Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Harper’s Bazaar

A Shore of Their Own

During Jim Crow, Black vacationers found joy in Black-owned resorts throughout the United States. Morgan Jerkins chases the last glimmers of history in these vital spaces of rest and escape.

Prevention

10 Early Warning Signs of Dementia You Should Never Ignore, According to Experts

Memory troubles are normal as you age, but certain symptoms point to serious cognitive decline.

Popular Science

6 Clever Ways to Reuse Silica Gel Packets

Reduce plastic waste while keeping your prized possessions safe from moisture damage.

Nautilus

How to Solve the Hardest Logic Puzzle Ever

A step-by-step guide to True, False, and Random.

Slate

Just Read the Book Already

Digital culture doesn’t have to make you a shallow reader. But you have to do something about it.

Bustle

Is Therapy-Speak Making Us Selfish?

Boundaries are important. But our relationships require a touch more compassion than some online blueprints offer.

Good Housekeeping

8 Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work, According to Our Cleaning Expert

The DIY all-purpose cleaners and disinfectants you can whip up right now.

The Atlantic

A Shortcut for Feeling Just a Little Happier

Mental and physical pain share neurological roots. A simple painkiller can help with both.

Bustle

TikTok’s “Cognitive Shuffling” Hack Can Help You Fall Asleep In Minutes

For when your brain decides to run through your to-do list at 11 p.m.

Fast Company

What Happened When I (Tried to) Read 30 Books in 30 Days

How one writer went from barely reading to trying to plow through a book a day, and how you can find more time to read, too.

Mental Floss

What Do Pets See When They Watch Television?

Dogs and cats can sometimes seem very intrigued by your latest binge-watch. But are they seeing what we’re seeing?

Popular Mechanics

How To Fix Your Super Slow Computer

Don’t toss it, just give it some love (and much-needed storage space).

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

Friday, July 11

The Guardian

The Terrifying Truth About Why Tesla’s Cars Keep Crashing

Elon Musk is obsessive about the design of his supercars, right down to the disappearing door handles. But a series of shocking incidents – from drivers trapped in burning vehicles to dramatic stops on the highway – have led to questions about the safety of the brand. Why won’t Tesla give any answers?

The Kitchn

The Famous Grilled Chicken I’ve Loved Since Childhood

Inhaling the scent of the rich, turmeric-laden marinade as it caramelizes atop the charring meat brings me right back to my middle school days, when the same smoky smell coming from the line of carts waiting just outside the school gate for hungry students would hit our noses as we impatiently waited down the final bell.

BBC

Beyond Words: The 200-Year-Old Hidden Languages of Dating

From Regency-era "fan flirting" to coded gifts, people have perfected the art of discreetly signalling their love over many centuries.

The Cut

What Plastic Surgery Couldn’t Fix

I thought if I fixed my body, I could fix how I felt. Three surgeries later, I was further from myself than ever.

The Paris Review

Monks in Jersey

A coming-of-age ceremony, a Burmese bar mitzvah, a meditation retreat: I had called it all of those things to friends in the weeks before.

DW

Why US Chocolate Tastes Weird to the Rest of the World

Chocolate is popular almost everywhere. But tastes vary depending on the continent. While some regions like their chocolate sugary sweet, others prefer more fruity or nutty notes.

MIT Technology Review

Inside the Most Dangerous Asteroid Hunt Ever

As space rock 2024 YR4 became more likely to hit Earth than anything of its size had ever been before, scientists all over the world mobilized to protect the planet.

The Guardian

Walkouts, Feuds and Broken Friendships: When Book Clubs Go Bad

While most book clubs go off without an issue, when they do turn sour the fallout can be significant. So why do some go wrong – and what can be done to prevent it?

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Verge

James Gunn’s Superman Is Exactly What DC’s Movies Have Been Missing

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a very good movie.

The Hollywood Reporter

“I Love You. Send Bitcoin.” Inside the Billion-Dollar Celebrity Impersonation Scam

Victims think they’re talking to Keanu Reeves. Or Kevin Costner. Then come the pleas for cash. The brazen AI-fueled con that fleeces lovestruck fans and has Hollywood finally fighting back.

