Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Conversation

The Discovery of Insulin: A Story of Monstrous Egos and Toxic Rivalries

Meet the feuding scientists who battled for credit over the discovery of insulin.

Harper’s Bazaar

The Ecstasy of a Great Outfit

The best dressers know that the right piece of clothing is an invitation to connect with the world around them.

Nautilus

The Strange Blissfulness of Storms

Is there a biochemical reason that extreme weather makes us happy?

Popular Science

Why Do People Say the Moon is Made of Cheese?

The moon-cheese nexus may have started with a fable about a hungry wolf and a crafty fox.

The Marginalian

How to Criticize with Kindness

“Just how charitable are you supposed to be when criticizing the views of an opponent?”

Outdoor Life

The Leave No Trace Principles, Explained

Backpackers, campers, and hikers can leave the land better than they found it with these seven fundamentals.

CityLab

Should Evictions Be Banned After Hurricanes and Climate Disasters?

Sonoma County, California, has adopted a moratorium on evictions during declared emergencies — a model that housing advocates want to see nationwide.

Fast Company

5 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Accept Any Job Offer

It’s exciting to get a job offer, but there’s good reason to hesitate before accepting. Ask these questions first.

Aeon

What Know-It-Alls Don’t Know, or the Illusion of Competence

Ever been so confident of something that you were shocked to find out you were wrong?

Scientific American

Physics Is Pointing Inexorably to Mind

So-called “information realism” has some surprising implications.

MIT Press Reader

The Extraordinary Ways Rhythm Shapes Our Lives

Rhythm plays an important role in how we perceive — and connect with — the world.

The Atlantic

15 Books You Won’t Regret Rereading

Years after these titles were popular, they’re still worth picking up.

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

Saturday, July 5

Smithsonian Magazine

In a Milestone for Manhattan, a Pair of Coyotes Has Made Central Park Their Home

For six years, two photographers have carefully followed the canines and documented their secret lives.

CNN

A Couple Tried for 18 Years to Get Pregnant. AI Made It Happen.

As artificial intelligence shapes fertility care, it’s now helping doctors find hidden sperm.

Reuters

They Tried Made in the USA. It Was Too Expensive for Their Customers.

Tens of thousands of American small and midsize manufacturers are facing the choice between paying steep tariffs on Chinese imports or taking on significantly higher domestic production costs.

CNN

Here’s Who Stands to Gain From the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ And Who May Struggle

President Donald Trump has promised that the “big, beautiful bill” passed by Congress will be one of the most successful pieces of legislation in American history.

Boston

Did We Ruin Summer Camp by Making It Safe?

The kids are all right—but are they missing out?

KCRW

Want Better Bakes? Here’s What Your Ingredients Actually Do

Pastry chef Nicola Lamb sifts through the essential ingredients of baking — flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.

Bon Appétit

An Inside Look at the Best Snack Trends at the Summer Fancy Food Show

At the Comic Con of snacks, we track down the latest in sweet treats, sauces, and drinks.

New York Magazine

'People Want That African Euphoria'

Black Americans are moving to Ghana — and driving up the cost of living for everyone around them.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Discover

More Than 100 Items in the British Royal Regalia Symbolize Power and Tradition Through the Ages

What is the British Royal Regalia? Learn more about the British Crown Jewels and how they are replaced medieval renditions after anti-monarchists destroyed them.

Undark

The Gates Foundation’s Global Reach Expands, to Mixed Reviews

As the U.S. and other countries cut funding for global health initiatives, what role will philanthropy take?

Inc. Magazine

How 1 Email From the Military Started a Global Innovation Network

I didn’t set out to build a global innovation network spanning 45 countries. Here are four lessons from my journey.

Travel + Leisure

Overbooked Flight? the Airline Could Owe You Over $2,000—Plus, How to Avoid Getting Bumped in the First Place

These are the steps you should take if you’re bumped from a flight, plus tips to avoid becoming the victim of an overbooked flight in the future.

