Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Romper

The Food Our Parents Fed Us

Cans of Cream of Something and frozen vegetables and rice plus more rice made for dinners that tasted like love. (And sanity.)

Truly*Adventurous

She Was a Global Superstar—and a World-Class Spy

The untold story of Josephine Baker, espionage agent.

MEL Magazine

An Unfiltered Oral History of the Marlboro Man

How the leathery-skinned, ever-stoic figure captured the romantic ideal of the American dream, but ultimately came to represent its much darker side.

Epicurious

I Tried Dolly Parton’s Coleslaw and It Was Life-Changing

Dolly’s secret? Pickle juice.

The Guardian

Is Tracking Everything Actually Good For Us?

We record everything mobility to toothbrushing and time spent in daylight. Is this just narcissism redesigned for the big tech age?

Apartment Therapy

4 Shower Products That Are Ruining Your Pipes, According to Plumbers

What to skip, what’s safe, and how to fix any problems that do pop up.

The Marginalian

Wisdom from the Life of Mary Somerville, for Whom the Word “Scientist” Was Coined

Inside the hallmark of a great scientist and a great human being — the ability to hold one’s opinions with firm but unfisted fingers.

Inverse

DNA Is Linked to Depression, But in Different Ways for Men and Women

There are exceptions to every rule. But science shows men and women tend to respond to depression differently.

BBC Worklife

How to Live With Your Regrets

Regret is often seen as undesirable, but it’s a crucial emotion in helping us develop. How do we harness its powerful lessons?

The Guardian

‘The Only Thing You Need Is Your Own Mind’: How to Start Meditating

Meditation isn’t about perfectionism or blocking thoughts, experts say – the goal is to develop ‘a balanced awareness.’

Mental Floss

15 Amazing Facts About 15 Birds

Here’s a flock of facts about everything avian, from brilliantly colored hummingbirds to acorn-hoarding woodpeckers.

Popular Science

The Three Strength Exercises Everyone Should Do

Even if impressive musculature isn’t your goal.

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

Tuesday, August 5

Aeon

A Life in Zen

Growing up in countercultural California, ‘enlightenment’ had real glamour. But decades of practice have changed my mind.

PBS

In the Gray World of GLP-1 Supplements Online, Health Experts Urge Caution

TikTok beauty influencer Kaycee Ogle is regularly contacted by brands who want her to promote their products. But one email she received in June was different, and made her curious.

Popular Science

What Do TSA Bag Scanners Actually See?

Airport X-ray imaging can detect all sorts of threats, along with the water bottle you forgot to trash.

Scientific American

The Hidden Way Allergens Attack Nose, Throat and Lung Cells

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response.

Scientific American

What if Infinity Didn’t Exist?

Can “finitism” possibly describe the real world?

The New Yorker

Treating Gaza’s Collective Trauma

In Gaza, where displaced children play games called “air strike” and act out death, the lack of mental-health resources has become another emergency.

Slate

I Quit Drinking. It’s Great. There’s Just One Small Problem.

How do I deal with my emotions without whiskey?

WIRED

From Cheating Exposés to Dating Background Checks, TikTok Detectives Are Thriving

Private investigator influencers are staking out suspected cheaters and vetting dates for their clients, posting the tea for their followers. But there’s a dark side to morality-based surveillance.

The Quality Employees Need Most Right Now From Their Leaders May Surprise You

Yes, trust is important. But employees say they want another factor more—and there are simple things leaders can do to be sure they’re delivering it.

The Walrus

Whiteouts, Ice Roads, and Wolverines: What Working at a Diamond Mine in the Far North Is Like

In minus forty, even a twisted ankle can turn deadly if no one knows where to find you.

Outside

5 Crazy Facts About the Tour de France Femmes Champion

French cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prevot won road cycling’s biggest event after years of racing—and winning—in cycling’s other disciplines.

The Verge

I Tested 12 Switch 2 Cases and These Are the Best

Including the best pick for handheld and docked play.

The Atlantic

What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones

Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.

Food & Wine

6 Chili Crisps Chefs Swear by for Noodles, Ice Cream, and More

The spicy, crunchy condiment has plenty of fans in professional chefs. These are the ones they stock in their pantries, from cult favorite jars to local brands.

CBS News

Trump to Sign Executive Order Creating Task Force for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

President Trump is signing an executive order Tuesday to create a task force to oversee the LA Olympics.

Essence

Can a Fashion Show Be a Homecoming? House of Aama Thinks So

House of Aama returns to New York Fashion Week with a deeply intentional collection exploring the legacy of African American farmers and the African diasporic experience.