The Atlantic

The ‘Russia Hoax,’ Revisited

CIA Director John Ratcliffe wants to rewrite history.

CBS News

Real Estate Investors Are Purchasing More U.S. Homes As High Prices Lock Out Would-Be Buyers

The rise in investor home purchases reflects how much the housing market has slowed as traditional buyers are sidelined, according to BatchData.

Food52

How to Fill Every Room With Flowers Without Spending a Fortune

Supermarket stems and recycled jars are all you need to bring joy to every room.

Time

Should Obesity Be Classified As a Disease?

We need to think differently about how we define and diagnose obesity argues Dr. Francesco Rubino.

Nautilus

How to Make the Bread That Fueled the Pyramids

And the beer that gave rise to civilizations, too.

The Paris Review

The Language of Stones

July 7, 2025 – “It seems certain to me that, on the same walk, two beings, unless they resemble each other in some strange sense, could not possibly pick up the same stones.”

Inverse

Can the New Fantastic Four Measure up to the Original?

Though its story stumbled, Fox’s ‘Fantastic Four’ remains the best version of the team on-screen.

Time

China Opens up to More Tourists As the U.S. Under Trump Closes Itself Off

China is expanding its visa-free entry to 75 countries as part of a broader campaign to boost inbound tourism.

BBC

Why ‘Pan-Africanist’ Influencers Pushed Rumours of a Coup

Unpicking the disinformation behind a social media trend spreading tension ahead of Ivory Coast’s election.

Vogue

The Dos & Don’ts of Parties in the Digital Age

From phone etiquette to incorporating modern technologies.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Gizmodo

This Cough Syrup Ingredient Might Actually Slow Dementia

Several larger trials of ambroxol for Parkinson's are already underway.

CNBC

‘Revenge Savings’ Can Boost Your Bottom Line, Experts Say — Here’s How to Get Started

Saving more money is a perennial resolution, but emotions shouldn't drive that habit, financial experts say. Instead, be intentional. Here's how to get started.

Harvard Business Review

How to Identify the Perfect Cofounder

One of the first and most important decisions entrepreneurs make is whether to go it alone or bring on cofounders.

The New York Times

Measles Cases Hit Record High, 25 Years After U.S. Eliminated the Disease

Experts worry that if vaccination rates do not improve, deadly outbreaks will become the new normal.

The Washington Post

I’m a Gastroenterologist. Here’s Why I Tell My Patients to Eat This One Fruit.

Kiwis can boost your gut health. They may also lower triglycerides and cancer risk.

The Atlantic

I Fought Plastic. Plastic Won

My futile quest to avoid the material that my entire world is made out of.

Harvard Business Review

When It’s Time to Leave a Career You’re Passionate About

People worry that others will see them as immoral and incompetent for quitting their passion. These fears are often misplaced.

CNBC

Recruiter: I’ve Placed Over 1,000 People Into Jobs–Here’s the No. 1 ‘Closing Technique’ to Nail Your Interview

In this environment where it’s difficult to get your foot in the door, one mistake that some recent graduates make is assuming that their degree will automatically get them a job.

NPR

4 Things to Know About the Vaccine Ingredient Thimerosal

The federal government could soon recommend that people only receive flu shots made without an ingredient called thimerosal.

The New York Times

How Many Dates Should You Go on Before You Start Talking About Money?

Couples tend to dance around discussing how much they earn or owe early in a relationship. But experts agree that talking about money sooner is better than later.

HuffPost

I Paid Off a School’s Lunch Debt. Then Strangers on the Internet Did Something Truly Stunning.

This is proof that strangers can decide, together, to make things better.

Fast Company

How to Trick Your Nervous System Into Calming Down When You’re Stressed at Work

Understanding how your body works can be the key to reducing stress. For example, you’re probably aware of your fight-or-flight response—the body’s way of preparing itself when it believes it’s being threatened.