Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

BBC Worklife

The Tricks to Make Yourself Effortlessly Charming

From the first moment you walk into a room, people are making judgments about how much they like you. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your chances.

Bon Appétit

This Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting Is Tangy, Fluffy, and Totally Perfect

With just a few ingredients, it will dramatically improve any and every cake.

Aeon

How a Huguenot Philosopher Realized That Atheists Could Be Virtuous

Christians long held a monopoly on virtue—until Pierre Bayle made the case for moral atheists, using comets and aliens.

The Atlantic

How Your Dog Knows When You’re Sick

Dogs can act like illness psychics.

Fast Company

What Happened When I Forced Myself to Wake up at 5 A.M. Every Day for a Month

Some early risers might get more done, but it turns out there are times when getting up earlier can make you less productive.

Popular Mechanics

How to Compost: An Easy DIY Guide

Here’s how to make a critical ingredient for a stunning garden right at home.

Narratively

The Obsessive Life and Mysterious Death of the Fisherman Who Discovered The Loch Ness Monster

A humble Scotsman saw something strange in the water—and daringly set out to catch it—only to have lecherous out-of-towners steal his fame and upend his quest.

The War Zone

The Fascinating Anatomy of the Presidential Motorcade

Going inside the safest and most dangerous place on the road.

Stylist

Benefits of Walking: Is Walking Every Day Really Enough Exercise?

Walking may combat brain ageing and memory loss—but is it enough exercise to keep you fit?

Knowable Magazine

Inside the Brains of Aging Dogs

In a citizen science project, thousands of pet dogs are helping scientists to understand what happens to memory and cognition in old age.

The Conversation

Does Foam Rolling Actually Do Any Good?

It shouldn’t replace stretching but can complement it quite nicely and improve flexibility.

Runner’s World

How to Build a Sustainable Running Training Plan

Experts offer tips on prepping for a race—without feeling overwhelmed.

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, July 8

The New York Times

How a Show About Truly Terrible People Became the Defining American Sitcom

Over the last 20 years, television has changed, but the malignant narcissists of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” have not.

Rolling Stone

My Best Friend’s Murder Was a Tabloid Circus. Now, I’m Looking for the Truth

When Nicole DuFresne was killed in 2005, the media twisted the narrative by latching onto a phrase she said: “What are you going to do, shoot us?”

Atmos

Why One Geologist Thinks We Should All Pay More Attention to Rocks

Professor Marcia Bjornerud urges us to understand rocks as records of earlier versions of the planet—and as a call to protect its future.

New Lines Magazine

The Chinese Men Seeking Pakistani Christian Wives 

A thin line separates transactional marriages arranged by matchmaking networks from the world of human trafficking.

HuffPost

I'm An ER Physician. Here Are 5 Types Of Pain I'd Never Ignore.

When it comes to severe medical situations, emergency medicine doctors see it all. They’re the physicians who folks of all ages rush to when something serious goes wrong.

The Guardian

The Radical 1960s Schools Experiment That Created a Whole New Alphabet – and Left Thousands of Children Unable to Spell

Decades ago, a generation of UK schoolchildren unwittingly took part in an initiative aimed at boosting reading skills – with lasting consequences

GQ

Can David Corenswet Save Superman?

In a world-historical moment rife with villainy and loose scruples, James Gunn has staked his reboot of the DC Comics Universe on a Superman with core values, a sunny disposition, and a weakness for romance.

Texas Monthly

The Hill Country Summer Camps Were My Story. After the Flood, They’re My Grandson’s.

The night of the flood, he was awakened by the popping sounds of pipes snapping as his cabin lurched into the river.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Big Think

The “Digital Dividend”: Rethinking Income for the Age of AI

Agentic AI pioneer Chetan Dube considers ways that everyone can be lifted by the tide of AI, not just those with the capital to leverage it.

Grist

Atlanta Is Embracing a Cheap, Effective Way to Beat Urban Heat: ‘Cool Roofs’

White or reflective roofs significantly reduce temperatures. Atlanta is the latest city to mandate their adoption.

Time

Experts Question If Weather Service Was Operating at Its Best Ahead of Texas Floods Amid Trump’s Cuts

“A lot of the weather forecast offices now are not operating at full complement of staff,” said the former lead of NOAA.

Gizmodo

The New Corporate Memo: Let AI Ease the Pain

An Xbox executive’s solution for laid off staff? Let a chatbot handle the grief and career planning. Welcome to corporate care in 2025.

Architectural Digest

Inside a Gilded Age Town House With a Modern Edge

Designer Rob Johansen’s restoration of the 1899 home in Manhattan’s Upper East Side is a lesson in “time-hopping.”

The Spruce

6 Low-Lift Cleaning Tasks You Only Need to Do Once That Leave Your Home Fresh for Weeks

If you’re looking for a low effort refresh, these six cleaning tasks will leave your home feeling cleaner than ever, and without spending too much time.

BBC

How Trump’s Tariff Chaos Could Reshape Asia’s Businesses

The US president’s tough stance on global trade is shaking up the region’s crucial supply chains.

Texas Monthly

What Dick and Tweety Eastland Meant for Camp Mystic

The duo offered a place where parents knew their daughters would be enriched and happy. During the tragic floods, Dick Eastland died trying to save them.

Popular Mechanics

A Brilliant Explorer Discovered America’s Greatest Sunken Treasure. Then Came the Manhunt.

His expedition found a “mountain of gold” at the bottom of the Atlantic. But he might never see a cent of the lost fortune.

NBC News

Bettors Are Worried Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Could Cause Professional Gambling in the U.S. to Fold

Gamblers pointed out on social media that by limiting the tax deduction to 90% of losses, bettors could actually owe taxes in years where they netted a loss on their bets.

Context

‘No Doctors, No Nurses, No Equipment’: Inside a Syrian Hospital

Syria’s public healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse after years of war and sanctions

The Atlantic

I Fought Plastic. Plastic Won

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

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

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.

NPR

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Purchases Can Now Affect Your Credit Score. Here’s What That Means

Services that split up payments into installments are increasingly popular, especially among young and low-to-middle income shoppers. But now the FICO credit scoring company will be tracking that debt.

The Guardian

Natural Fibers and No Heathered Grey: What to Wear When It’s Really, Really Hot Out

The biggest concerns are a) maximizing comfort and b) masking sweat so one doesn’t look like a sentient pile of wet laundry.

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.

DW

Paris Reopens Seine River for Public Swimming

Parisians have begun bathing in the Seine for the first time in over 100 years after a ban was lifted. The French capital has created three swimming zones along the river as part of its Olympic legacy.

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.