Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Mental Floss

The Lost Girl of Vermont’s ‘Bennington Triangle’

In 1946, college student Paula Welden went for a hike on a local path known as the Long Trail. Her fate has become part of Vermont’s folklore.

Scientific American

Why Do People Mistake Narcissism for High Self-Esteem?

Why people form such positive first impressions of narcissists.

Nautilus

Once Upon a Gemstone

Precious stones hold the stories of continents, oceans, and cultures.

Inc.

6 Counterintuitive Things Successful and Productive People Do on Sunday

Sunday holds untapped potential if you’re willing to think differently.

CityLab

How the Tuberculosis Epidemic Influenced Modernist Architecture

Light, air, and hygiene were not just aesthetic preoccupations of the early Modernists: They were the best treatment for tuberculosis at the time.

Greater Good Magazine

Four Ways to Calm Your Mind in Stressful Times

A sense of calm offers us strength and resilience amid the chaos of life.

Prevention

10 Rowing Machine Benefits, According to Experts

This cardio machine works major muscle groups for a full-body workout.

Bustle

A Guide To Red Flags

In dating and in life, they’re not always what you think they should be.

Bicycling

How Much Protein Per Day Do You Need? Experts Answer.

Protein is a major part of cycling performance—particularly when it comes to recovery. Here’s how to figure out your needs.

Quanta Magazine

The Grand Unified Theory of Rogue Waves

Rogue waves—enigmatic giants of the sea—were thought to be caused by two different mechanisms. But one idea that borrows from the hinterlands of probability theory has the potential to predict them all.

Slate

Why Parents Panic Way Too Much Over Kids Who Learn to Walk Late

Author and economist Emily Oster dives into the data to see how common expectations and conventions around childbirth hold up.

BBC Future

The Ingenious Living Bridges of India

For centuries, indigenous groups in north-east India have crafted intricate bridges from living fig trees. Now this ancient skill is making its way to European cities.

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

Thursday, August 7

BBC

Mississippi Burning: The Shocking Murders That Sparked Change in the US

In August 1964, three civil rights activists were found dead in the Deep South. The public’s response provided the impetus for new civil rights legislation in America.

The Guardian

The 12-Year-Old Girl Staring Down Monster Waves at Teahupo’o

The young Tahiti surfer will become the WSL’s youngest competitor when she takes on the fearsome break she can see from her family home.

Slate

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

How do I deal with my emotions without whiskey?

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.

The Wall Street Journal

Earning More But in Worse Shape: Hardship Overwhelms Many American Families

Nearly half of kids in the U.S. live in households below the middle class as inflation and the end of Covid relief hit working parents; a $2.90 raise that cuts government benefits.

Noema Magazine

The Gulf World That Air Conditioning Wrought

From Saudi Arabia to Qatar, rulers have used modern air conditioning to control landscapes and lives, forgoing traditional methods of keeping cool.

SELF

5 Injuries ER Doctors See All the Time—and How to Avoid Them

You might be surprised by the seemingly innocuous behaviors that cause them.

BBC

How Pac-Man Changed Gaming - and the World

Celebrating his 45th birthday this year, the yellow eating machine revolutionised video games – and has even been used in science. What has made him and his adventures so addictive?

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

NBC News

Why Is Everyone Buzzing About Cryotherapy? Experts Break Down the Trend and How to Try It at Home

It turns out freezing temps can feel surprisingly good — especially if you’re sore, swollen or stressed.

Grist

The Unlikely Coalition Fighting to Keep Energy Star Labels on Your Appliances

The Trump administration wants to eliminate the energy efficiency program, but bakers, builders, and chemical companies are trying to save it.

The 19th

The Voting Rights Act Turns 60 — but Its Promise Is Still Under Threat

As voting rights lose ground, the 19th spoke with four of the advocates working to preserve the path to the ballot for the most marginalized voters.

