Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Stylist

Want to Overcome Imposter Syndrome? Here’s Why You Need to Try the PETAL Method

Entrepreneur coach Amanda Brenkley talks us through her five-step PETAL method designed to help us all get past imposter syndrome for good.

Quanta Magazine

Inherited Learning? It Happens, but How Is Uncertain

Studies suggest that epigenetics allows some learned adaptive responses to be passed down to new generations. The question is how.

The Kitchn

10 of Our Easiest Slow Cooker Drop Dinners Ever

Don’t feel like cooking dinner? Let the slow cooker do it for you.

BBC Culture

The Rise of the ‘No-Wash’ Movement

There’s a growing cohort of people who believe in washing clothes less – or not at all.

The Atlantic

Parents Are Sacrificing Their Social Lives on the Altar of Intensive Parenting

Inequality has seemingly caused many American parents to jettison friendships and activities in order to invest more resources in their kids.

The Atlantic

The Long History of Discrimination in Pain Medicine

X-rays and other “objective"" instruments influenced controversies about whose pain should be believed.

Nir Eyal

When Distraction is a Good Thing

Sometimes letting our minds wander is the best course of action.

The Conversation

Napping in the Afternoon Can Improve Memory and Alertness – Here’s Why

Sleeping for a bit in the afternoon can benefit both motor skills and your ability to recall facts.

Scientific American

The Neuroscience of Taking Turns in a Conversation

Research in birds suggests that when one partner speaks, the other partner’s brain is inhibited from talking over them.

BBC Worklife

Why Do We Buy Into the ‘Cult’ of Overwork?

Overwork culture is thriving; we think of long hours and constant exhaustion as a marker of success. Given what we know about burnout, why do we do give in?

Inc.

How to Train Your Brain to Get What You Want in 60 Days

You are the designer of your destiny.

The Guardian

17 Micro-Workouts That Will Change Your Life – Even if You’re Stuck in the Office

No time for a run or a trip to the gym? Exercise ‘snacks’ are the answer. All you need is some stairs, a wall and 120 seconds away from your desk or sofa.

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, August 18

The Local

On the Front Lines of the War Against ‘Super Lice’

With the emergence of drug-resistant nits, lice removal has become a booming business, catering to harried, itchy parents willing to pay for relief.

POLITICO Europe

Inside the Wild World of Politicians’ Private Zoos

As Viktor Orbán’s exotic wildlife sparks a furor in Hungary, we looked at Bidzina Ivanishvili’s shark and Viktor Yanukovych’s ostriches. 

CNN

12 of America’s Most Iconic Sandwiches and Where to Eat Them

The deep, diverse array of US sandwich options owes much of its greatness to the creativity and resourcefulness of immigrant communities.

House and Garden

The Remarkable 17th-Century Dutch Dolls’ Houses That Were Anything But Toys

In the Dutch Golden Age, wealthy women commissioned extraordinary miniature houses, lavishly furnished with art, porcelain, and fine furniture — and often as costly as a real home.

NPR

Why the Origin of the Word ‘Dog’ Remains a Mystery

They’re known as man’s best friends, fur babies, pooches. But the most widely used word for these beloved animals — “dog” — is also a great linguistic mystery.

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.

CBS News

This Car Ranks as America’s Most-Stolen Vehicle

Here’s why one Chevrolet model is the most-stolen type of car, according to a new report.

ESPN

The Predatory Web of Sextortion Increasingly Ensnares Young Athletes

A Michigan teen was goaded into sharing an intimate photo that scammers threatened to expose unless he paid up.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

CBS News

You Can Still Buy a Mansion for $1 Million in These U.S. Cities. Here’s Where They Are.

There are four metro areas across the U.S. where the median cost for a mansion is less than $1 million.

Inc. Magazine

How to Strategically Market and Promote a New Book

Writing a book is not the end of your journey. It is the beginning. Here is how to successfully promote and market your next book.

Architectural Digest

The Best Pet Beds for Lulling Your Little Angel

When it comes to buying furniture for your pet, please learn from my mistakes.

Popular Mechanics

The “Sub Crawl” Is the Free Sound System Hack You’re Not Using

Not many people know about it, but I perform this little check every time I get a new subwoofer.

