Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Architectural Digest

7 Organization Hacks That Will Transform Your Messy Home

No need to get rid of clutter—find a good spot for it instead.

Elle

What If Therapy Could Be a Walk in the Woods?

Ecotherapy involves reconnecting with yourself and the natural world around you—while honoring the legacy of land and its caretakers.

MEL Magazine

An Oral History of Hard-Shell Tacos

Taco Bell didn’t invent them, but they sure did exploit the hell out of them.

Stylist

Fungus Gnats: How to Stop Those Annoying Little Flies Taking Over All Your Houseplants

Are your houseplants attracting lots of small, annoying flies? They’re called fungus gnats—and this is how to get rid of them, for good.

Narratively

The Day a Native American Tribe Drove the KKK Out of Town

The North Carolina Klan thought burning crosses would scare the Lumbee tribe out of Robeson County. That’s not how things went down.

Vogue

Why I’m No Longer Adding Oat Milk To My Coffee

Like oat milk in your coffee? It may be causing cravings and tiredness.

Inc.

43 Embarrassing Grammar Mistakes Even Smart People Make

Like it or not, words, spelling, and punctuation can leave a lasting impression on others. But even the most educated people often unknowingly make these common flubs.

Scott Young

What is Productivity Guilt? (And How Can You Prevent It?)

Pushing yourself to be productive is good. Being hard on yourself for not meeting every possible goal isn’t.

Mental Floss

13 Tantalizing Facts About the Lost Colony of Roanoke

What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke? Corporate greed, dreadful diplomacy, and the wrath of Mother Nature. Also, we don’t know.

Delish

Apple Pie Cheesecake

It’s the best of both worlds.

Scientific American

Why Do We Crave Sweets When We’re Stressed?

A brain researcher explains our desire for chocolate and other carbs during tough times.

Darius Foroux

If Social Media Makes You Feel Bad, Quit Using It

There’s no sense in spending time and energy on something that consistently makes you unhappy.

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, July 14

Texas Monthly

At 40, She Discovered She Was One of America’s Best Free Divers

Sara Burnett went from an introductory course to a world championship in just over a year.

The Hollywood Reporter

Sharks, ‘Sweethearts’ and Subs: 19 Docs and Real-Life Series to Watch This Summer

Whether you’re seeking true-crime tales, celebrity-focused fare or a closer look at the world around you, there’s something new for various tastes.

The New Yorker

How to Save a Dog

For nearly a year, a motley crew scoured New Orleans for a shaggy white mutt named Scrim.

Business Insider

Can Millennial Dads Have It All?

Millennial dads spend much more time with their kids than their boomer parents, but they’re still struggling to break the breadwinner stereotype.

Popular Science

How Do Airplane Toilets Work?

The engineering is surprisingly simple and remarkably clever.

Nautilus

Is the Show Finally Over for These Whales and Dolphins?

They were bred to entertain in a now-shuttered marine park. Now they need to be rescued.

The Narwhal

Emptying the Nest: Parenting Lessons From Bald Eagles

A photographer follows a pair of bald eagles in southern Ontario, returning to their nest every year to raise their young, and send them off

Slate

The Menagerie Lurking in Rural America

Many people still own exotic animals like they’re any other pet. But they’re not.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

NPR

‘Helping Every Dang Soul’: Beloved Camp Director Was Among Those Lost in Texas Flooding

Jane Ragsdale ran the Heart O’ the Hills camp for girls in Kerr County. The camp was between sessions when the deluge hit. The only person killed there was Ragsdale.

Polygon

25 Years Ago, Final Fantasy 9 Crystalized the Final Fantasy Identity

Before crystals and chocobos, there must be courage to challenge their own place and visions.

Business Insider

We Bought an Apartment in Italy for Less Than What We’d Spend on a Down Payment in the US. the Renovations Are a Headache, but It’s Still Worth It.

Kelly Beigle and Boris Krstevski wanted to own property. For the price of a down payment in the US, they were able to buy an apartment in Italy.

Real Simple

What’s Your Clutter Personality? Knowing It Could Be the Key to a Tidier Home

Determine your clutter personality type to help you find an organization strategy that works for you.

Axios

“Stretched to the Breaking Point”: SNAP Cuts Spook Food Banks

“Food banks are stretched literally to the breaking point,” one leader told Axios.

The Walrus

We Should Really Just Steal Finland’s Baby Box Idea

The case for treating parenting as a public investment, not a private burden.

Axios

Exclusive: Most States OK Charging Inmates for Own Incarceration

The debt wheel puts up more obstacles to escaping the poverty that likely put them in jail.

Inc. Magazine

50 Years Ago, a Harvard Researcher Discovered the Illusion of Control. Mastering It Remains the Key to Success

A classic Harvard study shows the impact of overestimating your ability to control outcomes, especially when you experience early success.

Fast Company

These 75 Housing Markets Hit a Critical Threshold in Favor of Homebuyers

Among the nation’s 200 largest housing markets, these 78 metro areas now have active inventory above 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

Futurism

Experts Warn That People Are Losing Themselves to AI

AI users are spiraling into severe mental health crises after extensive use of chatbots like ChatGPT — and health experts are taking notice.

Food & Wine

I Tracked a Wild Salmon From Sea to Plate — What I Learned Surprised Me

Wild salmon is abundant in Alaska and coveted by chefs — but most Americans eat the cheaper, milder farmed kind. Journalist Kim Cross set out to learn why — and how to cook the real thing right.

Kiplinger

The Delightful Way to Protect Your Cognitive Health

You know the drill — protect your cognitive health by eating well, exercising and socializing. But this newfound way to boost brain health is pure pleasure.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Walrus

Why Everyone You Know Is Suddenly a Birder

A pandemic pastime has grown into something deeper.

CNBC

These College Majors Have the Best Job Prospects — and They Aren’t What Students Expect

Which college major students choose often has significant implications for job prospects and future career potential.

The New York Times

You Saved and Saved for Retirement. Now You Need a Plan to Cash Out.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they are more worried about running out of money in retirement than dying, and many retirees could be on track to turn that fear into a stark reality.

Fast Company

Why Do We Trust Certain People (Even When We Shouldn’t)?

The science of who is (and isn’t) trustworthy. Why are some people perceived as more trustworthy than others?

Harvard Business Review

Leading Is Emotionally Draining. Here’s How to Recover.

Emotional depletion is a real and significant tax of modern leadership. Recovery is no longer a luxury.

Substack

The Death of Partying in the U.S.A.—and Why It Matters

Young Americans today spend 70 percent less time attending or hosting parties than they did at the beginning of the 21st century. Why?

Psyche

What to Do When Someone Goes on the Defensive

Our natural impulses often make matters worse. Here’s an approach that works, grounded in conflict resolution and psychology.

NBC News

Job Scams Are on the Rise and More People Are Falling for Them

As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Vox

For Years, Women Complained That This Medical Procedure Was Painful. Doctors Are Finally Listening.

How a common birth control method became the center of a reckoning.

Harvard Business Review

New Research on Why Teams Overwork—and What Leaders Can Do About It

Why do so many high-performing professionals keep working at a punishing pace, even when it damages their health, relationships, and personal well-being?

USA TODAY

Increase Your Social Security Income in Retirement With Three Powerful Moves

There's a reason people are commonly advised not to retire on Social Security alone. The average monthly benefit won't go very far in helping seniors cover their costs.

CNBC

‘Revenge Savings’ Can Boost Your Bottom Line, Experts Say — Here’s How to Get Started

Saving more money is a perennial resolution, but emotions shouldn't drive that habit, financial experts say. Instead, be intentional. Here's how to get started.