Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

PC Gamer

I Was Shocked to Find This Out About the Windows 10 Desktop Background

My appreciation for a desktop background I immediately switched out has grown exponentially.

MEL Magazine

Why Talking to Strangers Is the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Mental Health

If we can only break through the awkwardness barrier, striking up conversations at random is the cheapest form of therapy there is.

Nautilus

The Day Feynman Worked Out Black-Hole Radiation on My Blackboard

“After a few minutes, Richard Feynman had worked out the process of spontaneous emission, which is what Stephen Hawking became famous for a year later.”

Inc.

This Is the Most Bizarre Grammar Rule You Probably Never Heard Of

But I’ve been following it all my life, and so have you.

Glamour

Self-Care Didn’t Work for My Anxiety—Medicine Did

After months of trying to will away panic attacks, I realized there was a problem with the Internet’s wellness complex.

Narratively

My Teenage Life After Leaving a Cult

I spent my childhood waiting for the apocalypse. When it never came, I grasped at anything I could to feel in control.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

“Little Prince” Author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on Losing a Friend

“Old friends cannot be created out of hand. Nothing can match the treasure of common memories, of trials endured together, of quarrels and reconciliations and generous emotions.”

Darius Foroux

If You Rest, You Rust. So Always Keep Moving.

We progress by moving forward. It may seem obvious but at the same time it can be easy to succumb to stagnation.

Esquire

What Is American Style?

From old-school preppy staples to forward-thinking fashion, getting dressed in the U.S.A. has always been about celebrating the everyday person.

BBC Worklife

The ‘Batman Effect’: How Having an Alter Ego Empowers You

Thinking of yourself as a separate entity can reduce anxiety, while also kicking up some major benefits for your confidence and determination.

Bon Appétit

The Key to Tender Meat? Baking Soda

A little goes a long way with especially tough cuts—like this juicy London broil.

Quanta Magazine

A New Approach to Understanding How Machines Think

Neural networks are famously incomprehensible—a computer can come up with a good answer, but not explain what led to the conclusion. Been Kim is developing a “translator for humans” so we can understand when AI breaks down.

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 20

NPR

4 Confidence-Boosting Ways to Overcome the Fear of Flirting in Real Life

Does talking to a cute stranger make your palms sweat? Confidence coach Regina Bonds offers advice on to how to put yourself out there, including how to show interest without coming off as creepy.

Boston

Blood Feuds: The Fight Over Who Gets to Be Native American

A Rhode Island tribe’s quest for state recognition has sparked a controversy.

The Week

Why Your Body Ages Rapidly in Two ‘Bursts’

Scientists have found that ageing increases in our mid-40s and 60s.

Virginia Quarterly Review

Dark Ride to the Source

Holding on to Joy at Disneyland.

Grub Street

Is All This Salt Killing Us?

Doctors have long warned about the risks of too much sodium. But in an era of Maximum Flavor, we crave it more than ever.

New York Magazine

Inside the Media’s Traffic Apocalypse

The whole premise of internet publishing is starting to crumble.

Los Angeles Times

AI Can Write a Scene. It Can Pitch a Movie. So What Happens to the Screenwriters?

As generative AI reshapes Hollywood, screenwriters like Billy Ray, Paul Schrader, Bong Joon Ho and Todd Haynes, along with a new class of tech disruptors, are navigating the uncertain future of storytelling.

The 19th

She Helped Get Rid of Measles in Her County. This Is Her Advice on Stopping Its Spread.

Lubbock County in Texas has been free of measles cases for more than 50 days. But Katherine Wells, director of the Lubbock Health Department, is staying vigilant.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Vox

You Can Get Unfathomably Rich Building AI. Should You?

Top AI engineers are being offered $100 million to work at companies like Meta. But there’s a giant catch.

Gizmodo

Gastrointestinal Cancers Are Surging Among Young Americans, and No One Is Quite Sure Why

More people under 50 are being diagnosed with GI cancers, with rates rising particularly rapidly in the U.S.

Business Insider

How AI Is Helping Healthcare Startups Multiply Their Patients and Chase Profits

Healthcare startups are betting that AI can help them do more with less — including in caring for patients.

