Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Darius Foroux

How To Read A Self-Help Book In 90 Minutes

Most self-help books are filled with useless fluff. Shave that off and actually learn something valuable.

Narratively

Meet the Kim Kardashian of the 1890s

How an unexceptional vaudeville performer turned a lurid tabloid scandal into national fame and a lucrative personal brand.

Quartz

The Japanese Art Principle That Teaches How to Work With Failure

Your cracks and flaws make you more amazing—if handled artfully.

Esquire

Why Are Debut Novels Failing to Launch?

For first-time writers, it’s harder than ever to break out. That poses an existential crisis for publishing—and disturbing limits on your access to exciting new voices.

MIT Press Reader

When Birds Migrated to the Moon

From the ancient Greeks to the 17th century, a terrestrial phenomenon baffled scientists: Where did the birds go in winter?

Aeon

What Did Hannah Arendt Really Mean by the Banality of Evil?

Adolph Eichmann’s trial has been over for decades, but the debate it sparked rages on.

Romper

The Absolute Unhinged Joy Of A Cabbage Patch Kid Name

Everyone remembers their Cabbage Patch Kid’s name, but why?

Runner’s World

How to Actually Prep for a Trail Race, According to Pros

You may be in road race shape, but taking to the trails is an entirely different experience.

Knowable Magazine

Do Spiders Dream? What About Cuttlefish? Bearded Dragons?

Researchers are finding signs of multiple phases of sleep all over the animal kingdom. The ‘active’ sleep phases look very much like REM.

Smithsonian Magazine

Why an Alabama Town Has a Monument Honoring the Destructive Boll Weevil

The pest decimated the South’s cotton industry, but the city of Enterprise found prosperity instead.

Ars Technica

Speed Matters: How Ethernet Went From 3Mbps to 100Gbps…And Beyond

One of the biggest computing inventions of all time, courtesy of Xerox PARC.

Good Housekeeping

The Racist and Problematic History of the Body Mass Index

Explaining the racist roots behind BMI — and why it’s not the standard of health it’s been made out to be.

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

Wednesday, July 9

The Guardian

You Love the Outdoors. So Why Are You Pooping All Over It?

Millions of Americans a year visit national parks and many leave their business anywhere. Contrary to popular belief, that deluge of poop is not going to decompose.

The Atlantic

I Fought Plastic. Plastic Won

My futile quest to avoid the material that my entire world is made out of.

Columbia Journalism Review

Grains of Salt

A memoir of restoration became a bestseller and a movie. Its truth is now in doubt.

Atavist

Conversations with a Hit Man

A former FBI agent traveled to Louisiana to ask a hired killer about a murder that haunted him. Then they started talking about a different case altogether.

Rest of World

Out of Space: Picturing the Big, Crowded Business of Satellite Internet

The idea of a space-based internet is almost as old as the internet itself. In 1993, the Hughes Aircraft Company filed for a license with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to develop Spaceway, a high-speed global satellite internet service — the first of its kind.

Eating Well

9 Best Foods to Help You Stay Hydrated, Recommended by Dietitians

Many fruits and veggies provide fluids and electrolytes to aid in hydration. Dietitians share their recommendations for the best foods for hydration.

Vogue

Why I Finally Fell Out Of Love With Attachment Theory

There was a time, in my mid-twenties, when I became completely obsessed with why I was the way I was. I’d just been through a major break-up, and what followed was a period of intense and intentional soul-searching.

Scientific American

The Benefits of Raising Conscientious Kids

Being conscientious will serve kids in the long run. Here are some tips to help them learn that trait.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Axios

Middle Managers Fade As AI Rises

“Flattening” has long been thinning management ranks, and now AI is kicking in.

ESPN

Ranking NFL WR, TE, RB Groups for 2025: Best and Worst Teams

Which teams have the best skill position talent around their quarterback? We stacked all 32 from worst to first.

Quanta Magazine

New Sphere-Packing Record Stems From an Unexpected Source

After just a few months of work, a complete newcomer to the world of sphere packing has solved one of its biggest open problems.

Inc. Magazine

Neuroscience Reveals 4 Ways to Get Smarter, Make Better Decisions, and Stay Mentally Agile

Best of all, research shows each also contributes to living a healthier, more positive, and fulfilling life.

Parents

10 Reasons Kids Misbehave and How to Support Them

Kids don’t always have the words to express what they’re feeling, so they use their behavior instead. Here are 10 common reasons children misbehave, plus practical tips to help parents respond with empathy, structure, and support.

Popular Mechanics

Archaeologists Discovered an Unprecedented Ancient Monument That Could Rewrite History

It’s practically impossible.

Time

The True Story Behind Netflix’s Trainwreck: The Real Project X

When a 16th birthday party invite went viral on Facebook in 2012, thousands descended on the town of Haren in the Netherlands.

Discover

Neanderthals May Have Ran Their Own Fat Factories 125,000 Years Ago

Discover how ancient humans scaled up their food production to survive in harsh environments.

Context

Philippines Struggles to Green Schools Amid Climate Risks

The Philippines struggles to tackle education gaps as climate risks, such as heatwaves and storms, rise.

Variety

The Best Horror Movies of 2025 So Far, Ranked: ‘Sinners,’ ‘Final Destination Bloodlines,’ ’28 Years Later’ and More

Many great horror movies have already been released this year, including ‘Final Destination Bloodlines,’ ‘Companion’ and more.

Nautilus

Does Anybody Really Know What Time Is?

Yes, your brain does. It created it.

Business Insider

The Highest-Paid Tennis Players in the World, Ranked

Carlos Alcaraz topped the list of highest-paid tennis players in 2024, earning $42.3 million between prize money and endorsements.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

Gizmodo

This Cough Syrup Ingredient Might Actually Slow Dementia

Several larger trials of ambroxol for Parkinson's are already underway.

Harvard Business Review

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

People worry that others will see them as immoral and incompetent for quitting their passion. These fears are often misplaced.

The Washington Post

I’m a Gastroenterologist. Here’s Why I Tell My Patients to Eat This One Fruit.

Kiwis can boost your gut health. They may also lower triglycerides and cancer risk.

CNBC

Recruiter: I’ve Placed Over 1,000 People Into Jobs–Here’s the No. 1 ‘Closing Technique’ to Nail Your Interview

In this environment where it’s difficult to get your foot in the door, one mistake that some recent graduates make is assuming that their degree will automatically get them a job.

NPR

4 Things to Know About the Vaccine Ingredient Thimerosal

The federal government could soon recommend that people only receive flu shots made without an ingredient called thimerosal.

The New York Times

How Many Dates Should You Go on Before You Start Talking About Money?

Couples tend to dance around discussing how much they earn or owe early in a relationship. But experts agree that talking about money sooner is better than later.

HuffPost

I Paid Off a School’s Lunch Debt. Then Strangers on the Internet Did Something Truly Stunning.

This is proof that strangers can decide, together, to make things better.

Fast Company

How to Trick Your Nervous System Into Calming Down When You’re Stressed at Work

Understanding how your body works can be the key to reducing stress. For example, you’re probably aware of your fight-or-flight response—the body’s way of preparing itself when it believes it’s being threatened.

NPR

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Purchases Can Now Affect Your Credit Score. Here’s What That Means

Services that split up payments into installments are increasingly popular, especially among young and low-to-middle income shoppers. But now the FICO credit scoring company will be tracking that debt.

The Guardian

Natural Fibers and No Heathered Grey: What to Wear When It’s Really, Really Hot Out

The biggest concerns are a) maximizing comfort and b) masking sweat so one doesn’t look like a sentient pile of wet laundry.

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.