Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Dwell

As a Child of Immigrants, I Feel Guilty for Embracing the Minimalist Aesthetic

The Mexican-Chinese home I grew up in was filled with expressions of our family’s culture. Now, my bare-bones Brooklyn apartment tells a different story.

Nautilus

The Trouble with Theories of Everything

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

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.

The Washington Post

These ‘Tuna’ Melts Show Vegan Cooking Can Be About Abundance, Too

From Jenné Claiborne’s book, “Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes,” this sandwich evokes the seafood salad without any fish.

The Kitchn

This Brilliant Trick Makes the Best Sweet Potatoes of All Time (They’re So Crispy)

The best sweet potatoes of your life.

Greater Good Magazine

Seven Ways to Help Someone with Anxiety

Knowing how anxiety works can help you to better support loved ones without inadvertently making their anxiety worse.

The Drive

How to Test Your Oil Pressure

Your engine’s oil pressure is vital to its integrity and longevity.

BBC Travel

The Return of Aztec Floating Farms

In Mexico City, a 700-year-old Aztec farming technique is giving a sustainable edge to modern agriculture.

Knowable Magazine

The ‘Least Crazy’ Idea: Early Dark Energy Could Solve a Cosmological Conundrum

Measurements of the acceleration of the universe don’t agree, stumping physicists working to understand the cosmic past and future. A 2023 proposal seeks to better align these estimates.

The Atlantic

The Age of the Unique Baby Name

Parents used to want kids to fit in. Now they want them to stand out.

Romper

How to Talk to Your Kids About War & Help Them Feel Safe

Wars continue to happen in all corners of the world, and children are going to have questions.

Literary Hub

When Celebrities Write Novels

From Bob Dylan to Morrissey, Carrie Fisher to David Duchovny, we've got the good, the bad, and the ugly of celebrity fiction.

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

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.

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.

BBC

Why ‘Best Time to Visit’ No Longer Applies

Climate change is rewriting the rulebook for trip planning – and travellers need to adapt.

The Guardian

Why Do I Feel So Much Worse After a Nap – and How Can I Avoid It?

Waking up from a nap feeling groggy, tired or ill? Experts say it’s common. Here’s what could be going wrong.

The New Yorker

Why Hasn’t Medical Science Cured Chronic Headaches?

More than 1.2 billion people worldwide suffer from migraine and other debilitating conditions that are under-studied and often not taken seriously.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

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.

Lifehacker

Seven Games Like ‘Stardew Valley’ You Should Play Next

Stardew Valley is a beloved farming sim with charming graphics, cozy vibes, and deep gameplay. Here are seven more games that will scratch the same itch.

Literary Hub

New Hampshire Will Soon Allow Parents to See Their Children’s Library Checkouts.

A Granite State minor’s library borrowing records used to be confidential, even to parents, but a recent New Hampshire state law has upended that privacy. Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, signed Ho…

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.

Andscape

An Oral History of Jeezy’s Infamous ‘Snowman’ T-Shirt

An oral history of Jeezy’s infamous “Snowman” tee

Condé Nast Traveler

This Italian Train Journey Is a Testament to Aesthetic Travel, Beyond the Trends

Aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Sarah Allard finds that the art and decor are as important as the itineraries and food.

Fast Company

The Quiet Ban That Could Change How AI Talks to You

With no federal rules in place, Illinois, Nevada, and Utah are crafting their own protections for patients.

Vox

Are We Living in the Movie ‘Her’ yet?

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

How-To Geek

From Bank Robberies to Marketing Stunts: The Unusual History of a Beloved Van

More than just a workhorse: Uncover the surprising tales behind this iconic vehicle’s journey.

VICE

3 Indie Games on Switch 2 You Should Be Playing Right Now

My quest to put everyone onto great indie games continues.

Fast Company

Why AI Is Vulnerable to Data Poisoning—and How to Stop It

Researchers have built a new tool that leverages both federated learning and blockchain as a bulwark against data poisoning.

Grist

California Is Sunsetting Oil Refineries Without a Plan for What’s Next

Faced with a looming fuel crunch, some worry California will push aside its efforts to combat climate change to keep gasoline flowing.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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 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?

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.

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 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.

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.

KFF Health News

AUDIO: A Wild Health Insurance Hustle

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

CBS News

AT&T Customers Could Get up to $7,500 in a $177 Million Settlement. Here’s How to File a Claim.

AT&T customers whose data was compromised in either of two data breaches, or both, are eligible to file a claim that could provide up to $7,500.

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.

GQ

Buying Stuff Online Is About to Get a Lot More Expensive. Here’s Why.

The answer has to do with tariffs, synthetic opioids, and something called the de minimis exemption.