Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Dwell

The Rise and Resurgence of the Great American Row House

Throughout U.S. history, the row house has endured and adapted as an underappreciated model for accessible urban housing.

Mental Floss

What ‘Sic’ Means—And How To Use It Correctly

The way writers use the word ‘sic’ is a little more nuanced than its literal meaning.

BBC Future

How to Teach Children About Risk

Lessons in the rational appraisal of danger may be the secret to a happier, healthier life – and they can be mastered through a few simple steps.

Stylist

Can Cleaning the House Count as Daily Exercise? We Asked the Experts

Cleaning can be a sweat-fest, but does it count as an exercise session? Here, two PTs share their thoughts.

The Hustle

How Costco Gained a Cult Following — by Breaking Every Rule of Retail

Costco has found immense success by prioritizing the interests of its customers and employees over those of its shareholders.

Nautilus

The Trouble with Theories of Everything

There is no known physics theory that is true at every scale—there may never be.

The Kitchn

How to Make Southern Butter Rolls

A nearly forgotten celebration of Southern ingenuity.

Teen Vogue

Where Did All The Tween Fashion Go?

“A lot of teens are buying clothes that they’re not necessarily interested in, but it’s what the people around them like.”

Aeon

Will We Ever Know the Difference Between a Wolf and a Dog?

With variables like evolution and upbringing, the line blurs rather quickly.

BBC Future

Why There’s More to Being Smart Than Intelligence

Multiple psychological factors contribute to astonishing feats of creativity and insight.

BBC Worklife

How the Busiest People Get ‘Deep Work’ Done

For busy people, finding time for uninterrupted work may feel utterly unrealistic. But there are methods we can use to optimise what limited ‘deep work’ time we have.

Bustle

When a Pop Star’s Biggest Fans Become a Big Headache

From Doja Cat beefing with her “Kittenz” to campaigns around Taylor Swift’s personal life, fans are demanding more and more from their favorite artists.

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

Saturday, August 16

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Conversation

Can Air Conditioning Really Make You Sick? A Microbiologist Explains.

If an air conditioning system malfunctions or isn’t properly maintained, it can become contaminated with infectious microbes.

The Guardian

‘The Forest Had Gone’: The Storm That Moved a Mountain

On a small ledge in the Swiss mountains, 200 people were enjoying a summer football tournament. As night fell, they had no idea what was coming.

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.

14 Teen-Approved Books to Add to Your Own Teen’s TBR Pile

From romcoms to epic fantasy novels, here are 14 teen-approved books to add to your own teen’s TBR pile.

Nautilus

Stalagmites Offer Clues to Maya Mystery

Chemical fingerprints point to reason for collapse

Context

The Cost of Sanctions: Dark Shipping Fleet Fuels Human Trafficking

A clandestine network smuggling sanctioned oil around the globe has lured thousands of seafarers into dangerous jobs

Polygon

Steam Can’t Escape the Fallout From Visa and Mastercard’s Censorship

As PayPal disappears for some Steam users around the world, Valve continues grappling with external pressures.

Big Think

The Nexus Method: How to Make the Most of What You Learn

When you learn something new and big, it’s often hard to see how you can use that information. Iain McGilchrist offers some advice.

Vox

Are We Living in the Movie ‘Her’ yet?

AI will undoubtedly shape the next 25 years. We just don’t know how yet.

Fast Company

Gig Work Could Be the Secret to Expanding Access to College

Nailah Williams discovered her path to a college degree in the most unlikely place: behind the wheel of her Uber.

Vanity Fair

Inside Coco Chanel’s Escape on the French Riviera

In 1928, Chanel conjured her Riviera getaway into being, complete with artist friends, lavender fields, and a clay tennis court. Following a magnificent restoration of the property, a new book explores its vibrant history.