Rest of World

They Left Syria As Refugees. They’re Returning to Build Its Tech Industry

After the fall of the Assad regime, tech workers are coming back to help rebuild their nation.

Variety

‘Hamilton’ Turns 10: Four Actors Unpack Playing a Role in the Musical’s Enduring Legacy

“Hamilton” actors Miguel Cervantes, Hannah Cruz, Thayne Jasperson and Edred Utomi bond over playing a role in the hit musical’s legacy.

Glamour

How to Keep Sunscreen Out of Your Eyes, According to Experts

Stop the burn for good.

Vanity Fair

“It’s Actually 500 Jokes”: Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang’s Road to the Culture Awards

The pair brings us along for the ride as they stage their podcast’s parody awards show on Bravo for the first time ever. But is primetime ready for the comedic stylings of ‘Las Culturistas?’

Smithsonian Magazine

Researchers Discover the Culprit Behind a Gruesome Disease That Makes Sea Stars Lose Their Limbs and Melt

A new study points a finger at a strain of the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida, which belongs to the same genus as Vibrio cholerae, known for causing cholera in humans

Texas Monthly

A Proposed Rail Line Threatened to Disrupt a Hill Country Town. Locals Pushed Back.

Landowners in Burnet are learning that the area’s geological riches come with unexpected challenges.

Essence

Fast Fashion Isn’t Dying It’s Getting Better at Marketing

From PrettyLittleThing to Zara, brands are getting smarter at how they market products to their customers.

The 19th

Pregnant People in Rural Parts of the Country Are Running Out of Places to Give Birth

Some doctors worry that massive cuts to Medicaid will leave pregnant people needing to drive hundreds of miles for prenatal care and delivery services.

The Guardian

The Trolley Solution: The Internet’s Most Memed Moral Dilemma Becomes a Video Game

Indie developer’s take on the ethical conundrum about choosing who to save from an oncoming train may be gimmicky, but with its charm and bite-size levels, it’s ideal for the social media era.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Time

The Worst Things to Say to Someone With Anxiety—and What to Say Instead

If you want to stay on an anxious person’s good side, don’t tell them to calm down.

NBC News

Tips to Help Manage Your Buy Now, Pay Later Loans

While such loans can help you make large purchases without paying interest or undergoing hard inquiries in your credit report, they can also easily be overused.

ABC News

What to Know About Chikungunya Virus Amid New Outbreak in China

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel warning following an outbreak of a mosquito-borne illness called chikungunya in China.

USA TODAY

She Thought It Was Just Another Energy Drink. It Took Half Her Bodyweight and Sent Her to Rehab.

USA TODAY spoke with over 20 people who say they became severely addicted to kratom − a plant ingredient found in products sold at gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops across the country by various companies.

SELF

My Friend Always Gets Free Stuff by Complaining to Managers—and It Gives Me the ‘Ick’

I feel bad for the servers…and even worse about our relationship.

BBC

The Unusual Brains of Noise-Sensitive People

Though noise sensitivity is often dismissed by doctors, it can have long-term effects on our mental and physical health.

PS

The Sydney Sweeney Denim Ad Takeaway Nobody Is Talking About

Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad has a takeaway about body inclusivity that no one’s discussing, writes senior style director Jessica Andrews.

Glamour

13 Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin to Help Restore Your Glow

Choosing a product with the right ingredients is key.

Time

Why So Many Women Are Quitting the Workforce

Labor force participation among women has started falling again in 2025.

Lifehacker

Five of the Best Free Cardio Workout Channels I’ve Found on YouTube

You don’t need a gym membership to get sweaty.

NPR

AUDIO: It’s Never Too Late to Find a Good Relationship. Here’s Proof.

Have you ever stayed in a relationship, because you felt like it would be too hard to find another partner? This episode is for you.

Lifehacker

What Is Hyrox, and Why Is Everyone Suddenly Doing It?

Hyrox is a new sport that has taken off in a big way. There are competitions that feature running and strength events, and the skills you need are easy to learn.