Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

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.

MEL Magazine

The Pressure to ‘Act Like a Man’ Starts in Preschool

Boys as young as three are more than happy to police the toy box and make sure that no little dude walks away with a Barbie.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Smithsonian Magazine

An Evolutionary Timeline of Homo Sapiens

Scientists share the findings that helped them pinpoint key moments in the rise of our species.

Fatherly

How To Give Constructive Criticism That’s Actually Constructive

Go easy on the compliment sandwich, and other tips to help you become a go-to advice giver.

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.

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.

Scientific American

Extreme Birding Competition Is a Cutthroat Test of Skill, Strategy and Endurance

A team of birders races to find as many bird species as possible in 24 hours.

Nautilus

How to Understand Extreme Numbers

Some numbers are so large they are difficult to grasp, yet still necessary.

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

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.

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.

The Guardian

Why Are Thailand and Cambodia Engaged in a Border Conflict?

Territory mapped during France’s colonial rule is behind clash that has exposed tensions between the countries.

Business Insider

Return Fraud Is Running Rampant

Whether it’s sending back broken items or claiming a package never arrived, Americans are committing return fraud at Amazon and other retailers.

Esquire

What I Didn’t Understand About My Autistic Son, and What I’m Learning Now That He’s an Adult

I have opened my heart and my mind to Sam, and he’s brought both of us to the place we so desperately need to be.

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.

Slate

The Rise of the One-Day Overseas Vacation

In the age of remote work, Instagram reels, and shrinking PTO, the one-day international trip is becoming both absurd and strangely relatable.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The Atlantic

The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards

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

Reuters

Trump Signs Order Aimed at Curbing Big-Money College Sports Payouts

President Donald Trump waded into a debate over the influence of big-money payouts in college sports on Thursday, signing an executive order adding federal government scrutiny to the practice.

CBS News

U.S. Postal Service to Celebrate 250th Anniversary Amid Trump Threats to Privatize

The USPS is celebrating with two new commemorative stamps and a celebration at the Smithsonian on July 26.

Fast Company

5 Job Search Habits Young Job Seekers Should Ditch Immediately

With the right approach, you can transform your job search from a source of frustration into a launchpad for the career you want.

Bustle

An Honest Review of Lagree Workouts

What to know about the viral Lagree workout including how it differs from Pilates and the cost of a class.

Condé Nast Traveler

How Europeans Feel About American Tourists Right Now

Plus, the European countries where US politics have impacted local opinions of American visitors—according to a new survey.

Axios

Trump Team Rethinks Gaza Strategy After Six Months of Failure

“We need to do some serious rethinking,” a visibly frustrated Marco Rubio told a group of hostage families on Friday.

Business Insider

Trump Wants to Ban ‘Woke AI.’ Here’s Why It’s Hard to Make a Truly Neutral Chatbot.

Trump’s order to ban “woke AI” calls for model neutrality — but that’s a big challenge for AI companies.

Polygon

Inside the Explosive ‘Brainrot’ Game That’s Got Millions of Kids Crashing Out

’Steal A Brainrot’ has become the biggest game on Roblox by making kids miserable.

Food & Wine

7 Ways to Make Your Morning Toast More Delicious, According to Chefs

From good butter to unexpected combinations like peanut butter and pickled vegetables, here’s how chefs upgrade a slice of toasted bread.

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.

Real Simple

Hummus Vs. Guacamole: Which Dip Packs More of the Good Fats?

Hummus and guacamole are both healthy dips, but is one healthier than the other? Registered dietitians compare the dips and decide which one is more nutritious.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

USA TODAY

Estate Sales Are Booming. Thank Gen Z

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

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.