Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

CityLab

The Rise and Fall of the Klaxon, the World’s Most Annoying Car Horn

Klaxon automotive horns, once standard safety equipment, disappeared from the roads after World War I. But the tensions they exposed about urban noise still echo.

Fatherly

How To Give Constructive Criticism That’s Actually Constructive

Go easy on the compliment sandwich, and other tips to help you become a go-to advice giver.

The Guardian

How to Spot a Liar: 10 Essential Tells – From Random Laughter to Copycat Gestures

An ex-FBI agent, a psychologist and a fraud investigator share their best tips for detecting dishonesty.

Vogue

The Best Places in the World to Travel Solo

Relish the opportunity to adventure alone.

The Conversation

There Are 2 Main Ways to Stretch: How to Choose the Way Right for You

There are many different types of stretching, but the two most common are static and dynamic stretching.

The Hustle

The Economics of Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Costco’s popular chickens have stayed fixed at $4.99 for more than a decade — even in the face of raging inflation. But it’s come at a cost.

Atlas Obscura

The Brief, Baffling Life of an Accidental New York Neighborhood

Welcome to Haberman, Queens: Population 0.

The Atlantic

26 Brilliant Movies That Critics Were Wrong About

A group of films, ranging from art-house gems to big blockbusters, that deserve a fresh look.

Popular Science

Quantum Computers Can’t Teleport Things—Yet

It’s almost impossible to simulate a good wormhole without more qubits.

Scientific American

Extreme Birding Competition Is a Cutthroat Test of Skill, Strategy and Endurance

A team of birders races to find as many bird species as possible in 24 hours.

Glamour

This Easy Trick Will Give You Heavenly, Fluffy Pancakes in Minutes

You can making perfect brunch pancakes with this recipe, even if your cooking skills usually rely on a microwave.

Mental Floss

28 Fascinating Facts About Time

Every person on Earth is living in the past, and more facts about time that are likely to hurt your brain.

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

Monday, July 28

The Guardian

How Video Games Are Keeping Romance Alive – One Level at a Time

Some are using Final Fantasy and GTA Online as dating sites and long-time lovers are finding comfort and connection through Resident Evil. Could video games be the ultimate relationship tool?

The Guardian

The Rise and Fall of the British Cult That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated.

Vanity Fair

How Goop Culture Helped Create MAHA

The California-based gynecologist and Gwyneth biography source, Dr. Jen Gunter, on everything from how she views Gwyneth Paltrow’s legacy to the most difficult aspects of fighting pseudoscience claims.

NBC News

The Deadliest Extreme Weather Event Is Not What You Think It Is

Nationally, extreme heat causes more deaths each year than any other weather event, including floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.

Esquire

What I Didn’t Understand About My Autistic Son, and What I’m Learning Now That He’s an Adult

I have opened my heart and my mind to Sam, and he’s brought both of us to the place we so desperately need to be.

The Associated Press

Photos Show a Filipino Couple Walking Down a Flooded Aisle on Their Wedding Day

Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar were determined to walk down the aisle on their wedding day.

The Guardian

Why Are Thailand and Cambodia Engaged in a Border Conflict?

Territory mapped during France’s colonial rule is behind clash that has exposed tensions between the countries.

NPR

Are High-Protein Snacks Worth the Hype? Here’s How to Assess

Protein has taken over the packaged-snack aisles at the grocery store. But do you need extra protein in your chips and muffins?

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

The A.V. Club

2025 is still somehow The Year Of Balatro

There are a lot of great new games out there, but have you heard about this Balatro thing? It's like, poker, but all silly!

Fast Company

5 Job Search Habits Young Job Seekers Should Ditch Immediately

With the right approach, you can transform your job search from a source of frustration into a launchpad for the career you want.

Atlas Obscura

The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever

Pulau Tiga, best known as the original ‘Survivor’ island, was as much of a character on the show as the contestants were.

The New Yorker

“South Park” Skewers a Satire-Proof President

The new season première goes after Trump as never before—and solves a problem that’s plagued comedians since his first term in office.

Futurism

Teens Are Using AI to “Get Out of Thinking”

More and more teenagers are using AI “to get out of thinking” — and not just as a homework crutch, but an emotional one.

Popular Science

How to Manage All Your Subscriptions in Gmail

Make your inbox less overwhelming.

The Hollywood Reporter

Breaking Down the Biomechanics of Happy Gilmore’s Swing With Long-Drive Champion Martin Borgmeier

One of them can really hit the golf ball 400 yards.

NPR

Home Sales Are Down. So Why Are Prices at an All-Time High?

Those with equity in a home can trade up more easily, while many first-time homebuyers are still stuck on the sidelines.

The New Yorker

Ozzy Osbourne Tried to Raise Hell

The Black Sabbath front man set out to capture the sound of evil. Somehow, he became widely loved.

The New York Times

‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Breaks a Box Office Curse

The movie, the fifth effort to adapt the comic characters for the big screen, was expected to collect about $220 million worldwide in its first weekend.

Inc. Magazine

Target Just Ended a Popular Perk After 12 Years. Here’s What Customers Are Saying

Is Target being innovative or just following an industry trend?

CBS News

New Exhibit Explores the Impact and Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist

In the late 1940s, the work of the House Un-American Activities Committee eventually led to a Hollywood blacklist, now the focus of an exhibit at the New York Historical Society.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

Dear Life Kit: My Friend Says Ugly Things About Her Body and It Makes Me Anxious

Body-acceptance advocate Katie Sturino and Ronald Young Jr., host of the podcast Weight for It, answer listener questions about body image, weight loss drugs and bullying.

The Atlantic

The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards

Their fees are getting higher—and their benefits are sometimes wildly complicated to redeem.

Parents

A Parent Let Their Son Choose What to Do With Money They Found–Here’s What He Decided

Doing real-time experiments like this in the wild can teach us a lot about our kids and ourselves as parents.

Harvard Business Review

The Right Way to Prepare for a High-Stakes Conversation

Before commercial pilots push back from the gate, they complete a comprehensive preflight check to verify that every system functions correctly during the journey ahead.

Kiplinger

Are You an Auto Theft Target? Discover the Clues

Thieves seized over 850,000 cars last year. See which models, states and behaviors draw the eyes of opportunists.

Fast Company

How to Go From Quiet to Commanding

An executive coach offers introverts five tips for sounding more confident. You’re smart, capable, and consistently deliver results. But in meetings, your voice disappears.

NPR

Doctors Urge FDA to Remove Black Box Warning on Hormone Therapy for Menopause

The FDA may remove the warning labels on hormone replacement therapies used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Doctors say the warning is scaring people who could benefit from these treatments.

Time

What to Say to Someone With Cancer 

Some well-meaning phrases don’t always go over well.

USA TODAY

Young People Always Worry About Social Security. Older People Are Joining Them.

Americans are worrying more about Social Security, and the Trump administration may be partly to blame.  In an AARP survey released July 22, only 36% of Americans voiced confidence in the future of the retirement trust fund, down from 43% in 2020.

The Guardian

‘Old People Are Capable of More’: Meet the Female Weightlifters in Their 70s and 80s

Forget the stereotype of the frail old woman who needs help carrying groceries – fitness mavens like Joan MacDonald show you can strength train at any age.

The Week

How Will the New Tax Deductions on Auto Loans Work?

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a tax deduction on auto loan interest — but eligibility for the tax break is limited.

USA TODAY

Estate Sales Are Booming. Thank Gen Z

Environmentally-conscious young people are heading to estate sales for low cost, well-made products.