Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Aeon

The Play Deficit

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

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?

Greater Good Magazine

How to Stay Open and Curious in Hard Conversations

Here are eight tips for having better conversations across our differences.

Vogue

I Asked Four Former Friends Why We Stopped Speaking. Here’s What I Learned

Finding that, at 28, she didn’t have the close tribe of confidants that other people did, one writer decided to investigate why—by reaching out to four of her ex-best friends.

Scientific American

Dazzled by Creativity: Why We Excuse Dishonest Acts

Con artists rarely inspire admiration. Frank Abagnale Jr., however, was hardly a typical con artist.

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.

Quanta Magazine

To Build Truly Intelligent Machines, Teach Them Cause and Effect

Judea Pearl expects that causal reasoning could provide machines with human-level intelligence.

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.

The Conversation

Pollen Season Is Getting Longer and More Intense—Here’s What Allergy Sufferers Can Expect in the Future

Rising temperatures mean longer, earlier pollen seasons, but the bigger problem is what carbon dioxide will do to the amount of pollen being released. A 200% increase is possible this century.

Atlas Obscura

How a Chicago Dive Bar Exposed Corruption and Changed Journalism

In the 1970s, the Chicago Sun-Times used the Mirage as a front.

Smithsonian Magazine

Why Did Humans Lose Their Fur?

Evolutionary theorists have put forth numerous hypotheses.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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 Cut

What If a Child Was Terrified of Food?

The rise of ARFID, a new eating disorder driven not by body image but by fear.

The Baffler

Winging It

For those trying to overcome their fears of flying, it’s been...a challenging time to say the least.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Martha Stewart

5 Ways to Get Rid of Weeds in Your Lawn—Without Killing the Grass

Discover expert-approved ways to get rid of weeds without harming your lawn.

Inside Climate News

Hundreds of Old EV Batteries Have New Jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the Grid

After reaching the end of their automotive lives, the batteries are being reused to provide lower-cost grid energy storage.

AFAR

Fall Is the Ideal Time to Visit These 8 Charming Small Towns in the U.S.

Cute B&Bs and mom-and-pop shops galore.

Vox

How the Fight Over What It Means to Be Human Has Dramatically Changed

A philosopher on humanity’s need for a new story — and a new way to defy where we’re headed.

Outside

On ‘Alone’ Africa, This Survival Tool Takes Center Stage

In the latest episode of ‘Alone’ Africa, a survivalist omits a crucial piece of gear and learns a tough lesson.

NBC News

China’s Swimming Prodigy Draws Global Praise and a Note of Caution

Yu Zidi, 12, became the youngest-ever medalist during her debut at the World Aquatics Championships. But she may face a toxic sports fandom at home after her rise to fame.

Teen Vogue

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

If you take a supplement, you should read this.

Vogue

The Health Benefits of Saffron

The aromatic spice is a mainstay in Persian and Spanish cuisines, and is now being used medicinally. Here are the health benefits of saffron.

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.

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.

Time

Scientists Say These Daily Routines Can Slow Cognitive Decline

Brain experts already know that a number of habits can keep the brain in good shape. Exercise, a healthy diet, staying socially engaged, getting enough sleep, and maintaining heart health can all help slow cognitive decline.

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.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Money

How to Prioritize Your Bills in a Financial Crunch

Which obligations need your immediate attention and which can wait.

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.

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.