Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

BBC Future

Cosmic Megastructures: The Largest Objects in the Universe

The discovery of giant superclusters of galaxies are challenging our very understanding of the Universe.

Literary Hub

10 Works of Labyrinthine Literature to Get Lost In

Celebrating the life and works and Jorge Luis Borges.

The Guardian

I Think My Cat Likes My Partner More. What Should I Do?

The signs that a cat likes you are fairly obvious. Here’s how to strengthen your bond with a pet if you think they prefer your partner more.

Elle

Why Won’t People Just Let Me Not Be a Mom?

No, I’m not a “fur mama,” a “plant mommy,” and I did not “birth” my book.

The Conversation

The Body’s Secret Weapon for Staying Healthy and Active

Flexibility is crucial for keeping your body in top shape.

GQ

How to Thrift Shop Your Way to Victory

One veteran inveterate thrifter shares his secrets for bin-digging, rack-rifling success.

The Washington Post

What Dreams Are Made Of: Scientists Mine Sleep’s Mysteries

Research has evolved from the mechanics of dreaming to what dreams signify — and back again.

PC Gamer

This Cozy Painting Game Has Me Feeling Like the Next Van Gogh

Cozy up and paint the town.

MEL Magazine

The Buzzing Nostalgia and Furious Competition of Electric Football Tournaments

Scenes from the California Electric Football League’s Super Bowl-adjacent ‘Fault Line Rumble’.

Truly*Adventurous

Life Therapy: The Story of Andy Chavez

An elite soldier lies on the brink of death after a raid in Iraq, the world’s best doctors ready to pull the plug. But they don’t know Andy Chavez.

Knowable Magazine

How to Overcome Political Polarization on Climate Change

Conversations — in real life — can help bridge the partisan divide, but the trick is to have some structure to the discussion, says a human ecologist.

PC Gamer

Mail Trucks and Millions of Dollars: How Shareware Transformed PC Gaming Forever

We can thank floppy disks in Ziploc bags for the FPS genre as we know it.

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, August 9

The Guardian

Knife Throwing and Cheeseburger Spinning: The Agony and Ecstasy of Being a Viral Trickshot Video Star

Think you could throw a basketball off a 540ft dam, into a hoop – while blindfolded? Meet the talented and ludicrously patient people putting hours into the internet’s most joyful (and pointless) clips.

The New Yorker

The Internet Wants to Check Your I.D.

New safety rules require users to verify their identities before gaining access to sites. This spells the end of the relative anonymity that we’ve come to expect online.

The Hollywood Reporter

Last Call for Late Night

After 70 years of tucking America into bed, it looks like the curtain is about to come down on the late night genre. What’s being lost is more than a TV tradition but a backdrop for some of America’s most memorable moments.

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.

Condé Nast Traveler

16 Golden Rules That Business Travelers Swear By

People who constantly hit the road for work share what they wish they’d known from the jump.

Atavist

The Talented Mr. Bruseaux

He made his name in Chicago investigating race riots, solving crimes, and exposing corruption. But America’s first Black private detective was hiding secrets of his own.

Lifehacker

Are ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Really That Bad for You?

They’ve been linked to heart disease and other health conditions.

BBC

How ’Keep Calm and Carry On’ Became a Divisive 21st-Century Phenomenon

After a forgotten WW2 propaganda poster was discovered in 2000, it found an astounding new resonance in 21st-Century Britain – becoming an endlessly memeable template that is both cherished and mocked.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Business Insider

Why ESPN and Fox Don’t Want Their New Streamers to Be Massive Hits

Fox and ESPN were holdouts in the streaming wars. They’ll both launch their own services this month. But they’re trying to temper expectations.

Popular Mechanics

Max Verstappen Says Front-Wheel Drive Is the ‘Worst Thing Ever.’ He Has a Point.

A recent Ford Performance video with Verstappen and automotive journalist Chris Harris unpacks how the world champion approaches the art of driving.

Kiplinger

Five Ways to Adapt Your Charitable Giving Strategy in a Changing World: An Expert Guide

Economic uncertainty, global events and increasing wealth are shaping the charitable landscape this year. Here are the philanthropic trends and some tips that could help affluent donors optimize their impact.

Business Insider

Disney World Just Posted a Record Quarter — Even As Epic Universe Opened

Disney World wasn’t hurt by Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park, and executives said per-capita spending was strong.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Business Traveler of Today Is Changing—and So Is Their Flight Map

A new era of work travel is taking entrepreneurs and creatives to Nigeria, Brazil, and beyond.

PS

The Sweet Satisfaction of the ClassPass Credit Lawsuit

ClassPass is being sued over credit expiration.

Atlas Obscura

Who Moved London Bridge to Arizona?

London Bridge was falling down, so the city put it up for auction.

The Conversation

Today’s Humanoid Robots Look Remarkable, but There’s a Design Flaw Holding Them Back

The leading designers are all focused on a ‘brain-first’ approach that insists on controlling everything centrally rather than delegating it around their bodies.

Architectural Digest

The Best Cooling Pillows to Refresh Your Rest Routine

Soothing relief is a snooze away for hot sleepers

CNET

CNET Survey: 78% of US Shoppers Are Stressing Out Over Back-to-School Tech Purchases

Nearly half are worried about finding quality purchases at an affordable price -- adding another strain to school shopping this year.

Time

The Connection Between Spirituality and Mental Health

There are many ways for people to embrace their spirituality, which can come with surprising benefits.

Los Angeles Times

Being a Special Ed Teacher Taught Chinedu Unaka His Biggest Lesson in Stand-Up

The L.A.-born comedian, who recently released his first “LOL Live” special on Hulu, says his past teaching with mild to moderate special ed students gave him all the tools he needed to succeed onstage as a comedian.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

SELF

5 Subtle Signs You Might Actually Be in a Codependent Relationship

And how to regain your independence without having to drift apart.

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.

NPR

Why Short Breaks to Move Around Are Crucial for Your Creative Process

When bestselling author Kelly Corrigan’s creativity runs low or her mood turns, she doesn’t power through. Here are her tips for connecting your body to your creative process and getting unstuck.

Psyche

Does Progress Seem Slower When You Constantly Check on It?

Research on how we perceive the rate of change shows how you can be strategic about goal tracking and boost your motivation.

CNBC

What Private Assets in 401(K) Plans Mean for Investors: ‘You’re Only Asking for Trouble,’ One Advisor Says

Millions of investors may soon have access to private assets in their 401(k) or other workplace retirement plans. What to know about the risks and rewards.

Kiplinger

Are You Leaving Money on the Table? Four Strategies to Free up Stuck Investments

From forgotten 401(k)s to outdated asset allocations, stuck money can hurt your retirement. Here’s what to do about it.

SELF

9 Exercises for Knee Pain to Help You Move (and Feel) Better

Strengthen and stretch your way to happier joints.

SELF

5 Things Every ‘Conflict Avoidant’ Person Should Do Before Any Difficult Conversation

The word “conflict” usually brings to mind raised voices or awkward tension—outcomes most people would rather avoid.

Allure

Inside the World of Professional Back-Scratching

“I just want to pay someone to tickle my back.”

Slate

I Responded to One of the Spam Texts From a “Recruiter”—Then Took the Job. It Got Weirder Than I Could Have Imagined.

I responded to one of those spam texts from a “recruiter”—then took the job. It got weirder than I could have imagined.

The Guardian

My Scar Makes Beach Outings an Ordeal. How Can I Care Less About It?

You don’t need to love your scar to feel confident – but you can retrain your brain to care about it less.

Harvard Business Review

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

From commencement speeches to career advice columns, the call to “follow your passion” is all around us.