Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

BBC News

Alan MacMasters: How the Great Online Toaster Hoax Was Exposed

For more than a decade, a prankster’s web of deception fooled newspapers, teachers and officials. Then a teenager flagged up something that everyone else had missed.

Fatherly

In 1978, One Deranged Animated Movie Traumatized a Generation

‘Watership Down’ was controversial when it first came out. But how do we feel about it now?

Inc.

5 Questions the Most Interesting People Will Always Ask in Conversations

The point is to get beyond the dreaded small talk.

Fast Company

What Happened When I Forced Myself to Wake up at 5 A.M. Every Day for a Month

Some early risers might get more done, but it turns out there are times when getting up earlier can make you less productive.

Nautilus

Will 90 Become the New 60?

As our lifespans have increased, so too have our active years. Can that go on?

BBC Worklife

The Tricks to Make Yourself Effortlessly Charming

From the first moment you walk into a room, people are making judgments about how much they like you. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your chances.

Good Housekeeping

How to Get More From Your Air Fryer

Discover recipe inspiration, appliance upgrades, cooking tricks and more.

Women’s Health

‘Being on Both Sides of a Crisis Hotline Taught Me the Healing Power of Connection’

Having someone to talk to can be life-saving.

MIT Press Reader

What the Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon Says About Cognitive Aging

While word-finding failures can be taken as evidence of memory problems, they may not be harbingers of befuddlement after all.

The Kitchn

Recipe: Best-Ever Challah French Toast

Once you try challah French toast, you’ll realize there’s no other way.

Bloomberg

The Fried Chicken Sandwich Wars Are More Cutthroat Than Ever Before

Here’s why everyone from fast-casual chains to chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants are trying to one-up each other.

Aeon

How a Huguenot Philosopher Realized That Atheists Could Be Virtuous

Christians long held a monopoly on virtue—until Pierre Bayle made the case for moral atheists, using comets and aliens.

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

Tuesday, July 8

The New York Times

How a Show About Truly Terrible People Became the Defining American Sitcom

Over the last 20 years, television has changed, but the malignant narcissists of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” have not.

HuffPost

I'm An ER Physician. Here Are 5 Types Of Pain I'd Never Ignore.

When it comes to severe medical situations, emergency medicine doctors see it all. They’re the physicians who folks of all ages rush to when something serious goes wrong.

Outside

Pickle Lemonade Is the Best Way to Replenish Your Electrolytes

My friend who completed the Black Canyon 50K earlier this year, swears by pickles.

Texas Monthly

The Hill Country Summer Camps Were My Story. After the Flood, They’re My Grandson’s.

The night of the flood, he was awakened by the popping sounds of pipes snapping as his cabin lurched into the river.

GQ

Can David Corenswet Save Superman?

In a world-historical moment rife with villainy and loose scruples, James Gunn has staked his reboot of the DC Comics Universe on a Superman with core values, a sunny disposition, and a weakness for romance.

Oxford American

The Perfect Man

How Billy Mitchell became a video-game superstar and achieved Pac-Man bliss.

Atmos

Why One Geologist Thinks We Should All Pay More Attention to Rocks

Professor Marcia Bjornerud urges us to understand rocks as records of earlier versions of the planet—and as a call to protect its future.

The New York Times

RFK Jr.’s Battle Against Food Dyes Hits a Roadblock

The health secretary has used peer pressure to persuade food makers to nix synthetic dyes. The candy industry is holding out, arguing American consumers like bright sweets.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

ESPN

2025 ACC College Football Projections, Preview

The Tigers are the favorite, but with Miami, SMU, Louisville and Bill Belichick, storylines abound.

Popular Mechanics

Scientists Reconstructed a Babylonian Hymn Lost for Over 1,000 Years

The full hymn was scattered among fragmented pieces of clay tablet, but using an AI program, experts were able to piece together the ancient song.

Variety

The Best Concerts of 2025 (So Far)

A look at the best concerts and tours of the first half of 2025.

NBC News

Bettors Are Worried Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Could Cause Professional Gambling in the U.S. to Fold

Gamblers pointed out on social media that by limiting the tax deduction to 90% of losses, bettors could actually owe taxes in years where they netted a loss on their bets.

The Washington Post

I’m a Gastroenterologist. Here’s Why I Tell My Patients to Eat This One Fruit.

Kiwis can boost your gut health. They may also lower triglycerides and cancer risk.

Axios

AI Sycophancy: The Downside of a Digital Yes-Man

Sycophantic behavior in AI can mean trading accuracy for flattery.

ESPN

2025 MLB Draft: One Big Question and Intel for All 30 Teams

Who will the Nationals take No. 1? Who is atop your team’s board? Kiley McDaniel lays it all out as draft week arrives.

IndieWire

‘The Naked Gun’ Is the Most Important Movie of the Summer

The studios have given up on comedies, but Liam Neeson’s police spoof offers a perfect chance to remind Hollywood that we need them more than ever.

Harper's Bazaar

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Dramione Fan Fiction

Nobody does enemies-to-lovers quite like … Draco and Hermione? Why this popular fanfic pairing is inspiring some of the best romantasy books of the year.

Psychology Today

3 Strategies to Better Resist Distractions

How to prevent stress-induced mistakes that create cascading problems.

Harvard Business Review

When It’s Time to Leave a Career You’re Passionate About

People worry that others will see them as immoral and incompetent for quitting their passion. These fears are often misplaced.

New York Magazine

Inside the Media’s Traffic Apocalypse

The whole premise of internet publishing is starting to crumble.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Atlantic

I Fought Plastic. Plastic Won

My futile quest to avoid the material that my entire world is made out of.

CNBC

Recruiter: I’ve Placed Over 1,000 People Into Jobs–Here’s the No. 1 ‘Closing Technique’ to Nail Your Interview

In this environment where it’s difficult to get your foot in the door, one mistake that some recent graduates make is assuming that their degree will automatically get them a job.

NPR

4 Things to Know About the Vaccine Ingredient Thimerosal

The federal government could soon recommend that people only receive flu shots made without an ingredient called thimerosal.

The New York Times

How Many Dates Should You Go on Before You Start Talking About Money?

Couples tend to dance around discussing how much they earn or owe early in a relationship. But experts agree that talking about money sooner is better than later.

HuffPost

I Paid Off a School’s Lunch Debt. Then Strangers on the Internet Did Something Truly Stunning.

This is proof that strangers can decide, together, to make things better.

Fast Company

How to Trick Your Nervous System Into Calming Down When You’re Stressed at Work

Understanding how your body works can be the key to reducing stress. For example, you’re probably aware of your fight-or-flight response—the body’s way of preparing itself when it believes it’s being threatened.

NPR

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Purchases Can Now Affect Your Credit Score. Here’s What That Means

Services that split up payments into installments are increasingly popular, especially among young and low-to-middle income shoppers. But now the FICO credit scoring company will be tracking that debt.

The Guardian

Natural Fibers and No Heathered Grey: What to Wear When It’s Really, Really Hot Out

The biggest concerns are a) maximizing comfort and b) masking sweat so one doesn’t look like a sentient pile of wet laundry.

DW

Paris Reopens Seine River for Public Swimming

Parisians have begun bathing in the Seine for the first time in over 100 years after a ban was lifted. The French capital has created three swimming zones along the river as part of its Olympic legacy.

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.