Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Homes & Gardens

7 Common Household Items That Are Polluting Your Air

Learn what household items are polluting the air around you in your home.

Narratively

As a Fugitive With a Fake Name, I Discovered the Real Me

I was arrested at an anti-war protest, jumped bail and went on the run. That’s when my story really began.

The Kitchn

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

This curry dish benefits from the nice, long simmer—a slow cooker specialty.

MIT Press Reader

A Century of Science Fiction That Changed How We Think About the Environment

Even before the idea of climate change took hold, sci-fi began to think of the planet as something that preceded our species and could conceivably continue without us.

The War Zone

Modern Submarine Torpedo Attacks Are Nothing Like What You See In The Movies

Breaking down how modern torpedo attacks really go down and the types of torpedoes that are used to sink ships and other submarines.

The Conversation

Health Check: Is There an Optimal Time of Day to Work Out?

The best time is the time you’ll actually do it.

Popular Science

What the Heck Is a Time Crystal, and Why Are Physicists Obsessed With Them?

Some of today’s quantum physicists are tinkering with an esoteric phase of matter that seems to disobey some of our laws of physics.

Lifehacker

Stop Answering Your Kid’s Questions

It’ll help them gain a critical skill—and get you out of the hot seat.

Aeon

Anger Is Temporary Madness: The Stoics Knew How to Curb It

Anger is a complicated emotion, but one you can learn to control. Here’s how.

Quartz

It’s Enlightenment Philosophy’s Fault That Women Wear High Heels Instead of Men

Men wore them first as a symbol of status. Then times changed.

The Atlantic

The Mystery of Urban Psychosis

Why are paranoia and schizophrenia more common in cities?

Inc.

How to Remember Anything You Really Want to Remember, Backed by Science

A three-step process to commit important information to memory.

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, August 17

ESPN

The Predatory Web of Sextortion Increasingly Ensnares Young Athletes

A Michigan teen was goaded into sharing an intimate photo that scammers threatened to expose unless he paid up.

CBS News

This Car Ranks as America’s Most-Stolen Vehicle

Here’s why one Chevrolet model is the most-stolen type of car, according to a new report.

BBC

How Kentucky Bourbon Went From Boom to Bust

Tariffs, oversupply and teetotaling Gen-Zs have all contributed to the downfall of one of America’s most iconic liquors.

The Associated Press

The Top Photos of the Week by AP’s Photojournalists

This photo gallery, curated by photo editor Anita Baca, highlights some of the most compelling images worldwide published in the past week.

GQ

Travis Kelce on His Upcoming Season, Post-NFL Ambitions, and Life With Taylor Swift

After a grueling Super Bowl loss, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end spent his summer vacation focused on coming back stronger than ever.

NPR

Recommendation: New Books Published This Week

A portrait of the lucrative drug-treatment industry; a memoir of a female firefighter; debut fiction from an Emmy-winning TV writer; and a brand new Karin Slaughter thriller.

BBC

A Dating App, a Niqab and a 9mm Gun: How a US Woman Was Hired to End a UK Family Feud

The investigation into the Wisconsin native revealed her to be “fairly unexceptional” with virtually no “criminal footprint”. And it remains unclear why she became a would-be contract killer.

New York Magazine

The Crypto Maniacs and the Torture Townhouse

How two men charged with an outrageous kidnapping scheme introduced a new kind of crime to the city.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Martha Stewart

How to Harvest Aloe Vera for Its Gel—Without Harming the Plant

Aloe vera looks beautiful, but you can also harvest it and extract its soothing gel. Here’s how to do it the right way, according to experts.

GQ

The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)

From AAA blockbusters to out-of-nowhere indies, these are the 2025 RPGs, platformers, and puzzle games that have made us thankful to have thumbs.

Fast Company

Retail Sales Rise in July As Shoppers Rush to Spend Ahead of Tariffs

The increases followed two consecutive months of spending declines in April and May.

