Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Inverse

Overthinking? This New Kind of Therapy May Finally Provide An Antidote

This type of therapy takes aim at persistent rumination.

Delish

What Nutritionists Wish You Knew About Popcorn

Think twice before reaching for the movie theater butter.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

Walt Whitman on the “Meaning” of Art and How to Best Access the Poetic

“At its best, poetic lore is like what may be heard of conversation in the dusk, from speakers far or hid, of which we get only a few broken murmurs. What is not gather’d is far more — perhaps the main thing.”

Atlas Obscura

The Man Who Went to War With Canada

For centuries, the United States and Canada’s only remaining land border dispute has been kept alive by a single family.

The Atlantic

You’re Not Allowed to Have the Best Sunscreens in the World

Newer, better UV-blocking agents have been in use in other countries for years. Why can’t we have them here?

Literary Hub

50 Great Classic Novels Under 200 Pages

I once wrote about the best contemporary novels under 200 pages. Now I must turn my attention to my favorite short classics.

Scientific American

The Scientific Underpinnings and Impacts of Shame

People who feel shame readily are at risk for depression and anxiety disorders.

MEL Magazine

I Spent a Day as a Times Square Mascot

Who knew that dressing as a Ninja Turtle for seven hours could be such a miserable slog?

Quanta Magazine

How Space and Time Could Be a Quantum Error-Correcting Code

The same codes needed to thwart errors in quantum computers may also give the fabric of space-time its intrinsic robustness.

BBC Future

The Jokes That Have Made People Laugh for Thousands of Years

What makes a good joke? It’s worth going back a few thousand years to find out.

Slate

Dismantling My Dreams, One Brick at a Time

We lived out our fantasy to flip a house. We will never do it again.

Inc.

An Incredibly Clever Hack for People Who Want to Read More Books

This brilliant brain hack hijacks your social media habit to build a new commitment to reading.

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, July 26

The Guardian

How Video Games Are Keeping Romance Alive – One Level at a Time

Some are using Final Fantasy and GTA Online as dating sites and long-time lovers are finding comfort and connection through Resident Evil. Could video games be the ultimate relationship tool?

Slate

The Rise of the One-Day Overseas Vacation

In the age of remote work, Instagram reels, and shrinking PTO, the one-day international trip is becoming both absurd and strangely relatable.

The Guardian

Why Are Thailand and Cambodia Engaged in a Border Conflict?

Territory mapped during France’s colonial rule is behind clash that has exposed tensions between the countries.

The New Yorker

Mary Had Schizophrenia—Then Suddenly She Didn’t

Some psychiatric patients may actually have treatable autoimmune conditions. But what happens to the newly sane?

NBC News

The Deadliest Extreme Weather Event Is Not What You Think It Is

Nationally, extreme heat causes more deaths each year than any other weather event, including floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Esquire

What I Didn’t Understand About My Autistic Son, and What I’m Learning Now That He’s an Adult

I have opened my heart and my mind to Sam, and he’s brought both of us to the place we so desperately need to be.

Vox

Why Your Energy Bill Is Suddenly So Much More Expensive

And why it’s not getting cheaper any time soon.

The Associated Press

Photos Show a Filipino Couple Walking Down a Flooded Aisle on Their Wedding Day

Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar were determined to walk down the aisle on their wedding day.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Open Culture

How Disney Fought Fascism With Propaganda Cartoons During World War II & Averted Financial Collapse

Today, the Walt Disney Company seems like one of those entities that’s ‘too big to fail’ — but during the Second World War, fail it nearly did.

Nautilus

What We Still Get Wrong About Psychopaths

Many scientists portray psychopathy as a brain disorder, despite a lack of evidence

The 19th

The Number of Family Caregivers Is Surging

A new report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving shows that more than 63 million Americans are serving as family caregivers — and they’re managing financial risks, poor health and isolation.

History Today

Shakespeare’s Lost Years

‘What’s past is prologue’ Shakespeare wrote – but so little is known of his own. There are plenty of theories, each as implausible as the next.

