Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Knowable Magazine

How to Overcome Political Polarization on Climate Change

Conversations — in real life — can help bridge the partisan divide, but the trick is to have some structure to the discussion, says a human ecologist.

The Guardian

I Think My Cat Likes My Partner More. What Should I Do?

The signs that a cat likes you are fairly obvious. Here’s how to strengthen your bond with a pet if you think they prefer your partner more.

Quanta Magazine

Machines Beat Humans on a Reading Test. But Do They Understand?

A tool known as BERT can now beat humans on advanced reading-comprehension tests. But it's also revealed how far AI has to go.

The Guardian

The Lost Girls: ‘Chaotic and Curious, Women With ADHD All Have Missed Red Flags That Haunt Us’

After multiple burnouts, in my early 30s I finally knew why life sometimes felt harder for me. It made perfect sense, so why had no one noticed before?

Elle

Why Won’t People Just Let Me Not Be a Mom?

No, I’m not a “fur mama,” a “plant mommy,” and I did not “birth” my book.

BBC Future

Cosmic Megastructures: The Largest Objects in the Universe

The discovery of giant superclusters of galaxies are challenging our very understanding of the Universe.

Smithsonian Magazine

Which Dogs Live the Longest? Scientists Say Small and Long-Nosed Canines Outlive Others

A study of more than 500,000 dogs adds more nuance to our understanding of their life expectancy.

BBC Culture

Why Being Messy Is Good for You

From “non-aesthetic” homes to Frazzled English Woman and Marie Kondo, there’s a new wave of realism about what our lives are like. Holly Williams explores the life-changing magic of mess.

Literary Hub

The Real Dracula Is a Detective Story

Forget what you think you know about the ur-vampire story. Bram Stoker’s masterpiece was a sprawling, radical detective novel.

MEL Magazine

The Buzzing Nostalgia and Furious Competition of Electric Football Tournaments

Scenes from the California Electric Football League’s Super Bowl-adjacent ‘Fault Line Rumble’.

Inverse

How a Simple Mario Spinoff Perfected the Party Game Formula

Better with friends.

Greater Good Magazine

Calm a Distressed Mind by Changing Your Environment

Psychologist Ethan Kross offers tools to help you avoid being overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings.

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 10

The Hollywood Reporter

Last Call for Late Night

After 70 years of tucking America into bed, it looks like the curtain is about to come down on the late night genre. What’s being lost is more than a TV tradition but a backdrop for some of America’s most memorable moments.

Food52

Our 10 Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes of All Time

From crispy to chewy, we’ve collected the best of the best.

The Guardian

Knife Throwing and Cheeseburger Spinning: The Agony and Ecstasy of Being a Viral Trickshot Video Star

Think you could throw a basketball off a 540ft dam, into a hoop – while blindfolded? Meet the talented and ludicrously patient people putting hours into the internet’s most joyful (and pointless) clips.

Lifehacker

Are ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Really That Bad for You?

They’ve been linked to heart disease and other health conditions.

The New Yorker

The Internet Wants to Check Your I.D.

New safety rules require users to verify their identities before gaining access to sites. This spells the end of the relative anonymity that we’ve come to expect online.

Atavist

The Talented Mr. Bruseaux

He made his name in Chicago investigating race riots, solving crimes, and exposing corruption. But America’s first Black private detective was hiding secrets of his own.

Saveur

That Chewy, Bouncy Texture You Love Has a Name

Whether in boba tea, cuttlefish, rice noodles, or cassava dough, the texture of QQ connects people across cultures and generations.

BBC

How ’Keep Calm and Carry On’ Became a Divisive 21st-Century Phenomenon

After a forgotten WW2 propaganda poster was discovered in 2000, it found an astounding new resonance in 21st-Century Britain – becoming an endlessly memeable template that is both cherished and mocked.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Polygon

“I Love Confronting Masculinity”: Why Josh Brolin Had to Make the Horror Epic Weapons

If Brolin wants to cry, he’s going to cry.

ESPN

Fantasy Football Do Draft List: Derrick Henry, Brock Purdy, Travis Kelce Among Undervalued Players

In the perennial counterpart to the Do Not Draft list, Eric Karabell discusses players who are being underappreciated in summer drafts.

