Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Literary Hub

Classic Reviews of Beloved Children's Books

Eudora Welty on ‘Charlotte's Web’, Dorothy Parker on ‘Winnie the Pooh’, and more.

Narratively

A Super Strange True Love Story: My Disappearing Fiancé

After years of avoiding love, I found a match that seemed almost too perfect. We were practically walking down the aisle before I realized it really was too good to be true.

The Atlantic

How Friends Become Closer

It’s hard to organize a busy life so that it has enough room for deep friendships, but there are a few strategies that may help.

The Hustle

The Secretary Who Helped Uncover One of America’s Strangest Ponzi Schemes

The whole thing started because Robin H. Swanson wanted to send flowers.

Scientific American

Dazzled by Creativity: Why We Excuse Dishonest Acts

Con artists rarely inspire admiration. Frank Abagnale Jr., however, was hardly a typical con artist.

Greater Good Magazine

How to Stay Open and Curious in Hard Conversations

Here are eight tips for having better conversations across our differences.

Quanta Magazine

To Build Truly Intelligent Machines, Teach Them Cause and Effect

Judea Pearl expects that causal reasoning could provide machines with human-level intelligence.

Scott Young

Unraveling the Enigma of Reason

What is the relationship between how we reason and the reasons we come up with?

Atlas Obscura

How a Chicago Dive Bar Exposed Corruption and Changed Journalism

In the 1970s, the Chicago Sun-Times used the Mirage as a front.

The Guardian

‘What Are Our Lives for?’: A Philosopher Answers Kids’ Existential Questions

What happens when Plato mixes with playtime? Philosopher Scott Hershovitz answers the questions that confound children and adults alike.

Smithsonian Magazine

Why Did Humans Lose Their Fur?

Evolutionary theorists have put forth numerous hypotheses.

BBC Future

Why Some People Can’t Tell Left From Right

It can seem like an almost childish mistake, but a surprising number of adults confuse left from right and scientists are only just starting to understand why.

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

Tuesday, August 5

Rolling Stone

Inside the Battle Over ‘Napalm Girl’

A new documentary, ‘The Stringer,’ investigates the story of the famous Vietnam War photo “Napalm Girl,” raising questions about who actually took it.

Glamour

Would You Let Your Friend Pitch You to a Room Full of Single Strangers?

In 2025 we’re turning back to one of the oldest forms of dating: meeting a romantic partner through friends.

PBS

In the Gray World of GLP-1 Supplements Online, Health Experts Urge Caution

TikTok beauty influencer Kaycee Ogle is regularly contacted by brands who want her to promote their products. But one email she received in June was different, and made her curious.

The Conversation

Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? A Pharmacist Explains Why You Might Not Be

As many as 1 in 5 Americans believe they have a penicillin allergy, but just a tiny fraction actually do. In recent years, it’s gotten a lot easier to find out.

Scientific American

The Hidden Way Allergens Attack Nose, Throat and Lung Cells

The immune system senses damage to cell membranes caused by pore-forming proteins and mounts a response.

POLITICO Magazine

Meet the Fraudster Who Wants to Make California Its Own Country

The man behind the Calexit movement claims to be a baller. But he’s broke.

AFAR

Where to Go Every Month of the Year for Better Weather, Fewer Crowds, and the Most Value

Hurricane-free Caribbean beaches, empty canals in Venice, and lush safaris—all can be yours in off season.

Tampa Bay Times

She Left Her Abusive Ex. Could She Stay Away?

Money, housing, kids and heartache keep victims with abusers. For a Florida woman, breaking free meant risking it all.

Supplement History: The Truth About Supplements and Vitamins That Teens Should Know

If you take a supplement, you should read this.

History Extra

Wanderlust: Bettany Hughes on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were daring and dazzling constructions that have burned bright in the human imagination right up to the modern day. Bettany Hughes follows in the footsteps of the ancients to tell their remarkable stories.

The Guardian

The 10 Best Classic Seaside Arcade Machines

A trip to the seaside isn’t complete without a jangling cup of coins or an overconfident uncle nursing a sore hand. Here’s a rundown of the top nostalgia-inducing games.

Vox

The Surprising Reason Fewer People Are Dying From Extreme Weather

Natural disasters may cost more money, but they claim far fewer lives than in decades past.

Fast Company

Why Successful Teams Build Emotional Intelligence—and How

The secret to building great teams is to develop interaction norms and routines that bring out the best in team members and utilize their talents.

Fast Company

How to Stop Stress From Hijacking Your Productivity

Around 80% of workers have productivity anxiety, but ironically this can interfere with our ability to do work.

Literary Hub

The Most Anticipated Audiobooks of August

Each month, our friends at AudioFile Magazine share a curated list of the best audiobooks for your literary listening pleasure.

The Guardian

Unmasked: The Man Behind One of the Fastest Growing Far-Right YouTube Channels

Chris Booth’s channel – rife with neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism and racism – garnered 2.3m views and likely thousands of dollars from YouTube in about two months.

CBS News

How the FIRE Movement Is Inspiring Early Retirees

Nik and Adinah Johnson, who retired in their forties, are part of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), a movement that looks at work as a means to an end, and where frugality buys freedom from the rat race.

Travel + Leisure

I’m a Travel Expert and a Mom, and This Unexpected 2-Country Itinerary Is Perfect for Families

T+L A-List advisor Kate Herz recommends this trip to Norway and Sweden, which combines thrilling adventure and rich cultural experiences for the whole family.

Time

Scientists Say These Daily Routines Can Slow Cognitive Decline

Brain experts already know that a number of habits can keep the brain in good shape. Exercise, a healthy diet, staying socially engaged, getting enough sleep, and maintaining heart health can all help slow cognitive decline.