Foreign Affairs

China’s Overlooked AI Strategy

Beijing is using soft power to gain global dominance.

The 19th

How a ‘Wall of Determined Black Women’ Rallied for Harris One Year Ago

The 19th spoke to half a dozen leading Black women in Democratic politics about their recollections of July 21, 2024, when Harris kicked off her 107-day presidential campaign.

Glamour

12 Best Body Sunscreens to Slather All Over, According to Dermatologists

You won’t find me looking greasy or pasty.

Business Insider

I Used Grok’s AI Companions for a Week. the Foul-Mouthed Red Panda Is Hilarious — the Flirty Anime Girl Is Worrying.

I asked Grok’s AI companions about Elon Musk’s rivals and general taboos. I found the red panda hilarious — and the anime girl worrying.

Vogue

5 Easy Steps to Achieve Your Dream Outdoor Space, According to Interior Designers

Want to revamp your outdoor decor? Here, interior designers weigh in on how to get your space looking its best.

Los Angeles Times

Here’s the Number That Could Halt the AI Revolution in Its Tracks

The penalty cost for pirating copyrighted works to train AI bots could exceed $1 trillion, which could scare AI firms into negotiating licensing deals for content

Context

Q&A: The Pastor Pushing Back on Anti-DEI in Trump’s America

What’s next for Jamal Bryant, the pastor who led a massive protest against retail giant Target over its anti-DEI moves?

Polygon

Adult Games Are Forcing the Game Industry Into a Spiritual Crisis

itch.io joins Steam in pulling games due to pressure from extreme groups with an ongoing campaign aimed at payment processors.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

Doctors Urge FDA to Remove Black Box Warning on Hormone Therapy for Menopause

The FDA may remove the warning labels on hormone replacement therapies used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Doctors say the warning is scaring people who could benefit from these treatments.

Allure

Why Are People Fighting About At-Home Gel Nail Kits on TikTok?

A closer look at both sides of the “OPI nail drama.”

Axios

Social Security Recipients Set to Face an $18,000 Benefit Cut in Just Seven Years

Retirees are facing the prospect of substantial Social Security cuts in just seven years, sooner than projected, due to the “big, beautiful bill,” per an analysis out Thursday from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The Cut

‘Are My Student Loans About to Become Unaffordable?’

You could do nothing—or you could sign up for a new repayment plan. Here are your options.

The Associated Press

For Some Employees, Education Benefits Such As Tuition Assistance Prove Life-Changing

As higher education costs have grown to heights many U.S. residents find unattainable or illogical, some adults are looking to their employers for help.

NPR

What Borrowers Should Know About Student Loan Changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill

If you’re a federal student loan borrower or about to become one, your head may be spinning.

Harvard Business Review

Make the Most of Your Vacation When You Can’t Fully Unplug

While advice abounds on the importance of fully unplugging during your hard-earned time off — and for good reason! — what should you do if you’re in a situation where you can’t be fully offline?

The Atlantic

The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards

Their fees are getting higher—and their benefits are sometimes wildly complicated to redeem.

NPR

You Can’t Outrun a Bad Diet. Food Not Lack of Exercise Fuels Obesity, Study Finds

One explanation for the rise in obesity in industrialized countries is that people burn fewer calories than people in countries where obesity is rare. A major study finds that’s not the case.

Axios

Venmo the Treasury to Help Pay Uncle Sam’s Debt? You Can, If You Really Want

Of all the things you might use Venmo for — buying drinks, splitting a check with friends, repaying a loan — there’s a good chance you’ve never had “sending the government a gift to help pay the public debt” on your list.

NBC News

Did Your Doctor’s Office Charge You a ‘Facility Fee’? Here’s What to Know.

Facility fees, often associated with inpatient hospital stays, are becoming more common for outpatient doctors’ appointments.

SELF

5 Clear Signs You’ve Moved on From Your Ex—and Are Ready to Date Again

Are you looking to meet someone new for who they are…or who they remind you of?