Gizmodo

Tesla Is Making a Move in New York City That Regulators Absolutely Hate

Tesla has already spent years fighting federal probes, civil and criminal lawsuits and a host of scrutiny from everyone from the SEC to buyers.

The Associated Press

RushTok Backlash: Why Sororities Aren’t Letting Prospects Post

Kylan Darnell is a TikTok star known for documenting sorority recruitment, but she decided to step back from posting this year.

Condé Nast Traveler

Could the US Have the World’s First Nuclear-Powered Airport?

Officials at Denver airport are looking into adding a nuclear reactor to its campus.

Architectural Digest

The Best Home Theater Ideas for Elevated Binge-Watching

Designers explain how to style a room for memorable movie nights.

Time

You Can Now Vaccinate Yourself Against the Flu

You no longer need a doctor to administer FluMist, the nasal flu vaccine.

NBC News

HHS Revives Task Force on Childhood Vaccine Safety

A lawsuit claims Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. violated a 1986 law by failing to set up a task force to make childhood vaccines safer.

Essence

Is Style a Dealbreaker in Dating? We Asked Stylists and Designers for Their Take

Designer Larissa Muehleder, founder Shavone Charles, and a few other insiders share their thoughts on this hot take.

Martha Stewart

How to Clean Dust Off Candles So They Always Look and Smell Great

Keep your candles looking beautiful and smelling their best with these simple tips for removing dust and buildup without damaging them.

Business Insider

OpenAI Finally Went Open — Sort Of. Here’s Why China Should Take Note.

OpenAI released its first open-weight model in years. Analysts say it could narrow China’s lead in the open-source AI race.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Heading for Your 401(K). Here’s What to Know

A recent executive order paves the way for retirement accounts to include a lot more than stock and bond funds.

The Week

What Is an Upside-Down Car Loan and How Do You Get Out of It?

This happens when the outstanding balance on a car loan exceeds the vehicle's worth.

NPR

Electricity Prices Are Climbing More Than Twice As Fast As Inflation

Electricity prices are rising more than twice as fast as overall inflation. That's especially costly during the dog days of summer when air conditioners are working hardest. In addition to hot weather, a variety of factors are causing power bills to climb, including the high cost of natural gas used to generate electricity and soaring demand from data centers.

Allure

Why Is the FDA Suddenly Calling Out Foam Sunscreens?

The agency issued warnings to two beloved brands regarding alleged regulatory violations. What gives?

The Associated Press

FACT FOCUS: No, Taxpayers Will Not Receive New Stimulus Checks This Summer

This is false. Taxpayers will not receive new stimulus checks of any amount this summer, an IRS official said.

NPR

8 Essential Conversations to Have With Your Aging Parents

There comes a time when it’s the kid’s turn to take care of mom and dad. Here’s how to broach this sensitive subject with your parents, and what to talk about.

The Local

On the Front Lines of the War Against ‘Super Lice’

With the emergence of drug-resistant nits, lice removal has become a booming business, catering to harried, itchy parents willing to pay for relief.

NBC News

Why Investors Shouldn’t Try to Be a ‘Hero’ in This Economy, Analyst Says

In other words: Stick to your long-term investment plan, including an appropriate asset allocation and time frame to reach your goals.

The Marginalian

Wonder, Play, and How to Be More Alive

We build our lives around structures of certainty — houses to live in, marriages to love in, ideologies to think in — and yet some primal part of us knows that none abides, knows that we pay for these comforting illusions with our very aliveness.

The Walrus

How to Trick Your Brain into Making Life Feel Longer and Richer

Forget anti-aging creams. The secret is living like you’re not in a hurry.

CNN

Mortgage Rates Fall to Lowest Level in 10 Months

Would-be home buyers and homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages got a rare break this week after months of stubbornly high borrowing costs.

KFF Health News

AUDIO: A Wild Health Insurance Hustle

A couple in New York thought they bought insurance. Instead, they got fake “jobs.”