Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Greater Good Magazine

A Healthy Social Life Goes Beyond Friends and Family

When we have a variety of social interactions—with not just intimates, but acquaintances and strangers—we may be happier and healthier for it.

MEL Magazine

Why Is It So Much Harder to Be Nice to Ourselves Than to Other People?

Psychologists have the answer — and, for once, a fairly straightforward solution.

Women’s Health

These 10 Breathing Exercises Can Help You Feel Calmer Right Now

In case you need to take a breather.

Culture Study

“Other Countries Have Social Safety Nets. The U.S. Has Women.”

Anne Helen Petersen and Jessica Calarco discuss how mothers are experiencing and responding to pandemic-related disruptions in their normal routines.

Outside

A Fast Mile Is More Impressive Than a Slow Marathon

There’s something a little gimmicky about celebrating distance purely for distance’s sake.

BBC Worklife

Why Overly Kind and Moral People Can Rub You up the Wrong Way

‘Do-gooders’ are often judged harshly. Why do we resent their acts of altruism or question their motives?

Narratively

The Secret Sisterhood of Offshore Oil Workers

Living on a remote oil platform 60 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico is no easy assignment. Now imagine being one of the first women to ever step on board.

Popular Mechanics

Genetically Modified Pigs Might Save Your Life

The FDA is officially on board with GMO pig drugs—and maybe more.

CityLab

A Blueprint for Better Bike Lanes

Protected bike lanes have gone mainstream in US cities. A traffic engineering guidebook invites them to think even bigger.

Fast Company

Could Time-Blocking Replace Your To-Do List?

This is how to schedule your workday to get the most done.

Fatherly

These Baby Names Were Everywhere In the 90s. Now They’ve Almost Vanished.

For 14 years, these names reigned supreme — what happened?

Scientific American

What Does Your Dog Really Want?

With MRI, scientists are beginning to answer that question in a much more sophisticated way.

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

Saturday, June 7

The New York Times

The Ethical Minefield of Testing Infants for Incurable Diseases

Screening can now determine their risk for an ever-growing list of conditions — including ones we can’t do much about.

NBC News

Planned Parenthood Provides Basic Health Care. If They Close, Where Will Many Women Go?

Citing deep funding cuts, at least 200 Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide are at risk.

The Dial

Brazil’s Trafficked Babies

Why is it so easy to take an infant out of the country?

Epicurious

Who Invented Mac and Cheese? This American Favorite Has Ancient Roman Roots

A look at the historical fallacies, truths, and wishful thinking about the queen of comfort foods.

The Walrus

My Mother Was My Critic

She made me wear lipstick and perfect my posture. I loved—and hated—her for it.

Rolling Stone

The Best Albums of 2025 So Far

The best albums of 2025 so far: Eric Church, Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and more.

Esquire

Inside the Weird and Wonderful World of Miniatures

Once the province of retirees, miniatures are now trending on TikTok, starring on reality television, and selling for six figures. Here, we take you inside the big moment for these tiny worlds.

The Conversation

Can a Robot Help You Age Better?

Can a robot help you remember your pills, lift shopping, and even offer companionship? Yes – if it’s co-designed by its users.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Vanity Fair

Princess Leonor Arrives in New York After Five Months at Sea

On Wednesday, the heir to the Spanish throne and her fellow midshipmen docked in New York, the ship’s last stop in America.

NBC News

The Pacers Showed a Rare Weakness. They Won by Relying on Their Biggest Strength

Indiana defeated Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals despite leading by only 0.3 seconds.

CNET

How to Prepare If You Think You Might Lose Your Job

If you’re worried about layoffs in an uncertain economy, safeguard your money with this action plan.

CNET

The Top Black Colleges in the Country Are Still Living in Internet Deserts. Here’s What to Know

Many historically Black colleges and universities struggle to access high-speed internet. Here’s how one group is trying to change that.

Popular Mechanics

Will Your Air Conditioner Last Through Summer? These Telltale Signs Mean It’s Time to Replace It.

If you’ve had your a/c for 5 to 10 years, it may be worth investing in a new unit.