Business Insider

Penske Is Using AI to Get Ahead of Costly Truck Maintenance Issues

Penske Truck Leasing uses telematics and AI to help predict costly truck maintenance issues, which can lead to cost-savings for its customers.

CBS News

Tariffs Could Surge on July 9 With 90-Day Pause Set to End. Here’s What Experts Think Could Happen.

Trump administration faces pressure to clinch more trade deals, with a temporary tariff freeze on dozens of countries set to expire.

BuzzFeed

31 July Recipes to Utilize All That Delicious Summer Produce (and Your Grill)

Happy tomato season to all who celebrate.

Fast Company

Employees Are Crashing Out All Over TikTok. Here’s Why

Crashing out at work is all over TikTok—but why? A new report lays out why employees feel like work isn’t working for them.

Business Insider

Need to Send a Handwritten Note? You Can Hire a Robot to Write It Instead

Handwrytten uses AI and robots to create custom physical notes for businesses and individuals. The company sends about 20,000 cards a day.

Inverse

40 Years Ago, One Addictive Computer Game Pioneered a Subgenre

In June 1985, ‘The Way of the Exploding Fist’ hit the Commodore 64. Here’s why it was such a big deal.

The Conversation

Most Plant-Friendly Fungi Are a Mystery to Scientists

Most fungi that partner with plants are known only from trace DNA sequences left in soil.

History Today

Plato’s Last Word to Dionysius

How to reform an ancient Greek tyrant? Plato’s final advice to Dionysius the Younger was not well received.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

Inc. Magazine

Half of Remote Employees Nap During the Workday, a Survey Says 

Employers might want to keep an eye open for any visible facial creases, suspiciously mussed hairdos, or groggy comments during video meetings with remote staff. It turns out nearly half of people working from home admit to taking naps on company time.

Men's Health

How Long It Should Take to Walk a Mile—and How That Can Help to Improve Your Fitness

Whether you're looking to move more or you want to upgrade your daily stroll, these tips will help you pick up the pace.

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

A new book considers how weight lifting can help you unlearn diet culture.

Lifehacker

Five Psychological Tricks You Can Use to Make Yourself Feel Happier

It’s easy to see why being happy is such a challenge these days. People are working jobs they hate, struggling to pay bills, and living in an increasingly isolated, digitally driven world.

Fast Company

Why Office Gossip Can Be Good for the Workplace (If It’s the Right Kind of Gossip)

Gossip at work is inevitable. But what exactly workers gossip about can be key in dictating company culture. Rumor has it that gossip can be a positive force in workplace cultures, under the right circumstances.

The Conversation

Self Determination Theory: How to Use It to Boost Wellbeing

A foundational idea in self-determination theory is that we have three basic psychological needs: for autonomy, competence and relatedness.

The New York Times

Illness Took My Mother’s Independence, but It Gave Us Something Precious

An immune condition changed my mom’s life — and taught us to see art differently.

The Guardian

How Sorry Are You? Why Learning to Apologize Well Could Save Your Relationships

Got something to say sorry for? Here are words that have no place in your apologies, according to those who have spent years analysing them.

Fast Company

How to Make the Most of Your Summer Vacation

Plan to connect with loved ones and plan to disconnect from work.

The New York Times

Better Half

The midpoint of the year is an opportune moment to look back at where we’ve been, and set our sights for where we want to go.

The New York Times

Gen Z, It Turns Out, Is Great at Saving for Retirement

Brynnley Beckman is only 23, but she is already thinking about retirement. She teaches ninth grade biology at the Shelton School in Dallas and contributes 3 percent of her salary to an employer-sponsored retirement fund. She hopes to increase her contribution by 1 percent each year.

Money.com

The Ultimate Guide to Paying Less for College

Running the numbers on typical college costs can leave you feeling breathless and wondering how you’re going to afford it. Sticker prices look staggering these days, especially for private colleges.