Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Harvard Business Review

How to Disagree with Someone More Powerful than You

Conflicting with your superiors may not be a daily occurrence, but there are times when it’s necessary. Here’s some tips on how to go about it.

Mental Floss

The Origins of 25 Monsters, Ghosts, and Spooky Things

From myths to literature to giant squid, here’s how some of our favorite eerie creatures and legends got their start.

The Washington Post

How Do We Get Our 4-Year-Old To Stop Negotiating and Respect Our Rules?

She’s only 4, but she’s already trying to negotiate the rules and her punishments with her parents.

Culture Study

How Email Became Work

The inbox devours everything it comes in contact with, especially leisure time.

Quartz

Professional Romance Novelists Can Write 3,000 Words a Day. Here’s How They Do It.

Insider tips from some of the best hustlers in publishing.

Darius Foroux

10 Practical Answers to 10 Powerful Questions

The other day I received an email from a reader with 10 questions she wanted me to answer. No introduction. No small talk. Just a list of questions and “Thanks for your time” at the bottom.

Scientific American

Why Are Victorian Houses Haunted?

There was a time when the Victorian facade was a prevalent status symbol in the United States.

Quanta Magazine

Cosmic Triangles Open a Window to the Origin of Time

A close look at fundamental symmetries has exposed hidden patterns in the universe. Physicists think that those same symmetries may also reveal time’s original secret.

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.

Aeon

Think Everyone Died Young in Ancient Societies? Think Again

People in the past were not all dead by 30. Ancient documents confirm this.

Outside

It’s Okay to Be Good and Not Great

What if striving to be great is what’s holding you back?

Men’s Health

The Great Millennial Strength Crisis

Many guys in their 20s and 30s are historically weak, which could have a disastrous impact on health and life spans. But it’s not too late to change.

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, June 9

The New Yorker

Amelia Earhart’s Reckless Final Flights

The aviator’s publicity-mad husband, George Palmer Putnam, kept pushing her to risk her life for the sake of fame.

SELF

I’m a Neurologist. Here’s the One Thing I Do Every Day for My Long-Term Brain Health

If you’re worried about cognitive decline, add this to your routine.

The Dial

Brazil’s Trafficked Babies

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

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 Week

Where Will International Students Go If Not the US?

China, Canada and the UK are ready to educate the world.

Real Simple

How to Pick a Watermelon at the Store That's Sweet and Ripe

Learn how to tell if a watermelon is a good one with these simple tips.

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.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

CNET

He Got Us Talking to Alexa. Now He Wants to Kill Off AI Hallucinations

British tech pioneer William Tunstall-Pedoe wants to solve the biggest problem in artificial intelligence.

ESPN

‘Always Competitively Present’: Alex Caruso’s Journey From G League to Veteran Leader

From G League hopeful to veteran defensive stalwart, Alex Caruso's leadership shines on one of the league's youngest teams.

ESPN

The Incredible Never-Before-Told Story of the Home Run Ball That Turned Derek Jeter Into ‘Mr. November’

Fistfuls of flying dollars, an alert vendor and a Jeter signature. Here's the tale of one of MLB's most famous artifacts.

The Conversation

Esa at 50: How the Space Agency Helped Keep Europe at the Frontiers of Science

Space exploration would have been poorer without the successes of Esa.

ProPublica

How the Head of an Embattled Tennessee Youth Detention Center Held on to Power for Decades

Richard L. Bean remained in his perch as the superintendent of the juvenile detention center that bears his name despite scandals, investigations and the use of seclusion to punish children.

CBS News

What Is an Autopen? Here’s What to Know About the Devices Used by Presidents, Writers and More.

President Trump is putting a political spotlight on autopens, machines that have been used for decades by presidents, writers and more.

NBC News

Celebrity Breast Cancer Announcements Highlight Rising Rates in Young Women

Breast cancer rates are rising faster in younger than older women. Doctors say multiple factors are likely at play, including lifestyle, hormones and environmental exposures.

Time

The Worst Thing to Say to Someone Who’s Depressed

Researchers still don’t understand what, exactly, causes depression. But what is clear is this: It doesn’t have anything to do with waking up and simply choosing not to appreciate all the good things in life.

Axios

Trump Might Be the Most Accessible President Ever — for Spies or Scammers

Trump picks up even when he doesn’t know who’s calling.

PS

The $6,100 Cost of Being in a Long-Distance Relationship

Maintaining a long-distance relationship can be costly, but worth it. Here’s how much it cost one person in an LDR over the course of a year.

ZDNet

5 Things I Always Consider Before Buying an Air Purifier - After Testing Many

Concerned about air quality - especially with raging wildfires? Here’s my advice for finding the right one for your home.

Axios

The Great Poaching: America’s Brain Drain Begins

China and Europe are recruiting heavily from U.S. labs.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

CNBC

When It Comes to Saving, Gen Z Asks: ‘What’s the Point?’ That’s Dangerous, Expert Says

Young adults are feeling disillusioned about their economic prospects. That malaise can be dangerous, experts said.

Vox

First Comes Marriage. Then Comes a Flirtatious Colleague.

What to do when your partner wants an open marriage and you don’t.

SELF

6 Daily Habits Doctors Say Will Help You Live Longer

From small diet tweaks to a simple strategy for fitting in more movement.

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.

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.

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.