Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Narratively

My Teenage Life After Leaving a Cult

I spent my childhood waiting for the apocalypse. When it never came, I grasped at anything I could to feel in control.

The Conversation

Tendons Play an Important Role in Our Health and Fitness – Here’s How to Keep Them Strong

When it comes to fitness, most workouts place the focus on building strength and definition in your muscles. But our muscles aren’t the only structures in our body that help us lift, run and do most of our daily tasks.

MEL Magazine

Why Talking to Strangers Is the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Mental Health

If we can only break through the awkwardness barrier, striking up conversations at random is the cheapest form of therapy there is.

Delish

Welcome To The United States Of Hydration

We’re drinking more water than ever, but how much do we really need?

Smithsonian Magazine

14 Fun Facts About Manatees

These roly-poly herbivores just may be the teddy bears of the sea. But keep an eye out when boating; they don’t move so fast.

Mental Floss

When George Washington Kept a Smallpox Epidemic From Costing Him the American Revolution

Smallpox vaccination was banned in America during the Revolutionary War, but George Washington was determined to protect his army no matter what.

Popular Science

An Ancient Era of Global Warming Could Hint at Our Scorching Future

Looking back at the strange and sweaty days of the PETM.

The Atlantic

Fish Oil Is Good! No, Bad! No, Good! No, Wait.

Americans love it. But the science is getting even weirder.

Bloomberg

These Seven Food Entrepreneurs Are Changing Eco-Conscious Dining

Whether it’s zero-waste cooking or closed-loop cocktails, each is pursuing a single aspect of the food and beverage chain—and showing what’s possible across the industry.

Fast Company

7 Job Search Rules You Should Break Now

When you’re looking for a job, finding ways to stand out and make a great impression can be everything. But, sometimes, the very “rules” that are supposed to help you do that can hold you back.

SELF

How to Feel Like You Have More Free Time Even If You Don’t

Making space for doing nothing is part of it.

MIT Press Reader

The Breakthrough Problem, or Why the Drugs Don’t Work Like They Used To

Thinking may have become easier, but thinking big is as challenging as ever.

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

Sunday, July 20

Grub Street

Is All This Salt Killing Us?

Doctors have long warned about the risks of too much sodium. But in an era of Maximum Flavor, we crave it more than ever.

Vanity Fair

What I Witnessed Inside an ICE Women’s Prison

Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk opens up about her 45 days in a South Louisiana processing facility—and the generous and compassionate women she met.

Boston

Blood Feuds: The Fight Over Who Gets to Be Native American

A Rhode Island tribe’s quest for state recognition has sparked a controversy.

NPR

4 Confidence-Boosting Ways to Overcome the Fear of Flirting in Real Life

Does talking to a cute stranger make your palms sweat? Confidence coach Regina Bonds offers advice on to how to put yourself out there, including how to show interest without coming off as creepy.

The New Atlantis

Does Marriage Have a Future?

From the Industrial Revolution to the pill to AI girlfriends, technology is unbundling what used to be marriage’s package deal.

Los Angeles Times

AI Can Write a Scene. It Can Pitch a Movie. So What Happens to the Screenwriters?

As generative AI reshapes Hollywood, screenwriters like Billy Ray, Paul Schrader, Bong Joon Ho and Todd Haynes, along with a new class of tech disruptors, are navigating the uncertain future of storytelling.

The 19th

She Helped Get Rid of Measles in Her County. This Is Her Advice on Stopping Its Spread.

Lubbock County in Texas has been free of measles cases for more than 50 days. But Katherine Wells, director of the Lubbock Health Department, is staying vigilant.

Virginia Quarterly Review

Dark Ride to the Source

Holding on to Joy at Disneyland.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Backpacker

If You Hike With Your Dog, You Need to Be Able to Rescue Them Yourself

We all went to spend time with our furry best friends outdoors, but if you take your dog hiking, you need to be prepared to respond to their emergencies.

Parents

CDC Says 1 in 3 Kids Have Prediabetes—Here’s What Parents Need to Know

While scientists have concerns about how this data was collected, health care providers say it’s good to know about the condition.

Parents

14 Films and Television Shows With Strong Role Models for Girls in STEM

Though history is peppered with women scientists and mathematicians, they are still under-represented in the STEM fields. Want to encourage your daughter to pursue her passions? These shows provide role models that will inspire her.

