Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

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.

The Atlantic

Why Some People Take Breakups Harder Than Others

Part of it depends on whether they believe personality is fixed or constantly changing.

Scientific American

What Does Your Dog Really Want?

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

Stylist

Should You Use Castor Oil for Your Skin? Our Beauty Team Investigates

Castor oil has gained a reputation in hair care for its ability to help your hair grow and shine. But could the benefits extend to skincare? We spoke to a dermatologist to find out.

Darius Foroux

This Is How I Form Good Habits That Actually Stick

Where you are in your life is a result of your habits.

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.

Nir Eyal

When Distraction is a Good Thing

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

Quanta Magazine

The Subtle Art of the Mathematical Conjecture

It’s an educated guess, not a proof. But a good conjecture will guide math forward, pointing the way into the mathematical unknown.

Popular Mechanics

Genetically Modified Pigs Might Save Your Life

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

Outdoor Life

How to Tie a Square Knot

This simple connection will come in handy for a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Nautilus

Empathy, Morality, Community, Culture—Apes Have It All

Primatologist Frans de Waal takes exception with human exceptionalism.

Aeon

Anger Is Temporary Madness: The Stoics Knew How to Curb It

Anger is a complicated emotion, but one you can learn to control. Here’s how.

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, June 8

Allure

How to Lucid Dream (and Enjoy It), According to Experts

Contrary to what TikTok says, it doesn't have to be scary.

Atmos

The Science And Symbolism of a Whale Fall

When a whale dies, its body creates a new mini ecosystem on the ocean floor—a process full of biological and poetic lessons.

The Dial

Brazil’s Trafficked Babies

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

The Guardian

‘Do You Have a Family?’

Midlife with no kids, ageing parents – and no crisis.

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.

Vogue

Dance Aerobics Is So Deeply Uncool…and That’s Why I Love It

My instructor at L.A.’s Pony Sweat, a “fiercely noncompetitive dance aerobics practice,” told us to “fuck the moves” and with that exhortation came freedom.

Pocket Collections

How to Do Less at Home

Separating laundry? Pre-rinsing dishes? You just don’t need to. These articles will free you — and tell you why.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Fast Company

The Real Data Revolution Hasn’t Happened Yet

Big data may be everywhere, but most enterprises haven’t truly unlocked its potential. Thanks to advances in accelerated computing, that’s about to change.

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.

Business Insider

The Best Red-Carpet Looks of 2025 So Far

Halfway through 2025, let’s take a look at some of the best fashion moments celebrities like Blake Lively and Lauren Sánchez have had on red carpets.

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.

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.

Elle

Everything You Need to Know About the Zodiac’s Earth Signs: Virgo, Capricorn, and Taurus

“All the earth signs want to make sure their people are okay,” says astrologer Tali Edut.

Vanity Fair

Pete Hegseth’s “Warrior” Rebranding Seems More About Rewriting American History

After ordering the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, the Defense Secretary is reportedly considering doing the same for vessels honoring other civil rights trailblazers, falling in line with Donald Trump’s attempt to reframe the America’s past.

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.

Time

What Trump’s Harvard Visa Restriction Means for International Students

The U.S. President has launched his latest attack on the country’s most prestigious university.

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.

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.

The Guardian

From Strength Training in Your 20s to Yoga in Your 80s: How to Reach Peak Fitness at Any Age

Can you hold a 60-second plank? How about tying your shoelace in mid-air? Here’s how to test your fitness in every decade of life.

The Guardian

I Found Myself Googling: Can Brain Cancer Cause Hiccups? How I Fell Into a Hypochondriac Rabbit Hole

Begging doctors for tests, I worried that I was missing something and heading for an early death. Would understanding the roots of my health anxiety lead me to a cure?