Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Literary Hub

25 Classic Crime Books You Can Read in an Afternoon

Terse, atmospheric brilliance in under 200 pages.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

When Your Parents Are Dying: The Simplest, Most Difficult and Redemptive Life-Advice You’ll Ever Receive

“Death makes human beings seem like very small containers that are packed so densely we can only be aware of a fraction of what’s inside us from moment to moment.”

Mental Floss

The Reason Your Pillows Turn Yellow, and How to Clean Them

Yellow stains on pillows are gross, but they’re more common than you may think (and easier to clean).

Knowable Magazine

Do Birds Have Language? It Depends on How You Define It.

In the cheeps, trills and tweets of birdsong, scientists find some parallels with human speech.

CityLab

A History of the American Public Library

A visual exploration of how a critical piece of social infrastructure came to be.

The Atlantic

The Real Roots of Midlife Crisis

What a growing body of research reveals about the biology of human happiness—and how to navigate the (temporary) slump in middle age.

Darius Foroux

How To Go From Procrastinate Hero To Procrastinate Zero

A reliable system for overcoming procrastination and achieving more.

Nautilus

How Jocks and Mathletes Are Alike

Seven sports that come down to how well your neurons play.

BBC Future

How Our Eyes Can Change Color Throughout Our Lives

Through apparently spontaneous change or through mishap or illness, our eyes can change color in surprising ways.

Elle

An Overachiever’s Guide to the Soft Life

Ambition isn’t a dirty word. Neither is rest.

Scientific American

How Does a Caterpillar Turn into a Butterfly?

To become a butterfly, a caterpillar first digests itself. But certain groups of cells survive, turning the soup into eyes, wings, antennae and other adult structures.

Stylist

The One Unexpected Sign You May Be Gaslighting the People Around You

Gaslighting isn’t always a conscious form of behavior in relationships: it may manifest itself without you being fully aware of 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

Sunday, July 6

Boston

Did We Ruin Summer Camp by Making It Safe?

The kids are all right—but are they missing out?

Smithsonian Magazine

In a Milestone for Manhattan, a Pair of Coyotes Has Made Central Park Their Home

For six years, two photographers have carefully followed the canines and documented their secret lives.

Reuters

They Tried Made in the USA. It Was Too Expensive for Their Customers.

Tens of thousands of American small and midsize manufacturers are facing the choice between paying steep tariffs on Chinese imports or taking on significantly higher domestic production costs.

KCRW

Want Better Bakes? Here’s What Your Ingredients Actually Do

Pastry chef Nicola Lamb sifts through the essential ingredients of baking — flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Bon Appétit

An Inside Look at the Best Snack Trends at the Summer Fancy Food Show

At the Comic Con of snacks, we track down the latest in sweet treats, sauces, and drinks.

CNN

Here’s Who Stands to Gain From the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ And Who May Struggle

President Donald Trump has promised that the “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress will be one of the most successful pieces of legislation in American history.

CNN

A Couple Tried for 18 Years to Get Pregnant. AI Made It Happen.

As artificial intelligence shapes fertility care, it’s now helping doctors find hidden sperm.

New York Magazine

'People Want That African Euphoria'

Black Americans are moving to Ghana — and driving up the cost of living for everyone around them.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Elle

Let’s Talk About the Jurassic World Rebirth Ending

The beasts might be prehistoric, but the film is oddly prescient.

Essence

How Rap Icons Gave Americana Style a Whole New Attitude

Some of the most impactful truth-tellers of our time flipped their red, white and blue to demonstrate the subversive power of Black culture.

Parents

How One Little Girl Sold Enough Lemonade to Fulfill Her Space Camp Dream

When 11-year-old Ezri Henry told her mom about her goal to attend Space Camp, they worked together to make it possible. Here’s how she sold more than 1,000 glasses of lemonade to make her dream a reality.

SELF

If Most People Get HPV at Some Point, Do You Need to Tell Partners You Have It?

Ob-gyns share how to keep you and your partners as safe as possible.

Nature

Japan Requires Name Change After Marriage — With Big Effects on Female Scientists

Survey finds law requiring married couples to share the same family name causes havoc for researchers.

Real Simple

Popcorn Vs. Pretzels: Nutritionists Reveal Which Crunchy Snack Is the Better Pick

When it comes to salty snacks, popcorn and pretzels are similar, but differ nutritionally. Discover which snack nutrition experts say is the healthier choice.

Business Insider

Europe’s Drone Push Exposes Gaps in Defense Readiness

Europe is racing to mass-produce drones as experts warn of lagging urgency, rising threats, and the need for a radical shift in defence strategy.

The Verge

Congress Passes Budget to Expand Mass Deportations, Cut Social Services, and Stall Clean Energy

A contentious AI law moratorium was dropped.

BBC

‘It’s Groundhog Day’: Ukraine’s Sky Defenders Stuck in Relentless Battle

Under fire of 100 drones a night, there’s little talk of a ceasefire in the front-line city of Sumy.

Fast Company

Stella McCartney’s New Plant-Based Sneakers Can Be Composted

Even sustainable shoes usually have plastic soles. But the S-Wave’s soles are made out of a new bioplastic that’s entirely biodegradable.

Fast Company

France, Spain, and 6 Other Countries Pledge to Tax Premium Fliers

First- and business-class fliers (as well as passengers on private jets) will have to pay an extra tax to offset their polluting flights.

PS

Emma Roberts Has “No Shame” About Not Washing Her Hair on Vacation

Emma Roberts discusses her travel beauty routine, her dream “White Lotus” character, and her Belletrist book club partnership with Apple Vacations.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

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.

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.

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

A new book considers how weight lifting can help you unlearn diet culture.

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.

Fast Company

Why Office Gossip Can Be Good for the Workplace (If It’s the Right Kind of Gossip)

Gossip at work is inevitable. But what exactly workers gossip about can be key in dictating company culture. Rumor has it that gossip can be a positive force in workplace cultures, under the right circumstances.

The Conversation

Self Determination Theory: How to Use It to Boost Wellbeing

A foundational idea in self-determination theory is that we have three basic psychological needs: for autonomy, competence and relatedness.

The New York Times

Illness Took My Mother’s Independence, but It Gave Us Something Precious

An immune condition changed my mom’s life — and taught us to see art differently.

Fast Company

How to Make the Most of Your Summer Vacation

Plan to connect with loved ones and plan to disconnect from work.

The Guardian

How Sorry Are You? Why Learning to Apologize Well Could Save Your Relationships

Got something to say sorry for? Here are words that have no place in your apologies, according to those who have spent years analysing them.

The New York Times

Better Half

The midpoint of the year is an opportune moment to look back at where we’ve been, and set our sights for where we want to go.

The New York Times

Gen Z, It Turns Out, Is Great at Saving for Retirement

Brynnley Beckman is only 23, but she is already thinking about retirement. She teaches ninth grade biology at the Shelton School in Dallas and contributes 3 percent of her salary to an employer-sponsored retirement fund. She hopes to increase her contribution by 1 percent each year.