd moves, while the Lakers have caused confusion.

Far Out Magazine

Graham Nash on a Brave Bruce Springsteen, a Problematic Donald Trump, and How Nina Simone Still Inspires Him: “Things Are Pretty Chaotic”

Graham Nash has been making music for six decades and his songs have never seemed more relevant than today. We speak to him about them here.

Fast Company

Psychologists Now Know Exactly What Makes Someone Cool. Turns Out, the Definitions Are Universal

In a global study over four years, researchers discovered that people who are seen as cool share similar traits in countries around the world.

Outside

Gas Station Snacks Are the New Trail Magic. Here’s What Smart Hikers Get.

This hiker’s shopping list packs a punch in a pinch.

Kiplinger

The $33,000 Retirement: One Man’s Surprising Path to Financial Freedom at 61

Forget what society tells you, even with less than $1 million, you can be happy in retirement.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Inc. Magazine

Half of Remote Employees Nap During the Workday, a Survey Says 

Employers might want to keep an eye open for any visible facial creases, suspiciously mussed hairdos, or groggy comments during video meetings with remote staff. It turns out nearly half of people working from home admit to taking naps on company time.

Men's Health

How Long It Should Take to Walk a Mile—and How That Can Help to Improve Your Fitness

Whether you're looking to move more or you want to upgrade your daily stroll, these tips will help you pick up the pace.

Lifehacker

Five Psychological Tricks You Can Use to Make Yourself Feel Happier

It’s easy to see why being happy is such a challenge these days. People are working jobs they hate, struggling to pay bills, and living in an increasingly isolated, digitally driven world.

Fast Company

Why Office Gossip Can Be Good for the Workplace (If It’s the Right Kind of Gossip)

Gossip at work is inevitable. But what exactly workers gossip about can be key in dictating company culture. Rumor has it that gossip can be a positive force in workplace cultures, under the right circumstances.

The Conversation

Self Determination Theory: How to Use It to Boost Wellbeing

A foundational idea in self-determination theory is that we have three basic psychological needs: for autonomy, competence and relatedness.

The New York Times

Illness Took My Mother’s Independence, but It Gave Us Something Precious

An immune condition changed my mom’s life — and taught us to see art differently.

Fast Company

How to Make the Most of Your Summer Vacation

Plan to connect with loved ones and plan to disconnect from work.

The Guardian

How Sorry Are You? Why Learning to Apologize Well Could Save Your Relationships

Got something to say sorry for? Here are words that have no place in your apologies, according to those who have spent years analysing them.

The New York Times

Better Half

The midpoint of the year is an opportune moment to look back at where we’ve been, and set our sights for where we want to go.

The New York Times

Gen Z, It Turns Out, Is Great at Saving for Retirement

Brynnley Beckman is only 23, but she is already thinking about retirement. She teaches ninth grade biology at the Shelton School in Dallas and contributes 3 percent of her salary to an employer-sponsored retirement fund. She hopes to increase her contribution by 1 percent each year.

The Atlantic

How to Make Your Work Your Calling

Three ways to find purpose and meaning in a job.

CNBC

Here’s the Average 401(K) Balance by Age

When it comes to our retirement nest egg, we can't help but wonder where we stand compared to our cohorts.