Lifehacker

You Don’t Need an Electrician to Upgrade to Three-Prong Outlets

A lot of older homes still have old-school two-prong outlets. It’s a good idea to upgrade them—and you can do it yourself.

Kiplinger

Do Baby Boomers Spend More on Travel? What You Can Learn From Each Generation

Baby Boomers lead in travel spending, but younger travelers may be getting better value. See how older travelers compare with younger ones — and what each generation can learn about smarter travel.

The Verge

Tesla’s Dojo Supercomputer Is DOA — Now What?

The disbanding of Tesla’s supercomputer is less about the AI race and more about Elon Musk’s inability to retain talent.

Time

The History of the Demonizing Words Used Against Immigrants

Painting people as “bandits” or “savages” has historically been used to justify for extreme tactics.

Parents

Childhood Vaccination Rates Are Dropping—What Parents Need to Know

A new CDC report shows rates of vaccination and vaccine exemptions for the 2024 to 2025 school year. Here’s what experts say about the results.

Popular Science

Throwing Food Out of Your Car Can Kill Owls

Wildlife rescuers saved a concussed baby owl after he was likely hit by an automobile.

SELF

What It Means When You Fall for Your Psychiatrist

It’s surprisingly common—and not just a romantic fantasy that makes for juicy TikTok drama.

Popular Science

Your Frenchie’s Squishy Face Might Shape Their Personality

French bulldogs, pugs, and other short-nosed breeds may be innately calm—but will only stay so if they’re properly trained.

Axios

Tesla Autopilot Verdict Sends a Chill Across the Industry

With partially automated features becoming common in more cars, the opportunities for risk are multiplying.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Business Traveler of Today Is Changing—and So Is Their Flight Map

A new era of work travel is taking entrepreneurs and creatives to Nigeria, Brazil, and beyond.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

SELF

5 Subtle Signs You Might Actually Be in a Codependent Relationship

And how to regain your independence without having to drift apart.

Men's Health

How Much Fiber You Need Is a Loaded Question With a Simple Answer

OH GOD, FIBER? You want to talk about fiber? The most booooooring nutrient apart from maybe potassium (maybe)? Well, all due credit to you, because most people want nothing to do with fiber.

SELF

5 Injuries ER Doctors See All the Time—and How to Avoid Them

You might be surprised by the seemingly innocuous behaviors that cause them.

The Cut

Unpacking the TikToker Who Fell in Love With Her Psychiatrist

In the latest really long story to hit TikTok, Kendra Hilty believes she was manipulated into developing feelings for her psychiatrist.

NPR

Why Short Breaks to Move Around Are Crucial for Your Creative Process

When bestselling author Kelly Corrigan’s creativity runs low or her mood turns, she doesn’t power through. Here are her tips for connecting your body to your creative process and getting unstuck.

Kiplinger

Are You Leaving Money on the Table? Four Strategies to Free up Stuck Investments

From forgotten 401(k)s to outdated asset allocations, stuck money can hurt your retirement. Here’s what to do about it.

SELF

5 Things Every ‘Conflict Avoidant’ Person Should Do Before Any Difficult Conversation

The word “conflict” usually brings to mind raised voices or awkward tension—outcomes most people would rather avoid.

CNBC

What Private Assets in 401(K) Plans Mean for Investors: ‘You’re Only Asking for Trouble,’ One Advisor Says

Millions of investors may soon have access to private assets in their 401(k) or other workplace retirement plans. What to know about the risks and rewards.

Psyche

Does Progress Seem Slower When You Constantly Check on It?

Research on how we perceive the rate of change shows how you can be strategic about goal tracking and boost your motivation.

SELF

9 Exercises for Knee Pain to Help You Move (and Feel) Better

Strengthen and stretch your way to happier joints.

Allure

Inside the World of Professional Back-Scratching

“I just want to pay someone to tickle my back.”

The Conversation

A Toxicologist’s Guide to Poison Ivy’s Itch and Bee Stings’ Burning Pain

Poison ivy and bees stings are among the most common outdoor menaces for people enjoying the outdoors.