Fast Company

How to Make a Good Apology

While it’s tempting to bury mistakes and skip an apology, this erodes trust. Here’s a framework for a good apology.

NBC News

Vampires, Romance and Billionaires: The Bite-Size Chinese Shows Gaining U.S. Fans

Minidramas made to watch on phones in a minute or two are split into dozens of episodes with all the soapy elements: cheesy romance, over-the-top drama and abundant cliff-hangers.

NBC News

Blue-Collar Jobs Are Gaining Popularity As AI Threatens Office Work

There is no shortage of hype around AI coming for jobs, and while the U.S. labor market has begun to sputter, hard evidence of AI-related job losses is scarce.

Business Insider

I’m a Real Estate Agent Who Thought I Was Too Smart to Fall for a Scam. Then I Almost Sold a $200,000 Lot to a Fraudster.

An Iowa real estate agent listed a vacant lot for sale. Hours later, the owner called him to tell him he’d fallen for a scam.

Smithsonian Magazine

A Lock of Braided Human Hair Could Change How We Think About Inca Society and Record-Keeping

The khipu knot-tying system was thought to have only been used by elites, but one artifact suggests commoners, too, knew how to use it.

NBC News

Criminals, Good Guys and Foreign Spies: Hackers Everywhere Are Using AI Now

Hackers and cybersecurity companies have entered an AI arms race.

The New York Times

Air Canada Flight Attendants Say They Will Defy Back-to-Work Order

The union representing Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants said on Sunday that it would defy a back-to-work order and continue a strike that shut down Canada’s dominant carrier and severely disrupted travel throughout the country.

USA TODAY

Education Department Delays Are Putting Parenting College Students in a Bind

Applications for millions of dollars in federal childcare funding are delayed, threatening the education of college students with young kids.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CNBC

27 Is the ‘Ideal’ Age to Start Saving for Retirement, Survey-Takers Say — but CFPs Suggest Even Earlier

While some Americans think starting to save for retirement in your late 20s is ideal, financial advisors say it can pay to start even sooner — especially if you plan to retire early.

NPR

Private Equity and Crypto Could Be Heading for Your 401(K). Here’s What to Know

A recent executive order paves the way for retirement accounts to include a lot more than stock and bond funds.

The Week

What Is an Upside-Down Car Loan and How Do You Get Out of It?

This happens when the outstanding balance on a car loan exceeds the vehicle's worth.

NPR

Electricity Prices Are Climbing More Than Twice As Fast As Inflation

Electricity prices are rising more than twice as fast as overall inflation. That's especially costly during the dog days of summer when air conditioners are working hardest. In addition to hot weather, a variety of factors are causing power bills to climb, including the high cost of natural gas used to generate electricity and soaring demand from data centers.

Allure

Why Is the FDA Suddenly Calling Out Foam Sunscreens?

The agency issued warnings to two beloved brands regarding alleged regulatory violations. What gives?

NBC News

Why Investors Shouldn’t Try to Be a ‘Hero’ in This Economy, Analyst Says

In other words: Stick to your long-term investment plan, including an appropriate asset allocation and time frame to reach your goals.

NPR

8 Essential Conversations to Have With Your Aging Parents

There comes a time when it’s the kid’s turn to take care of mom and dad. Here’s how to broach this sensitive subject with your parents, and what to talk about.

The Associated Press

FACT FOCUS: No, Taxpayers Will Not Receive New Stimulus Checks This Summer

This is false. Taxpayers will not receive new stimulus checks of any amount this summer, an IRS official said.

Yahoo Finance

4 Ways to Increase Cash Flow and Pay Off Debt Faster

Improving cash flow is key to aggressively paying down debt.

The Atlantic

The Logic of the ‘9 to 5’ Is Creeping Into the Rest of the Day

How free time gets conscripted into the service of work.

The Hustle

How Private Equity May Affect Your 401(k)

A new executive order allows employer retirement funds to be invested in private equity. Here’s what that could mean for your investments.

NPR

Counting Steps for Health? Here’s How Many You Really Need

Counting steps is easy using a phone, a wearable or fitness tracker. And scientists have lots of data to figure out how many daily steps you need to improve health. Here’s what they’ve found.