Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Aeon

The Play Deficit

Children today are cossetted and pressured in equal measure. Without the freedom to play, they will never grow up.

The Atlantic

How Friends Become Closer

It’s hard to organize a busy life so that it has enough room for deep friendships, but there are a few strategies that may help.

Darius Foroux

This Strategy Makes Procrastination Impossible

Excitment about a new habit or routine is like a sugar rush. Here’s how to stop the crash.

Literary Hub

Classic Reviews of Beloved Children's Books

Eudora Welty on ‘Charlotte's Web’, Dorothy Parker on ‘Winnie the Pooh’, and more.

Mental Floss

The Real-Life Operation That Works Like Operation

If a surgeon gets too close to delicate nerves in the throat, an alarm goes off. (But no one’s nose lights up.)

The Guardian

‘What Are Our Lives for?’: A Philosopher Answers Kids’ Existential Questions

What happens when Plato mixes with playtime? Philosopher Scott Hershovitz answers the questions that confound children and adults alike.

Narratively

A Super Strange True Love Story: My Disappearing Fiancé

After years of avoiding love, I found a match that seemed almost too perfect. We were practically walking down the aisle before I realized it really was too good to be true.

Knowable Magazine

Spots, Stripes and More: Working Out the Logic of Animal Patterns

More than 70 years ago, mathematician Alan Turing proposed a mechanism that explained how patterns could emerge from bland uniformity.

Quanta Magazine

To Build Truly Intelligent Machines, Teach Them Cause and Effect

Judea Pearl expects that causal reasoning could provide machines with human-level intelligence.

Scientific American

Dazzled by Creativity: Why We Excuse Dishonest Acts

Con artists rarely inspire admiration. Frank Abagnale Jr., however, was hardly a typical con artist.

Bon Appétit

Pretzel Focaccia

One of the easiest breads to make at home gets pretzel-ified with a highly burnished, salt-coated crust and a delightfully bitter twang.

Smithsonian Magazine

Why Did Humans Lose Their Fur?

Evolutionary theorists have put forth numerous hypotheses.

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

Monday, August 4

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.

Glamour

Would You Let Your Friend Pitch You to a Room Full of Single Strangers?

In 2025 we’re turning back to one of the oldest forms of dating: meeting a romantic partner through friends.

PBS

In the Gray World of GLP-1 Supplements Online, Health Experts Urge Caution

TikTok beauty influencer Kaycee Ogle is regularly contacted by brands who want her to promote their products. But one email she received in June was different, and made her curious.

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.

Rolling Stone

Inside the Battle Over ‘Napalm Girl’

A new documentary, ‘The Stringer,’ investigates the story of the famous Vietnam War photo “Napalm Girl,” raising questions about who actually took it.

The Conversation

Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? A Pharmacist Explains Why You Might Not Be

As many as 1 in 5 Americans believe they have a penicillin allergy, but just a tiny fraction actually do. In recent years, it’s gotten a lot easier to find out.

The Independent

Meet the Childfree Communities Planning for a Future Without Kids

As increasing numbers of us can’t or won’t have children, Helen Coffey talks to those who are planning their lives without a nuclear family, and investigates why government policy has yet to catch up with this rapidly growing demographic.

The Baffler

Winging It

For those trying to overcome their fears of flying, it’s been...a challenging time to say the least.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Condé Nast Traveler

Renting a Camper Van for a Family Road Trip of Stargazing, Cook Outs, and Red Rock Hikes

A Philadelphia family of four (plus one on the way) drive a cabin camper through Colorado and Utah—balancing ranger talks with waterpark hotel detours and quesadillas over an open fire.

The Guardian

Unmasked: The Man Behind One of the Fastest Growing Far-Right YouTube Channels

Chris Booth’s channel – rife with neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism and racism – garnered 2.3m views and likely thousands of dollars from YouTube in about two months.

NPR

3 Big Takeaways From the NTSB Hearing on the DCA Midair Collision

A three-day National Transportation Safety Board hearing on the deadliest U.S. aviation accident in decades dug into problems with altimeters, chopper routes and the busy Washington, D.C., airspace.