Inc. Magazine

Why Employees Are Shrinking Their Vacation Plans

Data indicates fewer workers intend to travel this summer than usual, with those who are planning shorter trips and briefer periods away from work to limit spending, as concerns over inflation and employment persist.

Discover

Does Your Dog Watch TV? Here’s What Screens Can Say About Their Personality

Understanding how dogs react to screens could help us train them better and expand their entertainment options.

CNET

Meal Kits Have Gotten Cheap, but Are They Cheaper Than Groceries?

Groceries have never been more expensive, but meal kit prices have remained fairly stable. I did the math to see how much three popular meal kit companies cost when compared with food bought at the supermarket.

Outside

You Don’t Need to Summit to Call It a Hike

Most hikers are summit-obsessed, but how much is too much? Here’s why I’d rather enjoy the experience than celebrate the checklist.

PS

I’m a Hairstylist With Alopecia. Here’s What It Taught Me About True Beauty.

In this personal essay, hairstylist and curl expert Kys Clark shares how having alopecia has redefined what beauty means to her.

Electric Literature

8 Books About Space That Reimagine What It Means to Live on Earth

Space doesn’t belong to billionaires. It belongs to storytellers and dreamers.

Time

Clueless Proved Amy Heckerling Was Brilliant. but It’s Not Her Only Stroke of Genius

As Clueless turns 30, its filmmaker’s Hollywood success can’t be measured by the usual metrics of box-office returns of awards on a shelf.

Fast Company

AI and Drones Still Need Help From Humans to Find Missing Flood Victims

With humans and artificial intelligence working together, flood search-and-rescue teams can successfully use existing systems.

Condé Nast Traveler

These 10 Cities Have More Skyscrapers Than Anywhere Else in the World

This ranking offers a fascinating glimpse into where and why the world is building tall.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CNBC

Student Loan Bills Could Double for Some Borrowers As Biden-Era Relief Expires

Many student loan borrowers could see their monthly bills more than double now that the Biden-era SAVE plan is defunct.

Stylist

Managers, Here’s How to Have an Effective 1-to-1, According to Career Experts

How to help your team members get the most from your meetings.

The Walrus

Before You Share That Health Tip, Read This

Misinformation is everywhere. And yes, some of it has probably gotten to you.

CNBC

What a Trump, Powell Faceoff Means for Your Money

Tensions are escalating between the White House and the Federal Reserve, with consumers caught in the middle.

Fast Company

I’m a Two-Time Tech Founder. but Restaurants Are Where I Learned to Lead

The surprising lessons the conveyor belt sushi business taught me. Sudden equipment failures. Supply chain surprises. Retaining staff as the goalposts move in real time. These aren’t challenges I’ve faced as a tech founder—but I have faced them running restaurants.

The Week

How Can You Get the Maximum Social Security Retirement Benefit?

For many, Social Security benefits are a key part of their retirement plan. So it makes sense that you would want to get the most possible from this monthly source of income.

Money.com

Why You Probably Need Flood Insurance — Even if You Don't Live Near Water

Over the Fourth of July weekend, parts of central Texas were devastated by flash floods after the region was hit with the equivalent of four months' worth of rain in just a few hours. At least 134 people were killed, and more than 100 are still missing as of press time.

Yahoo

What Is ‘Revenge Saving,’ and Should You Hop on the Trend?

“Revenge saving” emphasizes making up for poor financial habits by being aggressively frugal or restrictive with your current spending.

GQ

What to Wear to a Job Interview, According to Hiring Experts

Make sure your suit fits, don’t dress too sexy, and other essential advice from professionals in law, tech, finance, and marketing.

Kiplinger

I Want to Buy an Annuity, but I’m Scared I’ll Get Ripped Off. Should I Get One Anyway?

An annuity is a way to achieve lifetime income in retirement, but you need to understand how this product works before making a purchase.

Business Insider

The Hot New MBA Hustle

Millennials’ hottest new career pivot: ditching the corporate grind to run unsexy small businesses.

NPR

‘Panicking’: Why Recent College Grads Are Struggling to Find Jobs

Recent college graduates are facing one of the most challenging job markets in years — with the exception of the pandemic period — even as the overall unemployment rate remains low.