Pocket Future

Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Atlantic

The Mystery of Urban Psychosis

Why are paranoia and schizophrenia more common in cities?

Bloomberg Businessweek

The Case Against Crowdfunding in the Work Chat

Meta employees lost big on real estate investments touted by a colleague.

The Drive

How to Change a Car Battery

The basic steps to swap out a dead battery for a new one.

Smithsonian Magazine

An Icelandic Town Goes All Out to Save Baby Puffins

Kids and senior citizens alike rally to rescue beloved young seabirds that have lost their bearings.

MEL Magazine

The ‘Very Special Episodes’ on TV That Actually Changed People’s Lives

Back when it was edgy for sitcoms to take on serious topics, they really impacted some kids’ understanding of real-life issues.

Quartz

We’re Treating Friendships Like Transactions, and It’s Ruining Relationships

Friends should be more than people who we use to improve ourselves.

The Hustle

The Great Dollar Store Backlash

Communities around the country are fighting back against the chains’ supercharged growth. But does banning dollar stores actually work?

BBC Future

Why Short-Sightedness Is on the Rise

Soaring rates of short-sightedness in children are alarming parents and doctors around the world. Can we turn the tide?

Greater Good Magazine

How to Become a Friend to Yourself

Kristin Neff and Chris Germer explain how self-compassion can transform the way you handle suffering.

Mental Floss

Why Is Row 13 Missing on So Many Airplanes?

United is one of several airlines that avoids including a row 13 on their flights, but not just for the reason you probably think.

Narratively

She Was Once the Biggest Star in Jazz. Here’s Why You’ve Never Heard of Her.

Hazel Scott was a piano prodigy who wowed the worlds of music, TV, and film. But when she stood up for her rights, the establishment took her down.

Aeon

This Ancient Mnemonic Technique Builds a Palace of Memory

If you’re seeking better memory, this could be the secret.

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

Thursday, August 14

Food & Wine

I Tracked a Wild Salmon From Sea to Plate — What I Learned Surprised Me

Wild salmon is abundant in Alaska and coveted by chefs — but most Americans eat the cheaper, milder farmed kind. Journalist Kim Cross set out to learn why — and how to cook the real thing right.

The Guardian

Why Do I Feel So Much Worse After a Nap – and How Can I Avoid It?

Waking up from a nap feeling groggy, tired or ill? Experts say it’s common. Here’s what could be going wrong.

The New York Times

Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens.

Over 21 days of talking with ChatGPT, an otherwise perfectly sane man became convinced that he was a real-life superhero. We analyzed the conversation.

Stat News

Insecure About Their Looks, More Men Than Ever Are Getting Plastic Surgery

Confidence suffers as sculpted bodies pop up on social media and Zoom.

BBC

A Dating App, a Niqab and a 9mm Gun: How a US Woman Was Hired to End a UK Family Feud

The investigation into the Wisconsin native revealed her to be “fairly unexceptional” with virtually no “criminal footprint”. And it remains unclear why she became a would-be contract killer.

BBC

How Kentucky Bourbon Went From Boom to Bust

Tariffs, oversupply and teetotaling Gen-Zs have all contributed to the downfall of one of America’s most iconic liquors.

Condé Nast Traveler

Inside the Leather Workshops of Andalusia

With a history dating back almost 1,000 years, leatherwork remains at the heart of Andalusian life—thanks to the modern-day artisans working diligently to preserve the craft.

The Dial

The Future of Climate Change Is on Mauritius

Freak tornadoes, “explosions” of jellyfish, flash floods and dried up pumps.

How the Cavefish Lost Its Eyes — Again and Again

Mexican tetras that got swept into pitch-black caverns had no use for the energetically costly organs. They lost their eyes in multiple ways — and gained some nifty traits too.

SELF

12 Hydration Mistakes Leaving You Parched, According to Experts

A PSA for those of us having a thirsty summer—and not in a good way.

Harper's Bazaar

All of the Easter Eggs for Taylor Swift’s 12th Studio Album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

She’s seemingly been hinting at her 12th studio album for years.

Polygon

Can Nintendo Ever Win Game of the Year Again?

Its standards are so high it would seem inevitable, but several factors are stacked against it.

Harvard Business Review

Leading Is Emotionally Draining. Here’s How to Recover.

You have to lay off a team member, deliver hard feedback in a tense meeting, or end the day absorbing the resignation of a top performer. No crisis. Just another Tuesday.