Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Bon Appétit

Pretzel Focaccia

One of the easiest breads to make at home gets pretzel-ified with a highly burnished, salt-coated crust and a delightfully bitter twang.

Nautilus

When Good Waves Go Rogue

Even in calm seas, waves can become monsters.

BBC Future

Why Some People Can’t Tell Left From Right

It can seem like an almost childish mistake, but a surprising number of adults confuse left from right and scientists are only just starting to understand why.

The Marginalian

Physicist Alan Lightman on Beginnings, Endings, and What Makes Life Worth Living

How our cosmic improbability confers dignity and meaning upon our shared existence.

Literary Hub

Classic Reviews of Beloved Children's Books

Eudora Welty on ‘Charlotte's Web’, Dorothy Parker on ‘Winnie the Pooh’, and more.

The Guardian

Sleep Perfectionists: The Exhausting Rise of Orthosomnia

The sleep-tracker industry is estimated to be worth millions per year – and forecast to double by 2030. Could all this data be making our insomnia worse?

The Hustle

The Secretary Who Helped Uncover One of America’s Strangest Ponzi Schemes

The whole thing started because Robin H. Swanson wanted to send flowers.

Aeon

The Play Deficit

Children today are cossetted and pressured in equal measure. Without the freedom to play, they will never grow up.

Knowable Magazine

Spots, Stripes and More: Working Out the Logic of Animal Patterns

More than 70 years ago, mathematician Alan Turing proposed a mechanism that explained how patterns could emerge from bland uniformity.

Narratively

A Super Strange True Love Story: My Disappearing Fiancé

After years of avoiding love, I found a match that seemed almost too perfect. We were practically walking down the aisle before I realized it really was too good to be true.

The Guardian

‘What Are Our Lives for?’: A Philosopher Answers Kids’ Existential Questions

What happens when Plato mixes with playtime? Philosopher Scott Hershovitz answers the questions that confound children and adults alike.

Mental Floss

The Real-Life Operation That Works Like Operation

If a surgeon gets too close to delicate nerves in the throat, an alarm goes off. (But no one’s nose lights up.)

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 4

Scientific American

The Hidden Way Allergens Attack Nose, Throat and Lung Cells

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response.

Rolling Stone

Inside the Battle Over ‘Napalm Girl’

A new documentary, ‘The Stringer,’ investigates the story of the famous Vietnam War photo “Napalm Girl,” raising questions about who actually took it.

POLITICO Magazine

Meet the Fraudster Who Wants to Make California Its Own Country

The man behind the Calexit movement claims to be a baller. But he’s broke.

The Conversation

Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? A Pharmacist Explains Why You Might Not Be

As many as 1 in 5 Americans believe they have a penicillin allergy, but just a tiny fraction actually do. In recent years, it’s gotten a lot easier to find out.

Glamour

Would You Let Your Friend Pitch You to a Room Full of Single Strangers?

In 2025 we’re turning back to one of the oldest forms of dating: meeting a romantic partner through friends.

PBS

In the Gray World of GLP-1 Supplements Online, Health Experts Urge Caution

TikTok beauty influencer Kaycee Ogle is regularly contacted by brands who want her to promote their products. But one email she received in June was different, and made her curious.

The Guardian

Sweat, Stingers and Scratching: 14 Expert, Easy Ways to Treat and Prevent Insect Bites

Some of us seem to be bitten much more than others – and in unlucky cases this can lead to an allergic reaction or chronic illness. Pharmacists explain how to avoid the worst insects have to offer.

Popular Science

How the Tomato Created the Potato

The starchy staple evolved from the tomato about 9 million years ago.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Atlantic

The Secret of George Washington’s Revolutionary Success

The American Revolution was won by dramatic deeds, but also by decidedly undramatic efforts.

Parents

Middle Schoolers’ Reading Skills Are Declining, New Report Finds

A recent report from NWEA found that middle schoolers are showing a noticeable decline in reading abilities. Here, we’ll unpack what the researchers uncovered, what factors are influencing middle school literacy problems, and how parents can help kids develop and hone their reading skills.

