Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Washington Post

Are At-Home Genetic Tests Worth It? As an Oncologist, Here’s My Advice.

Ask yourself how the results may affect your life. If the results come back positive, will you take steps to minimize your cancer risk?

The Conversation

Why Is a Messy House Such an Anxiety Trigger for Me and What Can I Do About It?

When we’re surrounded by distractions, our brains essentially become battlegrounds for attention. Everything competes for our focus.

Dwell

How to Source Vintage and Secondhand Furniture Online

All you need is patience, time, and (of course) to know where to look.

Romper

30 Questions To Ask Kids When They Get Home From School

“How was school today?” just isn’t cutting it.

Nautilus

Once Upon a Gemstone

Precious stones hold the stories of continents, oceans, and cultures.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

Hemingway’s Advice on Writing, Ambition, and the Art of Revision

“In any art you’re allowed to steal anything if you can make it better.”

The Atlantic

Cool People Accidentally Saved America’s Feet

Millennials popularized bulky, super-cushioned shoes. Then Millennials got old.

Bon Appétit

Basque Cheesecake

This light, fluffy, cloudlike cheesecake wants to get cooked at high heat for a burnt, cracked surface that’s rich with flavor.

Fast Company

4 Common Lies About Performance and Productivity

Feel free to shed these bits of “wisdom” about hacking your personal performance and productivity.

Outside

6 Ways to Be a Better Photographer, According to Pros

Best practices gleaned from decades of shooting.

Scientific American

Why Do People Mistake Narcissism for High Self-Esteem?

Why people form such positive first impressions of narcissists.

The Kitchn

How To Make DIY Instant Noodle Cups

When you’re ready to eat, pour hot water over the top and in a few minutes, lunch is served.

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

Wednesday, August 6

Quanta Magazine

At 17, Hannah Cairo Solved a Major Math Mystery

After finding the homeschooling life confining, the teen petitioned her way into a graduate class at Berkeley, where she ended up disproving a 40-year-old conjecture.

SELF

The ‘Contrarian Friend’ Is Real—and They’re Driving Everyone Crazy

When disagreeing with you becomes someone’s entire personality.

The New Yorker

Treating Gaza’s Collective Trauma

In Gaza, where displaced children play games called “air strike” and act out death, the lack of mental-health resources has become another emergency.

Scientific American

The Hidden Way Allergens Attack Nose, Throat and Lung Cells

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response.

NPR

What’s the Deal With Electrolyte Drinks — Do You Need Them to Stay Hydrated?

A classic 20-ounce bottle of lemon-lime Gatorade contains nearly one-eighth teaspoons of salt and 80 milligrams of potassium — electrolytes “to help replace what you sweat out,” the product’s ads say.

POLITICO Magazine

Meet the Fraudster Who Wants to Make California Its Own Country

The man behind the Calexit movement claims to be a baller. But he’s broke.

The Guardian

Frying Solo? 20 Pantry, Fridge and Freezer Essentials for Single Households

Olives, chickpeas and dukkah are a few of the basic ingredients writer and former caterer Elizabeth Quinn keeps on hand. Here she shares quick recipes for eating solo.

Slate

I Quit Drinking. It’s Great. There’s Just One Small Problem.

How do I deal with my emotions without whiskey?

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

AFAR

This One Travel Hack Will Slow Down Your Vacation and Give You Stunning Images

Researchers and National Geographic photographers are teaching people how to take better photos, be more mindful, shift their focus, and enjoy vacations more.

Smithsonian Magazine

You Can Now Have a Conversation With the Statues at Versailles Using Artificial Intelligence

Through the palace’s smartphone app, visitors can speak with nearly two dozen stunning sculptures and fountains at the historic site in France.

Texas Monthly

How an Upper-Class Treat Became the Frozen Dessert of the People

Unlike many frozen desserts, such as sorbet, shaved ice, and sherbet, nieves de garrafa do not have European or Asian provenance. Their history originates in ancient Mexico, before the Spanish conquest.

