Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

MEL Magazine

The Very Metal Ballad of Billy Mays III

Under his nomme de Bandcamp, Infinite Third, the son of the late, great television pitchman is shredding his way to his own legacy.

Popular Mechanics

Why We've Fallen for Optical Illusions for Thousands of Years

Mammoth or bison? Rabbit or duck? Ambiguous images have tricked our eyes forever.

The Conversation

5 Things You Can Do to Make Your Microbiome Healthier

Look after your gut microbes and they’ll look after you.

Literary Hub

Ray Bradbury’s Greatest Writing Advice

“I’ve had a sign over my typewriter for over 25 years now: Don’t think!”

Quanta Magazine

The Architect of Modern Algorithms

Barbara Liskov pioneered the modern approach to writing code. She warns that the challenges facing computer science today can’t be overcome with good design alone.

Bloomberg Businessweek

The Surprisingly Lucrative Business of Recycled E-Waste

In Nigeria and elsewhere, entrepreneurs are making money by dismantling electronics—and sending valuable metals back to the developed world.

Outside

Are You an Elk Parent or a Bison Parent?

The fine line between holding on and letting go.

Romper

I Did Everything Right… And Ended Up With A Picky Eater Anyway

You can’t control it, so don’t sweat it.

Truly*Adventurous

The Cowboy and the King

Can a cowboy become the greatest polo player of all time?

Apartment Therapy

Where to Start When Cleaning the Living Room

There’s no wrong way to clean. But where you start matters more than you might think.

Scott Young

What Medieval People Got Right About Learning

Apprenticeships are still around but most learning nowadays takes place in a classroom. Was it better before?

The Marginalian

Alain de Botton on Existential Maturity and What Emotional Intelligence Really Means

“The emotionally intelligent person knows that they will only ever be mentally healthy in a few areas and at certain moments...”

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

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.

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.

Texas Monthly

At 98, the Grandmother of Juneteenth Still Has Work to Do

“If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.”

Men’s Health

5 Questions Your Doctor Wishes You’d Ask

This list will help you make the most of your next appointment.

SELF

7 Ways to Heal Your Relationship With Exercise and Movement

Moving your body shouldn’t be a punishment.

The Atlantic

A Bizarre PTSD Therapy ‘Seemed Too Good to Be True’

What if overcoming trauma can be painless?

The Guardian

Will AI Wipe Out the First Rung of the Career Ladder?

Generative AI is reshaping the job market, and it’s starting with entry-level roles

The New York Times

The Man Putin Couldn’t Kill

The story of the resources that were marshaled to silence a single inconvenient voice is a terrifying reminder of what Putin, and beyond him the rising generation of autocratic rulers, are capable of.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Elle

Why Kyoto Is the Must-Visit Destination of 2025

Soaring interest in Japan has inspired new hotels that honor the city’s history.

The Verge

How College Students Built the Fastest Rubik’s Cube-Solving Robot Yet

And the Guinness World Record goes to...

Popular Science

How the Bubonic Plague Has Survived for Centuries

Scientists pinpoint a single gene.

Esquire

In Praise of the Great American Chino

Forget the flimsy, skinny stuff. We went in search of the classic trouser in all its burly, baggy glory.

The Associated Press

US- and Israeli-Backed Group Pauses Food Delivery in Gaza After Deadly Shootings

An Israeli- and U.S.-backed group has temporarily paused food delivery at its three distribution sites in Gaza.

Fast Company

How to Cultivate Genuine Self-Awareness and Propel Your Leadership

Emotional intelligence outranks IQ in high-performance leadership, argues this expert. Here’s how to develop this critical trait.

NBC News

Trans People, Local Governments and Educators Face Rising Anti-LGBTQ Hate, GLAAD Report Finds

GLAAD’s Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker also found a decrease in incidents targeting drag performers and pride symbols this past year.

Rolling Stone

His Song ‘Married in a Year’ Is a Runaway Meme. He’s Just Stoked People Are Singing Along

The Los Angeles based singer-songwriter talks about his viral song ‘Married in a Year’ and how he’s turning an online joke into an opportunity to reach more fans.

Vanity Fair

How Lilly Pulitzer Brought Palm Beach Style to the Masses

Pulitzer’s colorful shift dresses have stood the test of time, bringing a carefree, nostalgic style to the present day.

The Atlantic

Lament for the IRL Craft Shop

The closing of Joann means the loss of another destination for creative discovery—and community.

NBC News

Democratic AGs Shift Their Focus to the Next Phase of Their Legal Battle Against Trump

In an interview with NBC News, the attorneys general of three blue states laid out their priorities for taking on Trump in the courts after a rapid-fire start to his administration.

NPR

Miracle Balm or Cow Pie? What’s Behind the Beef Tallow Skincare Trend

Rendered beef fat is having a moment as a viral skincare trend. TikTok influencers claim this 'natural' product is a complexion panacea. But is it? We asked skincare experts.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

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.

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?

CNBC

Etsy CEO: People Who Make These 2 Early-Career Moves Become More Successful Than Most

Etsy CEO Josh Silverman shared the the two steps he took early in his career that set him up for later success, at Pace University's 2025 commencement ceremony.

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.

Men's Health

How to Become Mentally Ready for Anything – 3 Techniques Used by the U.S. Army

There are some important transferable skills to use for your everyday life.

Inc. Magazine

How to Effectively Return to the Office After Vacation, According to a Productivity Coach

You’ve had the most relaxing vacation over the past several days but are dreading returning to the office. Even if you absolutely love working as an entrepreneur, the sheer thought of getting back to the daily grind is enough to make you sigh.

CNBC

Social Security Checks May Be Smaller Starting in June for Some, As Student Loan Garnishments Begin

The Trump administration warned that Social Security benefits could be garnished for defaulted student loans as early as June. What to know.

CNBC

As Denmark Raises Its Retirement Age to 70, Experts Weigh in on Whether the U.S. May Follow Its Lead

Raising the retirement age to 70 would help Social Security's trust fund shortfall. But experts say an across-the-board change may hurt some beneficiaries.