Popular Science

Dark Age Detoxes Sometimes Resembled TikTok Health Trends

A few remedies hold up. Most don’t—and that’s why good research matters.

The Atlantic

Is Colbert’s Ouster Really Just a ‘Financial Decision’?

CBS no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Popular Mechanics

Transform Your Home’s Exterior in an Afternoon With a Proper Pressure Washing: We’ll Show You How

Follow these steps to extend the life of your siding and refresh your home’s curb appeal.

Smithsonian Magazine

As Interest in Deep-Sea Mining Grows, Scientists Raise Alarms About the Possible Ecological Consequences

Gathering minerals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium from the seabed could affect everything from sponges to whales. The long-term effects of these extractions remain uncertain.

Architectural Digest

How to Style a Nursery That Feels Soothing and Serene

AD PRO Directory designers share ideas to outfit a room for the littlest member of the family.

NBC News

Cost of Obamacare Expected to Soar As Subsidies Expire and Insurers Hike Premiums

People who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could see increases of more than 75% each month, one expert said.

Smithsonian Magazine

Cut Marks on Animal Bones Suggest Neanderthal Groups Had Their Own Unique Culinary Traditions

Neanderthals in two nearby caves used different techniques when butchering animal carcasses in what is now Israel, according to a new paper.

Essence

Still Asking: ‘Who Is Jill Scott?’ 25 Years Later, Her Words Still Speak to Our Souls

Jill Scott’s introduction to the world redefined soul music for a generation. Her impact on Black womanhood and artistry remains undeniable.

ESPN

Judging 2025 NFL Offseason Overreactions: Bucs, Browns, More

Is the Bucs QB destined for a massive new contract? Will the Commanders own the NFC East? We’re judging offseason overreactions.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CNBC

What a Trump, Powell Faceoff Means for Your Money

Tensions are escalating between the White House and the Federal Reserve, with consumers caught in the middle.

The Walrus

Before You Share That Health Tip, Read This

Misinformation is everywhere. And yes, some of it has probably gotten to you.

CNBC

Student Loan Bills Could Double for Some Borrowers As Biden-Era Relief Expires

Many student loan borrowers could see their monthly bills more than double now that the Biden-era SAVE plan is defunct.

Stylist

Managers, Here’s How to Have an Effective 1-to-1, According to Career Experts

How to help your team members get the most from your meetings.

Fast Company

I’m a Two-Time Tech Founder. but Restaurants Are Where I Learned to Lead

The surprising lessons the conveyor belt sushi business taught me. Sudden equipment failures. Supply chain surprises. Retaining staff as the goalposts move in real time. These aren’t challenges I’ve faced as a tech founder—but I have faced them running restaurants.

The Week

How Can You Get the Maximum Social Security Retirement Benefit?

For many, Social Security benefits are a key part of their retirement plan. So it makes sense that you would want to get the most possible from this monthly source of income.

Yahoo

What Is ‘Revenge Saving,’ and Should You Hop on the Trend?

“Revenge saving” emphasizes making up for poor financial habits by being aggressively frugal or restrictive with your current spending.

Money.com

Why You Probably Need Flood Insurance — Even if You Don't Live Near Water

Over the Fourth of July weekend, parts of central Texas were devastated by flash floods after the region was hit with the equivalent of four months' worth of rain in just a few hours. At least 134 people were killed, and more than 100 are still missing as of press time.

GQ

What to Wear to a Job Interview, According to Hiring Experts

Make sure your suit fits, don’t dress too sexy, and other essential advice from professionals in law, tech, finance, and marketing.

Kiplinger

I Want to Buy an Annuity, but I’m Scared I’ll Get Ripped Off. Should I Get One Anyway?

An annuity is a way to achieve lifetime income in retirement, but you need to understand how this product works before making a purchase.

Business Insider

The Hot New MBA Hustle

Millennials’ hottest new career pivot: ditching the corporate grind to run unsexy small businesses.

NPR

‘Panicking’: Why Recent College Grads Are Struggling to Find Jobs

Recent college graduates are facing one of the most challenging job markets in years — with the exception of the pandemic period — even as the overall unemployment rate remains low.