Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Stylist

Want to Overcome Imposter Syndrome? Here’s Why You Need to Try the PETAL Method

Entrepreneur coach Amanda Brenkley talks us through her five-step PETAL method designed to help us all get past imposter syndrome for good.

Popular Science

You Should Learn Two Languages at Once

Deciding between two languages to learn? Why not both?

The Guardian

Night Owls’ Cognitive Function ‘Superior’ to Early Risers, Study Suggests

Research on 26,000 people found those who stay up late scored better on intelligence, reasoning and memory tests.

The Guardian

17 Micro-Workouts That Will Change Your Life – Even if You’re Stuck in the Office

No time for a run or a trip to the gym? Exercise ‘snacks’ are the answer. All you need is some stairs, a wall and 120 seconds away from your desk or sofa.

The Washington Post

How Do We Get Our 4-Year-Old To Stop Negotiating and Respect Our Rules?

She’s only 4, but she’s already trying to negotiate the rules and her punishments with her parents.

Nir Eyal

When Distraction is a Good Thing

Sometimes letting our minds wander is the best course of action.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

Viktor Frankl on the Human Search for Meaning

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Scientific American

Facial Expressions Do Not Reveal Emotions

The emotion AI industry, courts and child educators are unknowingly relying on a misunderstanding of Darwin’s ideas.

The Guardian

How Did Childcare in the US Become so Absurdly Expensive?

Families are taking out lines of credit, working second jobs, commuting for hours and forgoing careers. It doesn’t need to be this way, experts say.

MIT Press Reader

How New Ideas Arise

Architect and poet Paolo Belardi traces the many conditions and situations that have inspired extraordinary ideas across the arts and sciences.

Smithsonian Magazine

A 16-Million-Year-Old Tree Tells a Deep Story of the Passage of Time

The sequoia tree slab is an invitation to begin thinking about a vast timescale that includes everything from fossils of armored amoebas to the great Tyrannosaurus rex.

Atlas Obscura

The Pirate Who Penned the First English-Language Guacamole Recipe

His food-writing firsts included the use of the words “barbecue” and “chopsticks.”

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

Monday, August 18

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.

NPR

Why the Origin of the Word ‘Dog’ Remains a Mystery

They’re known as man’s best friends, fur babies, pooches. But the most widely used word for these beloved animals — “dog” — is also a great linguistic mystery.

CNN

12 of America’s Most Iconic Sandwiches and Where to Eat Them

The deep, diverse array of US sandwich options owes much of its greatness to the creativity and resourcefulness of immigrant communities.

POLITICO Europe

Inside the Wild World of Politicians’ Private Zoos

As Viktor Orbán’s exotic wildlife sparks a furor in Hungary, we looked at Bidzina Ivanishvili’s shark and Viktor Yanukovych’s ostriches. 

House and Garden

The Remarkable 17th-Century Dutch Dolls’ Houses That Were Anything But Toys

In the Dutch Golden Age, wealthy women commissioned extraordinary miniature houses, lavishly furnished with art, porcelain, and fine furniture — and often as costly as a real home.

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.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Fast Company

4 Tips to Reduce the Crazy Costs of Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers

If you thought teaching your teenager how to drive was terrifying, you clearly haven’t seen their auto insurance premiums yet.

BBC

Beyond Chow Mein: Can a New Wave of Restaurants Help China Win Hearts?

As an authoritarian China tries other forms of soft power, a sumptuous table may be a useful draw.

NBC News

Blue-Collar Jobs Are Gaining Popularity As AI Threatens Office Work

There is no shortage of hype around AI coming for jobs, and while the U.S. labor market has begun to sputter, hard evidence of AI-related job losses is scarce.

Serious Eats

Crispy Chicken and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, All on One Sheet Pan

This comforting one-pan chicken dinner is big on flavor, low on effort.

CBS News

Fewer Young People Are Meeting These 5 Milestones Typically Associated With Adulthood

As less young people meet major economic milestones such as moving out and getting married, the concept of adulthood is changing.

CNBC

27 Is the ‘Ideal’ Age to Start Saving for Retirement, Survey-Takers Say — but CFPs Suggest Even Earlier

While some Americans think starting to save for retirement in your late 20s is ideal, financial advisors say it can pay to start even sooner — especially if you plan to retire early.

The Atlantic

This Year Will Be the Turning Point for AI College

Members of the class of 2026 have been using ChatGPT since they were freshmen.

Atlas Obscura

Corita Kent: How a Nun Became a Revolutionary Pop Artist

Corita Kent’s art asserted joy in a difficult political climate.

PS

Legend Breanna Stewart and Newcomer Paige Bueckers Share High Hopes for the WNBA

The WNBA is evolving. How do the athletes feel about it?

Architectural Digest

The Best Pet Beds for Lulling Your Little Angel

When it comes to buying furniture for your pet, please learn from my mistakes.

Vanity Fair

Three Cutthroat Emmy Categories That Could Shake up the Race

As Emmy voting kicks off Monday, several clear front-runners have emerged—but a few underdogs might still shake things up.

The New Yorker

The Curious Symbolism of J. D. Vance’s English Getaway

The Vice-President built his political brand on bashing élites. Why does he vacation like one?

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.

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.

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.

Allure

Why Is the FDA Suddenly Calling Out Foam Sunscreens?

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

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 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.

USA TODAY

‘The Tooth Fairy Sticks to a Budget:’ Kids Are Finding Less Under Their Pillows for Lost Teeth

Times are tough, even for kids.

The Guardian

Ozempic Didn’t Work for Me. I Was Furious – and Ashamed

Everyone taking the ‘skinny shot’ was losing weight, but my scales didn’t change. My inner dialogue became toxic.

NBC News

Needle-Phobic? FluMist Nasal Spray Vaccine Available for Use at Home

The majority of children and up to 30% of young adults have a fear of needles, research shows.

NPR

Counting Steps for Health? Here’s How Many You Really Need

Counting steps is easy using a phone, a wearable or fitness tracker. And scientists have lots of data to figure out how many daily steps you need to improve health. Here’s what they’ve found.