Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Quartz

It’s Enlightenment Philosophy’s Fault That Women Wear High Heels Instead of Men

Men wore them first as a symbol of status. Then times changed.

Greater Good Magazine

Moving Your Body Is Like a Tune-Up for Your Mind

If we want a healthy, happy mind, we need to move our body more.

Greater Good Magazine

What a Children’s Book Taught Me (and My Students) About Grief

Teaching sixth graders about grief helped teacher Lauren McGovern after the loss of her son.

Scientific American

How the Higgs Boson Ruined Peter Higgs’s Life

A biography of the physicist and the particle he predicted reveals his disdain for the spotlight.

The Atlantic

The Mystery of Urban Psychosis

Why are paranoia and schizophrenia more common in cities?

The Washington Post

7 Hotel Red Flags That Should Make You Run in the Other Direction

No pictures? No booking.

Inc.

How to Remember Anything You Really Want to Remember, Backed by Science

A three-step process to commit important information to memory.

Outdoor Life

How to Tie a Square Knot

This simple connection will come in handy for a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Afar

A Love Letter to Driving Alone

Embarking on a road trip by yourself is solo travel taken to another level.

BBC Future

What Are the Best Lucid Dreaming Techniques?

Lucid dreaming holds a widespread appeal, but many people simply can’t do it. So what do studies show are the best techniques?

Homes & Gardens

7 Common Household Items That Are Polluting Your Air

Learn what household items are polluting the air around you in your home.

The Guardian

I Was the Poster Girl for OCD. Then I Questioned Everything I’d Been Told About Mental Illness.

When I sought help for crippling invasive thoughts, I was told I had a disease like any other. But I wasn’t able to recover until I understood the fallacy at the heart of mental healthcare.

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

Sunday, August 17

BBC

How Kentucky Bourbon Went From Boom to Bust

Tariffs, oversupply and teetotaling Gen-Zs have all contributed to the downfall of one of America’s most iconic liquors.

ESPN

The Predatory Web of Sextortion Increasingly Ensnares Young Athletes

A Michigan teen was goaded into sharing an intimate photo that scammers threatened to expose unless he paid up.

CBS News

This Car Ranks as America’s Most-Stolen Vehicle

Here’s why one Chevrolet model is the most-stolen type of car, according to a new report.

Food & Wine

I Tracked a Wild Salmon From Sea to Plate — What I Learned Surprised Me

Wild salmon is abundant in Alaska and coveted by chefs — but most Americans eat the cheaper, milder farmed kind. Journalist Kim Cross set out to learn why — and how to cook the real thing right.

The New York Times

He Announced His Intention to Die. The Dinner Invitations Rolled In.

In early December, a 28-year-old Ghanaian artist and entrepreneur named Joseph Awuah-Darko announced on Instagram that he wanted to die.

The Associated Press

The Top Photos of the Week by AP’s Photojournalists

This photo gallery, curated by photo editor Anita Baca, highlights some of the most compelling images worldwide published in the past week.

ESPN

How Happy Are You As a Fan? Find Out Where You Score in Our Sports Misery Index.

Whether there’s confetti falling from your team’s last title or you’re still waiting to see your first, you probably have an idea of how satisfied - or miserable - you are as a fan. But could you put a number on it?

Serious Eats

5 Ways You Should Be Using Salt (But Probably Aren't)

Salt is the spice of life.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Conversation

Some People Just Don’t Like Music – It May Be Down to Their Brain Wiring

How can music be such an extraordinary tonic for most of us, but leave others cold?

Harper's Bazaar

So You Got a Bad Bob. Now What?

Expert hairstylists explain how to bounce back from bob regret.

Big Think

Einstein’s Famous “Change the Facts” Quote Is an Insidious Lie

Einstein is credited with saying, “If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the facts.” What he actually said has a very different meaning.

Architectural Digest

The Best Home Theater Ideas for Elevated Binge-Watching

Designers explain how to style a room for memorable movie nights.

