Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Kitchn

The 30 Most Brilliant Cleaning Hacks of All Time

A few clever tricks to make cleaning a whole lot less daunting.

Romper

74 Questions To Ask Your Spouse To Keep Things Interesting

You never want to stop getting to know them.

Stylist

3 Reasons Why Walking Is So Good for Your Hormonal Health, According to an Expert

Looking for another reason to get out for your daily stroll? This list of hormonal health benefits should provide plenty of motivation.

Greater Good Magazine

Your Sleep Tonight Changes How You React to Stress Tomorrow

According to research, a good night’s sleep makes us more positive and resilient to stress.

Bon Appétit

Rhubarb-Almond Cake

It might feel like you’re beating the batter for a long time, but that’s what gives this cake an airy lift. Stay with it!

Greater Good Magazine

Four Ways to Calm Your Mind in Stressful Times

A sense of calm offers us strength and resilience amid the chaos of life.

The Guardian

The Lost Girls: ‘Chaotic and Curious, Women With ADHD All Have Missed Red Flags That Haunt Us’

After multiple burnouts, in my early 30s I finally knew why life sometimes felt harder for me. It made perfect sense, so why had no one noticed before?

The Conversation

Do Optimists Really Live Longer? Here’s What the Research Says

According to a study, optimists are more likely to live into their nineties.

Popular Science

How Long Can an Event Hold Humanity’s Attention? There’s an Equation for That.

Societies forget, and this physicist wants to know why.

Smithsonian Magazine

Rewriting the Story of Ötzi the Iceman

Nearly everything archaeologists thought they knew about the 5,300-year-old corpse’s preservation may be wrong.

The Atlantic

Why Do Cartoon Villains Speak in Foreign Accents?

Children’s shows often use non-standard dialects to voice the “bad guys,” sending a dangerous message to kids about diversity.

MIT Press Reader

Peggy Guggenheim and the Self-Taught Artist You Probably Never Heard Of

A little-known story of a forgotten artist, an iconoclastic socialite, and an obscure painting that fetched more than a Mondrian and Magritte combined.

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

Friday, August 8

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.

BBC

Mississippi Burning: The Shocking Murders That Sparked Change in the US

In August 1964, three civil rights activists were found dead in the Deep South. The public’s response provided the impetus for new civil rights legislation in America.

Food52

Our 10 Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes of All Time

From crispy to chewy, we’ve collected the best of the best.

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.

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.

The Guardian

The 12-Year-Old Girl Staring Down Monster Waves at Teahupo’o

The young Tahiti surfer will become the WSL’s youngest competitor when she takes on the fearsome break she can see from her family home.

Slate

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

How do I deal with my emotions without whiskey?

The Wall Street Journal

Earning More But in Worse Shape: Hardship Overwhelms Many American Families

Nearly half of kids in the U.S. live in households below the middle class as inflation and the end of Covid relief hit working parents; a $2.90 raise that cuts government benefits.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Los Angeles Times

Every Day Is Halloween. Why Theme Parks Are Going Big on Year-Round Horror Experiences

The opening of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas signals that culture has now fully embraced the darker side of fairy tales.

The Guardian

​Forever Young? I’m Another Year Older but I’ll Never Stop Playing Games - or Writing About Them

My love for video games has never wavered, I have no intention of growing up and moving on.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Extravagant Rise of the Corporate Incentive Trip

From skydiving trips in Dubai to Michelin-starred meals in Paris, some companies are rewarding top performers with once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences.

PS

The Sydney Sweeney Denim Ad Takeaway Nobody Is Talking About

Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad has a takeaway about body inclusivity that no one’s discussing, writes senior style director Jessica Andrews.

The Atlantic

Mrs. Dalloway’s Midlife Crisis

Virginia Woolf’s wild run of creativity in her 40s included writing her masterpiece on the terrors and triumphs of middle age.

Time

Why So Many Women Are Quitting the Workforce

Labor force participation among women has started falling again in 2025.

ESPN

WNBA’s CBA Negotiations: From Rev Sharing to Potential Lockout

With the CBA expiring Oct. 31, negotiations have become the most important topic in the WNBA.

Harper's Bazaar

The Practical Magic of Bold Fashion

By embracing risk, I’m giving my wardrobe—and my life—the electric shock it needs.

Business Insider

America May Be Copying the Worst Part of Europe’s Real Estate Market

The fight between Zillow and Compass over real estate listings could make the US housing market look more like Europe’s. Homebuyers, beware.

Discover

75,000-Year-Old Treasure Trove of Ice Age Animal Remains Provides Snapshot of a Lost World

Extraordinary discovery of bones from early Ice Age period could reshape how we understand and respond to today’s climate shifts.

The Conversation

Nature’s Underground Engineers: How Plant Roots Could Save Harvests From Drought

Plant roots don’t just take from soil; they shape it.

Essence

Why Is No One Dressing Their Age?

Years back, age was a signal that informed how we would get dressed. With the rise of social media, fashion lovers are now embracing varying pieces no matter their age.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Lifehacker

Five of the Best Free Cardio Workout Channels I’ve Found on YouTube

You don’t need a gym membership to get sweaty.

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.

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.

SELF

My Friend Always Gets Free Stuff by Complaining to Managers—and It Gives Me the ‘Ick’

I feel bad for the servers…and even worse about our relationship.

Lifehacker

What Is Hyrox, and Why Is Everyone Suddenly Doing It?

Hyrox is a new sport that has taken off in a big way. There are competitions that feature running and strength events, and the skills you need are easy to learn.

Time

The Worst Things to Say to Someone With Anxiety—and What to Say Instead

If you want to stay on an anxious person’s good side, don’t tell them to calm down.

NPR

AUDIO: It’s Never Too Late to Find a Good Relationship. Here’s Proof.

Have you ever stayed in a relationship, because you felt like it would be too hard to find another partner? This episode is for you.

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.

ABC News

What to Know About Chikungunya Virus Amid New Outbreak in China

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel warning following an outbreak of a mosquito-borne illness called chikungunya in China.

USA TODAY

She Thought It Was Just Another Energy Drink. It Took Half Her Bodyweight and Sent Her to Rehab.

USA TODAY spoke with over 20 people who say they became severely addicted to kratom − a plant ingredient found in products sold at gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops across the country by various companies.

Glamour

13 Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin to Help Restore Your Glow

Choosing a product with the right ingredients is key.

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.