Teen Vogue

Supplement History: The Truth About Supplements and Vitamins That Teens Should Know

If you take a supplement, you should read this.

Outside

What You Need to Know About Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer

Skin cancer rates are rising and one in five Americans will be diagnosed with it before the age of 70.

Discover

Male Leopard Seals Sing Underwater Nursery Rhymes for up to 13 Hours a Day

Learn about the curious singing habits of leopard seals, whose songs bear a striking resemblance to human nursery rhymes.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Best Ear Protection for Kids to Wear at Concerts, Fireworks, and Sporting Events

We asked a pediatric audiologist and traveling parents for their picks.

ESPN

Fantasy Football Do Not Draft List: Christian McCaffrey, Mark Andrews Among Players Being Overvalued

The annual hit is back, with players Eric Karabell feels are going earlier than they should in drafts this summer.

Lifehacker

This Is Why You Can’t Go Live on Instagram Anymore

Instagram Live has been available to all users for nearly a decade. That’s no longer the case.

Inc. Magazine

AI Can Do a Lot—but Still Seems Totally Stumped by Sudoku

Researchers from the University of Colorado tested the trustworthiness of several AI models with games of Sudoku. It didn’t go so well.

Mashed

The Old-School 1960s NASA Space Food That Landed in American Pantries

In the 1960s, Pillsbury helped produce a snack fit for astronauts. It came in flavors like chocolate and peanut butter and was later marketed to the public.

NBC News

Appeals Court Keeps in Place Restrictions on Immigration Stops in L.A. Based on Language and Job

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift a temporary restraining order that bars immigration agents from using a person’s language or job as the sole reason for detentions.

Food & Wine

7 Spices You Should Be Buying at Costco to Save Money

When compared with prices at other major supermarkets, spices at Costco are often significantly cheaper per unit of weight. Here is how much money you can save on seven popular spices by purchasing them at Costco instead of another large grocery store.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

HuffPost

This Mosquito-Borne Illness Is Being Reported in Multiple States — Here’s What to Know

Now’s the time to replenish your bug spray supply.

The Associated Press

What to Know If You’re at Risk of Having Your Wages Garnished Over Student Loan Debt

Millions of student borrowers could begin having their wages garnished as soon as this summer. That’s according to estimates from credit bureau TransUnion.

NPR

If Compliments Make You Feel Super Awkward, This Comic Is for You

When someone says something nice about us, it can make us feel awkward and uncomfortable. Researchers explain the science behind those emotions — and make the case for accepting genuine praise.

CNBC

Senate Bill Aims to Increase Affordable Housing Supply. Here’s What Renters, Home Buyers Need to Know

A Senate committee advanced a bipartisan bill that would spur the construction of affordable housing. Here’s what to know about it.

CNBC

Federal Student Loans Will Still Be a ‘Better Bet’ Than Private—Even With Coming Changes, Experts Say

Some of the most generous benefits of federal student loans are going away in the coming years. Here's why experts still recommend them over private loans.

Lifehacker

Six Common Tactics Contractors Use to Upsell You

Contractors know you’ve got money to spend on your home project. Here are the tricks they use to upsell you and get you to spend more than you intended.

Lifehacker

These Six ‘Misunderstandings’ Can Seriously Impact Your Hospital Bill

When we’re in the hospital, our lives are literally in the hands of the doctors, nurses, and other staff. But hospitals can be sketchy about what they tell you—with expensive consequences.

CBS News

What Will Happen to Gold Prices This August?

Gold prices have largely risen over the past 18 months, approximately, but will they continue to do so this August?

The Atlantic

Three Ways to Stop Feeling Like an Impostor

This common syndrome can certainly harm your happiness. Here are three ways to get over it.

Money

How to Prioritize Your Bills in a Financial Crunch

Which obligations need your immediate attention and which can wait.

SELF

5 Reasons You Get Random Bruises—and When to See a Doctor

Here’s how to tell if something nefarious might be behind them.

The Cut

How Do People Actually Afford These Summer Trips?

If you’re wondering how everyone is staying at four-star hotels in Italy right now, you’re not alone.