Martha Stewart

What to Do With Chipped China to Give Damaged Dishware a New Life

Don’t toss that chipped mug or cracked plate just yet. Discover clever, creative ways to repurpose damaged dishware—from wall art and desk organizers to bird feeders and handmade gifts. Give your old ceramics a beautiful second life.

Harper's Bazaar

We’ve Entered a New Era of Plastic Surgery Transparency. Finally.

It’s no longer enough to know if someone went under the knife. We now want to know what they did and who did it.

Kotaku

Thief VR Is Not What We Wanted, but It Cannot Harm the Glory of the Original Trilogy

Thief: The Dark Project, Thief II: The Metal Age, and Thief: Deadly Shadows remain perfect games

Fast Company

How to Use AI to Find Your Next Job

AI can be your smartest job-hunting partner—helping you explore new roles, clarify your goals, research companies, polish materials, and prepare for interviews.

Inverse

Here’s Every Game Getting a Switch 2 Update So Far, Including Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Just before the release of Nintendo Switch 2, over a dozen original Switch games have received updates for enhanced performance, or more.

Bustle

Everything to Know About ‘Wicked: For Good’

The ‘Wicked’ movies starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will be a two-part experience. Here’s everything to know, from trailers to release dates.

Inc. Magazine

He Got Rejected for His Dream Job. His Response Is a Master Class in Emotional Intelligence

Frustrated after a rejection, Christopher Strebel wrote the company founder directly. His email is a case study in how to understand and manage emotions.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

NPR

Divorce Lawyers Say It’s a Seasonal Business. Here’s Why.

Divorce lawyers know certain times of the year are much busier than others.

Time

10 Things to Say When Someone Won’t Get Off Their Phone

Trying to talk to someone stuck on their phone is such a universal experience, there’s a name for it: “phubbing,” short for “phone snubbing,” or ignoring someone in favor of a phone.

CNBC

With an ‘Above Normal’ Hurricane Season Forecast, Check These 3 Things in Your Home Insurance Policy

Hurricane season began on June 1. Now is the time to take a look at your homeowners insurance policy and make sure you're well covered.

The Associated Press

What I Learned About Getting a Hearing Aid

It might start when you realize you can’t hear the doorbell, or certain ringtones. Conversation sounds garbled.

Stylist

The dos and don’ts of OOO etiquette, so you don’t ruin your (or anyone else’s) holiday

Summer holiday season is upon us. These are your out-of-office dos and don’ts.

HuffPost

Hand Sanitizer Isn’t As Effective at Killing Germs As You Think — Here’s What You Need to Know

Plenty of different types of viruses and bacteria are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers. And they can make you very sick.

Well+Good

Not Only Do You Deserve a Little Treat—There Are Benefits, Too

Enjoying little sweet treats has gone viral on social media, but are there any physical and emotional benefits to treating yourself? Expert dietitians and mental health professionals weigh in here.

Harvard Business Review

Why Employees Work While Sick—and How Leaders Can Stop It

New research suggests that presenteeism isn’t simply a matter of personal choice or lack of sick leave—it’s a structural problem rooted in how jobs are designed and workplace expectations are managed.

NPR

A Surprising Trick to Making Hard Choices: Try Thinking Less

The tactic may seem counterintuitive, but it can help you make tough decisions faster and with more confidence, says decision coach Nell Wulfhart.

Business Insider

New Data Confirms It: Companies Are Hiring Less in Roles That AI Can Do

Most people assume it will take years for AI to reshape the job landscape. But tasks that chatbots can do are already vanishing from job postings.

The Atlantic

You Don’t Know Yourself As Well As You Think You Do

The dream of perfect self-knowledge is unattainable, and chasing it too doggedly can leave you more confused and stuck than when you started.

Inc. Magazine

6 Side Hustles That Could Take Off as Tariffs Grow

The full effect of the Trump tariffs likely won’t be seen in the U.S. for a few months, but the impact is already being felt on some products and at some retailers. Prices are inching higher despite temporary pauses on the highest duties in products from China and the European Union.