Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Hustle

Meet the Woman Who Builds the World’s Most Unique Airbnbs

Kristie Wolfe has built off-grid hobbit holes, treehouses, and potato-shaped abodes — often on a shoestring budget.

Nautilus

Dude, Where’s My Frontal Cortex?

There’s a method to the madness of the teenage brain.

Romper

Unclutter My Heart

The impossible task of getting rid of my kids’ stuff.

BBC Future

Why Talking to Strangers Can Make Us Smarter

In a suspicious world, many of us are reluctant to interact with strangers. But talking to people we've never met before can make us wiser and happier.

Mental Floss

8 of History’s Greatest Charlatans

One scam was convincing enough to fool George Washington.

Narratively

The Weird, Wacky and Wild Ride of Captain Cartoon, Father of Bat Boy

The incredibly colorful true life story of Dick Kulpa, a nerdy small-town kid who loved cartoons so much that he became one.

Aeon

How the Inkas Governed, Thrived and Fell Without Alphabetic Writing

Their vast civilization created a unique skew of the fine line between language and community.

Town & Country Magazine

The History of Parkway Gardens, a Bucolic Haven for Middle-Class Black Families

After WWII, the sleepy hamlet became that rarest of places—but after generations of block parties and bridge tournaments, will its rich heritage be forgotten?

The Atlantic

The Type of Love That Makes People Happiest

When it comes to lasting romance, passion has nothing on friendship.

Fast Company

4 Steps to Reset Your Goals for the Rest of the Year

By this point in the year, your New Year’s resolutions may have fizzled or grown boring. Here’s how to get back on track.

Esquire

How to Get Into the Marvel Cinematic Universe

100 hours of interconnected storytelling. Countless running gags. Here’s how to tackle the most important franchise in entertainment history.

Popular Science

6 Things to Know Before Deciding to Raise Backyard Chickens

Getting your eggs at the store might be easier, but keeping chickens is definitely fun.

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, July 17

Elle

Unpaid Leave and ‘Inconvenient’ Postpartum Bodies—Why Ballerinas Are Fighting for Their Rights

“We’re told we should do it ‘for the love of the art form,’ but we still have bills to pay and families to raise.”

Esquire

I Was Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer. This Futuristic Treatment Could Save Me.

I’ve endured numerous rounds of radiation and taken thousands of pills—but CAR-T is the most effective therapy I’ve completed yet.

The Walrus

Greenland Has Been Fighting Off Americans for Over a Century

There may be only about 51,000 Kalaallit in the world, but we know how to resist imperialism.

Mother Jones

Pregnancy Is a Minefield When You’re Disabled

Few OB-GYNs get disability training—and their disabled patients are far likelier to die.

Harper's Magazine

The Geological Sublime

Butterflies, deep time, and climate change.

Nautilus

Is the Show Finally Over for These Whales and Dolphins?

They were bred to entertain in a now-shuttered marine park. Now they need to be rescued.

The Guardian

The Fascinating Science of Pain – and Why Everyone Feels It Differently

Do you scream when you stub your toe? Could you play a grand final with a shattered jaw, or work all day as your belly fills with blood? When it comes to suffering, perspective is everything.

The Cut

You Should Invite All Your Friends on Your Honeymoon

The wedding wasn’t enough; I wanted to see my friends together on the honeymoon, too.

History Shows Why Birthright Citizenship Is So Important

The 14th Amendment aimed to overturn restrictive state laws while making the Constitution more inclusive.

Kiplinger

I’m a Financial Planner: Here Are Five Smart Moves for DIY Investors

You’ll go further as a DIY investor with a solid game plan. Here are five tips to help you put together a strategy you can rely on over the years to come.

Inverse

How Will Superman’s Controversial Krypton Twist Affect Supergirl?

Wait, what do we know about Krypton? Here’s why that big twist in ‘Superman’ has a lasting impact on the DCU.

SELF

This No-Chop, High-Protein Frittata Makes Breakfast Meal Prep Ridiculously Easy

It’s filling, packed with nutrients, and reheats in just 30 seconds.

Business Insider

I Work in HR and Am a Fan of AI. After Interviewing With an AI Bot, I Think It Should Stay Out of Job Interviews.

I did a mock job interview with an AI bot and felt gaslit. But I think there are HR tasks that can benefit from using AI.

What to Wear to a Job Interview, According to Hiring Experts

Make sure your suit fits, don’t dress too sexy, and other essential advice from professionals in law, tech, finance, and marketing.

BBC

US Tariff Threat Leaves Russia Less Rattled Than Relieved

The US is threatening Moscow with financial consequences if a deal to end the Ukraine war is not reached within 50 days.

Grist

This Fuel Is 50% Plastic — and It’s Slipping Through a Loophole in International Waste Law

Environmental groups are concerned that rich countries are exporting plastic to poor countries in the form of “refuse-derived fuel.”

ESPN

Ranking Best NFL Teams Since 2000: Top 25 Over Past 25 Years

With 25 NFL seasons in the books since 2000, let’s pick the 25 best teams. How many Patriots, Eagles and Chiefs squads make the list?

The New Yorker

Chased by Climate Disaster in North Carolina

During Tropical Storm Chantal, a mother worried for the safety of her daughter, who is still grappling with the trauma of Hurricane Helene.

Parents

New Report Shows Kids’ Health Has Worsened—What Parents Can Do Now

A recent study highlights the decline of children’s health in the U.S. over the last two decades, with gun violence, SIDS, and chronic illnesses leading to an increased risk of death.