The Guardian

The 10 Best Classic Seaside Arcade Machines

A trip to the seaside isn’t complete without a jangling cup of coins or an overconfident uncle nursing a sore hand. Here’s a rundown of the top nostalgia-inducing games.

The Atlantic

The Secret of George Washington’s Revolutionary Success

The American Revolution was won by dramatic deeds, but also by decidedly undramatic efforts.

Martha Stewart

How to Remove Berry Stains From Clothes and Table Linens

Berry stains can be tough, but not impossible, to remove.

Discover

Male Leopard Seals Sing Underwater Nursery Rhymes for up to 13 Hours a Day

Learn about the curious singing habits of leopard seals, whose songs bear a striking resemblance to human nursery rhymes.

Business Insider

Would You Pay $2,500 a Year to Scan Your Entire Body for Hidden Diseases?

Full-body MRIs are becoming a status symbol among longevity enthusiasts. Do they help or are they just flashy procedures that lead to extra tests?

Gizmodo

Great Tits Sometimes Break up, Bird Researchers Find

New research finds that “tit divorce” is less arbitrary than biologists thought, revealing a complex social side to these common European songbirds.

The New York Times

How the New Texas Map Changes the Outlook for Control of the House

Democrats’ chances would be hurt if the map were approved, but they would still be favored.

NBC News

China’s Swimming Prodigy Draws Global Praise and a Note of Caution

Yu Zidi, 12, became the youngest-ever medalist during her debut at the World Aquatics Championships. But she may face a toxic sports fandom at home after her rise to fame.

Real Simple

3 Ways to Revive Your Hardwood Floors So They Look Like New Again

Hardwood floors are durable but can become dull due to scratches, improper cleaning, and heavy foot traffic. Learn three easy ways to revive your hardwood floors.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Teen Vogue

Supplement History: The Truth About Supplements and Vitamins That Teens Should Know

If you take a supplement, you should read this.

HuffPost

This Mosquito-Borne Illness Is Being Reported in Multiple States — Here’s What to Know

Now’s the time to replenish your bug spray supply.

The Associated Press

What to Know If You’re at Risk of Having Your Wages Garnished Over Student Loan Debt

Millions of student borrowers could begin having their wages garnished as soon as this summer. That’s according to estimates from credit bureau TransUnion.

NPR

If Compliments Make You Feel Super Awkward, This Comic Is for You

When someone says something nice about us, it can make us feel awkward and uncomfortable. Researchers explain the science behind those emotions — and make the case for accepting genuine praise.

CNBC

Senate Bill Aims to Increase Affordable Housing Supply. Here’s What Renters, Home Buyers Need to Know

A Senate committee advanced a bipartisan bill that would spur the construction of affordable housing. Here’s what to know about it.

CNBC

Federal Student Loans Will Still Be a ‘Better Bet’ Than Private—Even With Coming Changes, Experts Say

Some of the most generous benefits of federal student loans are going away in the coming years. Here's why experts still recommend them over private loans.

Lifehacker

Six Common Tactics Contractors Use to Upsell You

Contractors know you’ve got money to spend on your home project. Here are the tricks they use to upsell you and get you to spend more than you intended.

Lifehacker

These Six ‘Misunderstandings’ Can Seriously Impact Your Hospital Bill

When we’re in the hospital, our lives are literally in the hands of the doctors, nurses, and other staff. But hospitals can be sketchy about what they tell you—with expensive consequences.

CBS News

What Will Happen to Gold Prices This August?

Gold prices have largely risen over the past 18 months, approximately, but will they continue to do so this August?

Money

How to Prioritize Your Bills in a Financial Crunch

Which obligations need your immediate attention and which can wait.

The Atlantic

Three Ways to Stop Feeling Like an Impostor

This common syndrome can certainly harm your happiness. Here are three ways to get over it.

The Cut

How Do People Actually Afford These Summer Trips?

If you’re wondering how everyone is staying at four-star hotels in Italy right now, you’re not alone.