Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

BBC Future

Why Some People Can Deal With The Cold

A gene mutation that allowed our ancestors to venture north might also give some of us a competitive sporting advantage.

The Guardian

How to Spot a Liar: 10 Essential Tells – From Random Laughter to Copycat Gestures

An ex-FBI agent, a psychologist and a fraud investigator share their best tips for detecting dishonesty.

GQ

The True Story of the ‘Ferrari’ Crash That Changed Racing Forever

‘Ferrari’ recreated a bygone—and often deadly—age of motorsports.

CityLab

The Rise and Fall of the Klaxon, the World’s Most Annoying Car Horn

Klaxon automotive horns, once standard safety equipment, disappeared from the roads after World War I. But the tensions they exposed about urban noise still echo.

The Atlantic

26 Brilliant Movies That Critics Were Wrong About

A group of films, ranging from art-house gems to big blockbusters, that deserve a fresh look.

Allure

How to Lucid Dream (and Enjoy It), According to Experts

Contrary to what TikTok says, it doesn't have to be scary.

Aeon

My Mom

I love her and it’s a secret. I love her so much it kills me, and you bet I’d sooner die than tell her.

Greater Good Magazine

How to Become a Scientist of Your Own Emotions

A Q&A with researcher Marc Brackett about how to cultivate emotional intelligence in ourselves and our kids.

The Hustle

The Economics of Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Costco’s popular chickens have stayed fixed at $4.99 for more than a decade — even in the face of raging inflation. But it’s come at a cost.

Mental Floss

28 Fascinating Facts About Time

Every person on Earth is living in the past, and more facts about time that are likely to hurt your brain.

The Conversation

There Are 2 Main Ways to Stretch: How to Choose the Way Right for You

There are many different types of stretching, but the two most common are static and dynamic stretching.

Vogue

The Best Places in the World to Travel Solo

Relish the opportunity to adventure alone.

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, July 28

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?

The Guardian

The Rise and Fall of the British Cult That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated.

Vanity Fair

How Goop Culture Helped Create MAHA

The California-based gynecologist and Gwyneth biography source, Dr. Jen Gunter, on everything from how she views Gwyneth Paltrow’s legacy to the most difficult aspects of fighting pseudoscience claims.

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.

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.

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?

Vox

Why Your Energy Bill Is Suddenly So Much More Expensive

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

NPR

The Best Games of 2025 So Far, Picked by NPR’s Staff

From indies like ’Blue Prince’ to big console exclusives like ’Donkey Kong Bananza’, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Nature

Controversial ‘Arsenic Life’ Paper Retracted After 15 Years — but Authors Fight Back

The journal Science retracts a headline-grabbing study, but the authors vigorously defend their data and say the retraction is unwarranted.

HuffPost

‘Feels Like a Dream’: Rookie Makes MLB History in 1 Pretty Fly Way

The first baseman added to his dominant July with a performance that left him “speechless” after the game.

NPR

Home Sales Are Down. So Why Are Prices at an All-Time High?

Those with equity in a home can trade up more easily, while many first-time homebuyers are still stuck on the sidelines.

The Hollywood Reporter

Prize Fight: Inside an Oscar Family Feud

When ‘In the Heat of the Night’ star Rod Steiger died, he left behind a glittering array of major awards. Now his daughter is fighting her step-sister in a bitter battle to reclaim them.

NBC News

South Carolina Democrats Will Fight to Keep ‘First in the Nation’ Primary Status in 2028

The Democratic Party shook up its presidential primary schedule in 2024, but it’s unclear if it’ll keep the same order next time.

Inverse

The First Great Crime Thriller Changed Cinema Forever

An iconic actor's only foray into directing is one of the most haunting and influential movies in cinema history.

KFF Health News

Tribal Health Officials Work to Fill Vaccination Gaps As Measles Outbreak Spreads

Native American tribes and health organizations are hosting clinics and calling patients to counteract low measles vaccination rates and limited access to health care as the disease spreads across the country.

The Conversation

Mysterious Fossil May Rewrite Story of Skin and Feather Evolution in Reptiles

The fossil creature has outgrowths on its back that are neither hair nor feathers.

The Hollywood Reporter

Breaking Down the Biomechanics of Happy Gilmore’s Swing With Long-Drive Champion Martin Borgmeier

One of them can really hit the golf ball 400 yards.

Time

How to Tell a Friend You Don’t Like Their Partner

When your friend is in love—and you’re writhing in horror at the object of their affection—the first question to ask yourself isn’t how to raise the subject. It’s whether you should.

Mashed

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork That’s Sweet, Tangy, and Got a Kick

This slow cooker recipe transforms pork butt into the ultimate sandwich filler. Canned cranberry sauce and chipotles add a mix of sweetness, tartness, and heat.

Better Homes & Gardens

5 Home Projects You Should Skip This Summer to Save Money (and Stay Cool)

Summertime is an excellent opportunity to get a head start on a few home improvement projects, but not every job benefits from the heat and humidity of the season.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

Dear Life Kit: My Friend Says Ugly Things About Her Body and It Makes Me Anxious

Body-acceptance advocate Katie Sturino and Ronald Young Jr., host of the podcast Weight for It, answer listener questions about body image, weight loss drugs and bullying.

The Atlantic

The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards

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

Parents

A Parent Let Their Son Choose What to Do With Money They Found–Here’s What He Decided

Doing real-time experiments like this in the wild can teach us a lot about our kids and ourselves as parents.

Harvard Business Review

The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation

Before commercial pilots push back from the gate, they complete a comprehensive preflight check to verify that every system functions correctly during the journey ahead.

Kiplinger

Are You an Auto Theft Target? Discover the Clues

Thieves seized over 850,000 cars last year. See which models, states and behaviors draw the eyes of opportunists.

Fast Company

How to Go From Quiet to Commanding

An executive coach offers introverts five tips for sounding more confident. You’re smart, capable, and consistently deliver results. But in meetings, your voice disappears.

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.

Time

What to Say to Someone With Cancer 

Some well-meaning phrases don’t always go over well.

USA TODAY

Young People Always Worry About Social Security. Older People Are Joining Them.

Americans are worrying more about Social Security, and the Trump administration may be partly to blame.  In an AARP survey released July 22, only 36% of Americans voiced confidence in the future of the retirement trust fund, down from 43% in 2020.

The Guardian

‘Old People Are Capable of More’: Meet the Female Weightlifters in Their 70s and 80s

Forget the stereotype of the frail old woman who needs help carrying groceries – fitness mavens like Joan MacDonald show you can strength train at any age.

The Week

How Will the New Tax Deductions on Auto Loans Work?

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited.

USA TODAY

Estate Sales Are Booming. Thank Gen Z

Environmentally-conscious young people are heading to estate sales for low cost, well-made products.