Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

The Guardian

It’s Time to Rethink What Loneliness Is

Research suggests that chronic loneliness may be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But do we know what loneliness actually is?

Scientific American

Physics Is Pointing Inexorably to Mind

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

The Kitchn

How To Make Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Sandwiches

Breakfast on rushed weekday mornings, solved.

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.

Slate

Well-Behaved Women Make History Too

What gets lost when it’s only the rebel girls who get lionized?

Bon Appétit

Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits

The sour cream isn’t just a gimmick.

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?

The Atlantic

15 Books You Won’t Regret Rereading

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

Knowable Magazine

Why Probation and Parole Don’t Work as Advertised

The current system of supervised release may do more harm than good, some experts say. How can society rehabilitate law-breakers while keeping them from re-offending?

Nautilus

The Strange Blissfulness of Storms

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

The Marginalian

How to Criticize with Kindness

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

Smithsonian Magazine

Why Are Some People Left-Handed?

Scientists identify rare genetic variants that may be linked to the trait.

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

Friday, July 4

Boston

Did We Ruin Summer Camp by Making It Safe?

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

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.

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.

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.

The Atlantic

The Feminine Pursuit of Swoleness

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

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.

The New York Times

He’s Ringo. And Nobody Else Is.

As he turns 85, one of the last surviving Beatles is still musically curious, dispensing his signature wisdom, and preaching the gospel of peace and love.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

HuffPost

6 Booking Tricks Travel Experts Use When Everything Is Sold Out for Summer

Inventory constantly shifts as people change plans. The key is knowing where to look when mainstream booking sites come up empty.

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.

Time

Why the World Needs More People, According to These Experts

A warning against population shrinkage

Texas Tribune

Inside Elon Musk’s Stellar Year at the Texas Capitol

While Elon Musk took Washington, D.C., by storm, his company representatives and lobbyists were also notching up big political wins in the heart of his vast business empire: Texas.

BBC

Fact-Checking Three Key Claims About Trump’s Mega-Bill

Trump insists that the new bill will save the US billions, but it has been criticised by his old ally Elon Musk.

Vanity Fair

Christopher Nolan’s the Odyssey: Everything We Know

The trailer for Nolan’s epic follow-up to ‘Oppenheimer’ has leaked online—which has only boosted the film’s buzz.

BBC

‘Be Careful, They Are Watching You’: Tibet Is Silent As Dalai Lama Turns 90

The BBC speaks to Tibetans in Aba, which has long been at the heart of resistance to Chinese rule.

PS

The Hottest New Workout in Town is Physical Therapy

Despite society's pressure to exercise intensely at all times, the best workout I’ve had in the last year was during physical therapy. Here's why.

Time

Who Could Be Thailand’s Next Prime Minister? Scenarios, Explained

Thailand is undergoing yet another turnover in leadership. Here’s what—and who—could come next.

Variety

Exploring ‘Dora’: How Paramount+’s ‘Search for Sol Dorado’ Expands on 25 Years of Nickelodeon History

As ‘Dora’ celebrates its 25th anniversary, Ramsey Naito and Samantha Lorraine discuss how ‘Search for Sol Dorado’ expands on Nickelodeon’s history.

Elle

Zac Posen Is Back, and He’s Bringing Gap With Him

Under his creative direction, Gap Inc. is undergoing a renaissance—from viral red-carpet moments to cool collabs.

Vox

Ultra-Processed Foods: A Patriotic American Tradition

The July Fourth is a cacophony of dietary chaos.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

Time

Are You Just Tired or Truly Burned Out?

Fatigue and burnout are similar, but one requires more serious attention.

CNBC

Here’s the Average 401(K) Balance by Age

When it comes to our retirement nest egg, we can't help but wonder where we stand compared to our cohorts.

The Atlantic

How to Make Your Work Your Calling

Three ways to find purpose and meaning in a job.

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.