Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

MEL Magazine

The Quick and Ubiquitous Economics of Bodegas

Do convenience stores really survive on cigarettes and lotto tickets?

Smithsonian Magazine

Harriet Tubman Was an Abolitionist, but She Was Also a Naturalist

The Underground Railroad conductor’s understanding of botany, wildlife biology, geography and astronomy allowed her to guide herself and others to safety.

Aeon

A New Word for That Feeling When Travel Makes Everything New

One thing I’ve noticed over the years of bringing my students to Ireland – my homeland – is that they pay rapt attention to the little things.

The Kitchn

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

For a bright morning muffin, whip up this batch in less than an hour.

Scott Young

How to Find Time

Start by asking yourself if time is really the issue.

Mental Floss

Why Hold Music Is So Annoying

We asked an expert to explain why listening to hold music is such a frustrating experience.

Popular Science

These Auditory Illusions Make People Hear Phrases as Melodies

A linguist explains why spoken words sound melodic when repeated over and over.

Mental Floss

11 People Who Operated on Themselves

“The detachment had already happened in my mind ... It’s no longer my arm. As I picked up the knife, I was very cool and collected.”

Knowable Magazine

How Plants Turned Predator

Carnivorous plants fascinate as much now as when their gruesome diet was first discovered.

The Kitchn

Sunday Sauce

This slow-simmered, meaty Italian American sauce is best served with spaghetti, of course.

The Conversation

Why Do People Faint?

Most of the time, different parts of your nervous system work in balance. But sometimes things can get out of whack.

Quanta Magazine

Machine Learning’s ‘Amazing’ Ability to Predict Chaos

In new computer experiments, artificial-intelligence algorithms can tell the future of chaotic systems.

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 3

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.

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.

Popular Science

How the Tomato Created the Potato

The starchy staple evolved from the tomato about 9 million years ago.

The Guardian

Sweat, Stingers and Scratching: 14 Expert, Easy Ways to Treat and Prevent Insect Bites

Some of us seem to be bitten much more than others – and in unlucky cases this can lead to an allergic reaction or chronic illness. Pharmacists explain how to avoid the worst insects have to offer.

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.

Slate

Who Killed the Spoof Movie?

’The Naked Gun’ aims to resurrect what was once one of our most beloved sure-hit genres. Why did it ever go away?

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.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Martha Stewart

Can You Wash Pillows in the Washing Machine? Here’s What Laundry Experts Say

Wondering if you can wash pillows in the washing machine? Laundry experts explain which types are machine washable and which are better suited to hand-washing.

Vanity Fair

Law Roach’s Tense Project Runway Moment Suggests Promising Things for Reality TV

The new season of the beloved competition series isn’t afraid to get a little combative.

Architectural Digest

For 2026, Sherwin-Williams Predicts These Four Color Palettes Will Rule

The storied paint brand’s trend forecasters celebrate subtle shifts in color.

Popular Mechanics

The Rule That Keeps Cars Clean Might Not Survive the Year

The decision to retract the foundational “endangerment finding” is by no means final, and will likely face a litany of legal challenges.

The New Republic

The Invisible Climate Change Effect That Is Most Likely to Kill You

Air pollution is less dramatic than floods or storms, less inconvenient, and much harder to politicize. It’s also much more deadly.

SB Nation

NFL Hidden Gems: The Secret Superstars for All 32 Teams

Who are the underrated players that will help decide the 2025 NFL season? Read about the Secret Superstars for all 32 NFL teams right here!

Popular Science

What Do TSA Bag Scanners Actually See?

Airport X-ray imaging can detect all sorts of threats, along with the water bottle you forgot to trash.

The Walrus

We Can Still Make Works of Deep Value at a Time of Shallow Resources

What we do is connect the solitary work of creation to a broader public conversation. And we try to make something that lasts

PS

Yes, Lack of Sleep Is Ruining Your Skin

A dermatologist and sleep doctor break down what lack of sleep can do to your complexion and how to take control of your beauty sleep.

Axios

The Labor Market Is Showing Big Cracks That Were Invisible Just Weeks Ago

The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown might help explain the huge workforce shifts.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Best Travel Tech Organizers to Keep Cords Neat and Tidy

Never worry about tangled cords or missing chargers again.

Time

The True Story Behind Chief of War, Jason Momoa’s Hawaiian History Epic

Jason Momoa worked behind and in front of the camera on an epic retelling of the story of the unification of Hawaii.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

The Associated Press

What to Know If You’re at Risk of Having Your Wages Garnished Over Student Loan Debt

Millions of student borrowers could begin having their wages garnished as soon as this summer. That’s according to estimates from credit bureau TransUnion.

Money

How to Prioritize Your Bills in a Financial Crunch

Which obligations need your immediate attention and which can wait.

The Atlantic

Three Ways to Stop Feeling Like an Impostor

This common syndrome can certainly harm your happiness. Here are three ways to get over it.

CBS News

What Will Happen to Gold Prices This August?

Gold prices have largely risen over the past 18 months, approximately, but will they continue to do so this August?

HuffPost

This Mosquito-Borne Illness Is Being Reported in Multiple States — Here’s What to Know

Now’s the time to replenish your bug spray supply.

The Cut

How Do People Actually Afford These Summer Trips?

If you’re wondering how everyone is staying at four-star hotels in Italy right now, you’re not alone.

SELF

5 Reasons You Get Random Bruises—and When to See a Doctor

Here’s how to tell if something nefarious might be behind them.

SFGate

7 Dogs Suddenly Die in Southern California, 11 More Fall Ill

All were said to have been in good health before a sudden onset of lethargy, nausea, seizures and other symptoms.

Culture Study

A Fascinating Look at How a Hair Stylist Organizes Their Days

This is so interesting.

NPR

The Transformative Power of Keeping a Daily Journal

In a new book, writer Suleika Jaouad explains why journaling is a form of alchemy — and offers tips on how to reignite your practice if you’re feeling stuck, bored or uninspired by your own writing.

CNBC

Back-to-School Shopping Is More Expensive This Year — Here’s the Breakdown

This year, parents will pay more for back-to-school essentials such as pens, pencils and backpacks.

Maclean’s

Confessions of the Working Poor

I work hard, buy quality clothes and know how to fake my way through dinner-party conversations. But behind the scenes, I’m part of a fast-growing Canadian underclass.