Martha Stewart

7 Plants That Attract Ladybugs—and Reward You With Natural Pest Control

Discover beautiful plants that naturally attract ladybugs to your garden—helping you control pests without chemicals and support a healthy, thriving ecosystem.

Kiplinger

Think Twice Before Co-Signing or Guaranteeing a Lease for Your Kids

If you co-sign or guarantee a lease for your kids, make sure you understand the risks.

CNBC

Credit Card Debt Reaches $1.21 Trillion — in Line With Last Year’s All-Time High, NY Fed Finds

Credit card balances rose by $27 billion in the second quarter to $1.21 trillion, according to a new report by the New York Fed.

Grist

Here’s What to Watch for at This Month’s Global Plastics Treaty Talks

Delegates are meeting in Geneva for a sixth — and potentially final — round of negotiations.

The Guardian

Sydney Sweeney: The Hollywood up-and-Comer Who Started a Culture War

The Euphoria and Anyone But You star has one of the most promising careers within young Hollywood but controversy has stuck to her.

CNET

The Next Planet Parade Is Coming Soon: Here’s How to See Six Planets Line Up

Mark your calendar -- you can catch Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus in the sky at the same time.

The New York Times

How Do You Measure a Life? in Caffeinated 5-Hour Bursts

Is it good for you? No. But it’s a reminder that you can’t run forever on borrowed fuel.

Business Insider

Welcome to Brain Rot Summer

From Coldplaygate to Jet2holidays, Summer 2025’s biggest vibe is the lack of actual vibes.

Architectural Digest

15 Essential Interior Design Styles to Know Now

From boho to Japandi, modern to industrial, use this handy guide from AD to find the look that matches your taste.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Associated Press

The World Nearly Beat Polio. But Fake Records, an Imperfect Vaccine and Missteps Aided Its Comeback.

The World Health Organization has closed in on its bold goal of eradicating polio several times, but the paralytic virus is entrenched in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

NBC News

Tips to Help Manage Your Buy Now, Pay Later Loans

While such loans can help you make large purchases without paying interest or undergoing hard inquiries in your credit report, they can also easily be overused.

The Guardian

Burn Notice: Gen Z and the Terrifying Rise of Extreme Tanning

Nasal sprays, injections and sunbeds – for many people, the yearning for a tan now outweighs the risks. But why?

CBS News

RFK Jr. Halts $500 Million for MRNA Vaccine Research

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the federal government is calling off around $500 million worth of vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology.

BBC

The Unusual Brains of Noise-Sensitive People

Though noise sensitivity is often dismissed by doctors, it can have long-term effects on our mental and physical health.

SELF

5 Injuries ER Doctors See All the Time—and How to Avoid Them

You might be surprised by the seemingly innocuous behaviors that cause them.

ABC News

How Trillions in Government Debt Could Hit Your Wallet, According to Experts

A federal agency ratcheted up its estimate of debt tied to Trump’s spending law.

HuffPost

This Magic Number Is the Highest Heel Height You Should Wear, According to Podiatrists

“Listen to your feet, because they’re trying to tell you something.”

Fast Company

These Creatives Moved to Europe and Designed a Better Life and Career. Should You?

Thinking of leaving the United States for life abroad? You’re not alone. A record-setting 21% of Americans expressed a desire to emigrate in 2024. While politics might play a role in the uptick, an increasing number of creative professionals are also leaving for career reasons.

Allure

A New Form of Alopecia Is Affecting Menopausal Women

Experts are calling it an “emerging epidemic.”

HuffPost

The ‘Expectation Effect’ Hack Might Be the Secret to Happiness

This one simple but powerful shift can have major benefits. But be mindful of going overboard.

Greater Good Magazine

How Does Retirement Affect Our Health and Happiness?

A review of research investigated how mental health and physical activity change in retirees around the world.