ESPN

Once MMA Was Banned in 36 States, Now It’s Getting a White House Stage

Dana White recounts sport’s long journey from ‘human cockfighting’ obscurity to a presidential embrace.

NPR

Electricity Prices Are Climbing More Than Twice As Fast As Inflation

Electricity prices are rising more than twice as fast as overall inflation. That's especially costly during the dog days of summer when air conditioners are working hardest. In addition to hot weather, a variety of factors are causing power bills to climb, including the high cost of natural gas used to generate electricity and soaring demand from data centers.

The Atlantic

The Awkward Adolescence of a Media Revolution

Truth is still alive on social media—but it’s not easy enough to find.

Fast Company

How Tech Pinpoints Urban Heat Islands and Makes Cooling Projects Easier

Data pinpointing the highest-risk areas enables urban planners to strategically place small pocket parks, cool roofs, and street trees to help cool the hottest spaces.

GQ

The Best Video Games of 2025 (So Far)

From AAA blockbusters to out-of-nowhere indies, these are the 2025 RPGs, platformers, and puzzle games that have made us thankful to have thumbs.

Gizmodo

Tesla Is Making a Move in New York City That Regulators Absolutely Hate

Tesla has already spent years fighting federal probes, civil and criminal lawsuits and a host of scrutiny from everyone from the SEC to buyers.

Literary Hub

How Small-Town Public Libraries Enrich the Generative Research Process

Like many authors, I love doing background research. Also, like many authors, I do some of my research online. Setting a chapter in San Luis Obispo, but never been? Drop your little gingerbread dude into Street View.

Literary Hub

Memoir on a Hill: Finding the Best Way to Tell the Story of America

“What this country needs right now is The Great American Memoir!” said no one. “It needs a memoir that will not only unify the fractured American spirit, it’ll douse wildfires and lower sea levels. It’ll make homeownership affordable. Hell, it might even lead to a new Outkast album.”

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Heading for Your 401(K). Here’s What to Know

A recent executive order paves the way for retirement accounts to include a lot more than stock and bond funds.

The Week

What Is an Upside-Down Car Loan and How Do You Get Out of It?

This happens when the outstanding balance on a car loan exceeds the vehicle's worth.

Allure

Why Is the FDA Suddenly Calling Out Foam Sunscreens?

The agency issued warnings to two beloved brands regarding alleged regulatory violations. What gives?

The Associated Press

FACT FOCUS: No, Taxpayers Will Not Receive New Stimulus Checks This Summer

This is false. Taxpayers will not receive new stimulus checks of any amount this summer, an IRS official said.

The Local

On the Front Lines of the War Against ‘Super Lice’

With the emergence of drug-resistant nits, lice removal has become a booming business, catering to harried, itchy parents willing to pay for relief.

NPR

8 Essential Conversations to Have With Your Aging Parents

There comes a time when it’s the kid’s turn to take care of mom and dad. Here’s how to broach this sensitive subject with your parents, and what to talk about.

NBC News

Why Investors Shouldn’t Try to Be a ‘Hero’ in This Economy, Analyst Says

In other words: Stick to your long-term investment plan, including an appropriate asset allocation and time frame to reach your goals.

GQ

Buying Stuff Online Is About to Get a Lot More Expensive. Here’s Why.

The answer has to do with tariffs, synthetic opioids, and something called the de minimis exemption.

The Guardian

Ozempic Didn’t Work for Me. I Was Furious – and Ashamed

Everyone taking the ‘skinny shot’ was losing weight, but my scales didn’t change. My inner dialogue became toxic.

The Atlantic

The Logic of the ‘9 to 5’ Is Creeping Into the Rest of the Day

How free time gets conscripted into the service of work.

CNN

Mortgage Rates Fall to Lowest Level in 10 Months

Would-be home buyers and homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages got a rare break this week after months of stubbornly high borrowing costs.

USA TODAY

‘The Tooth Fairy Sticks to a Budget:’ Kids Are Finding Less Under Their Pillows for Lost Teeth

Times are tough, even for kids.