Pocket-Worthy Reads

Stories to fuel your mind

Literary Hub

Read a (Love) Letter From Herman Melville to Nathaniel Hawthorne

There has been much speculation about this friendship.

The War Zone

Meet The Shadowy Ukrainian Unit That Sabotages Targets Inside Russia

Known as the Shaman Battalion, these Ukraine special operations troops infiltrate into Russian territory to strike key targets.

Harvard Business Review

How to Beat Procrastination

If you only focus on the task, there’s always an easier one. But the pestering task often has the greater reward.

Fast Company

The Surprising Psychology of Dieting and Plate Design

New research is challenging long-held assumptions about how our eyes influence our stomachs.

Bicycling

Here’s Exactly How to Do a Squat (Plus Variations to Try)

From proper form to advanced options, here’s a complete guide to this functional exercise.

Popular Science

6 Clever Ways to Reuse Silica Gel Packets

Reduce plastic waste while keeping your prized possessions safe from moisture damage.

MEL Magazine

The Inside Story of ‘Animaniacs’: How We Got Yakko, Wakko and Dot

Steven Spielberg might have produced the zany kids’ show, but it was creator Tom Ruegger’s three kids who gave the Animaniacs life.

The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)

Why We Fall in Love

“All love stories are frustration stories… To fall in love is to be reminded of a frustration that you didn’t know you had.”

Epicurious

Why Are So Many Cakes Named After Fabric?

Silk, satin, lace, and fur, but make it cake.

Country Living

Millionaires’ Shortbread Recipe

Three layers of rich goodness—buttery shortbread, gooey caramel, and a thick layer of dark chocolate—make up this well-heeled dessert.

Stylist

Stiff Back? Try These 7 Daily Pilates Exercises That Instructors Swear by for Easing Back Pain

A daily pilates practice doesn’t have to take hours and hours – you can make huge improvements to back mobility with just a few stretches.

Domino

11 Craigslist Shopping Tips So Good That We Almost Didn’t Share Them

Go forth and thrift.

Popular Collections

Curated guides to the best reads on the web

Pocket Collections

The Surprisingly Strange History of Thanksgiving (and Other Turkey Day Trivia)

Dig into this collection of fascinating Thanksgiving reads while you’re waiting for dinner to cook.

Pocket Collections

12 No-Fail Pumpkin Recipes That Aren’t Just Another Pie

From savory pumpkin hummus to pumpkin pecan polvorones, these fall-ready recipes are simple—without being basic.

Pocket Collections

25 Delectable Side Dishes For Your Thanksgiving Table

A mix of classic and classic-with-a-twist sides sure to be the stars of your holiday spread.

Pocket Collections

5 Things You Might Not Know About Your Phone

Nifty tips to squeeze more juice out of a dying battery, how to properly hold your device, and why to save those big purchases for your laptop (the millennials are on to something!).

Pocket Collections

15 Fall Desserts That Will Make You Question Your Loyalty to Pie

No one will blame you for giving into the temptation of cardamom roasted pears, beetroot chocolate cake, or pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

Pocket Collections

Pocket’s Top-Saved Stories of the Week: November 23, 2024

Cormac McCarthy’s secret muse, how to be a better gift-giver, and why some people can’t stand the sound of their own voice.

Pocket Collections

How to Actually Enjoy Your Next Flight. (Or Just Not Hate It.)

Everything you need for a comfortable in-flight experience, from sleep advice to a refresh on passenger rights—and etiquette rules.

Pocket Collections

The Vegan Holiday Feast Even Meat Eaters Will Love

Flavor abounds in these vegan recipes for every course of your holiday meal, featuring standout mains, scrumptious sides, and delectable desserts.

Pocket Collections

15 Pie Recipes Perfect for Cozy Weather

These autumnal flavors—apples, cranberries, pecans and more—are a perfect addition to any seasonal spread.

Pocket Collections

What’s It Like to Live at the Edge of the World?

Dispatches from people living in and journeying to the ends of the Earth: befriending roombas at the South Pole, online shopping in remote islands, and spending 500 days alone in a cave.

Pocket Collections

How to Make Budgeting Feel Less Like a Chore

From the best apps to track your spending to how you can combat inflation at the grocery store.

Pocket Collections

Pocket’s Top-Saved Stories of the Week

What people get wrong about ancient Rome, the “re-buttonization” of dashboards, and the pros and cons of washing bananas.

Today’s Pocket Hits

Friday, November 29

Mental Floss

The Best Time to Go Thrift Shopping, According to Goodwill

There’s a perfect time to go to your local thrift store if you want to find the best deals.

SELF

Are Protein Shakes Actually Good for You?

Do they have any nutritional benefits? Side effects? We talked to sports dietitians to find out.

Nature

Turning a Scientific Lens on the Wonderful World of Fungi

A mesmerizing global tour will make readers question what they think they know about mushrooms.

The New Yorker

How Old Age Was Reborn

“The Golden Girls” reframed senior life as being about socializing and sex. But did the cultural narrative of advanced age as continued youth twist the dial too far?

Vulture

Every Denzel Washington Movie, Ranked

Of all A-list stars, Denzel Washington’s career may be the most enviable.

The New Yorker

Lake Tahoe’s Bear Boom

The vacation hot spot has been overrun by people—whose habits are drawing fast-moving animals with sharp claws and insatiable appetites.

Cowboy State Daily

Who is D.B. Cooper? New Evidence May Crack One Of America’s Greatest Mysteries

A parachute found in an outbuilding in North Carolina could be the new evidence that may crack the 53-year-old case.

The Verge

How to Watch a Baby: A Digital Comic

When I went to the hospital, I understood that I'd be sent home with a vulnerable being who would require constant care, but it was impossible to prepare for what that actually felt like.

Recommended Reads

Curated by Pocket

Rest of World

How Singapore Became the Ideal Testing Ground for Self-Driving Cars

The tiny country has embraced autonomous vehicles as a way to overcome labor shortages and use its scarce land more efficiently.

ESPN

How Late Bloomer Gyökeres Became Europe’s Hottest Striker

Viktor Gyökeres was playing in England’s second tier 18 months ago. Now, aged 26, he’s wanted by Europe’s elite. What’s behind his rise, and where could he go?

The New York Times

Trump Team’s Rejection of a Transition Deal Adds a Wrinkle to Its Transparency Pledges

The refusal by President-elect Donald J. Trump’s team to sign a transition agreement with the General Services Administration means that, despite the team’s pledges to abide by several transparency customs of presidential handovers, it isn’t legally bound to follow through on its promises.

The Cut

‘Is It Even Worth It to Try and Date Again After Divorce?’

You don’t have to if you don’t want to. But don’t let your fears hold you back.

CNBC

‘The Key to Becoming Rich’: How to Conquer a Money Bias That Could Be Holding You Back, From a Financial Psychologist

To grow your wealth, understand how your mind works, says CFP Brad Klontz, psychologist and author of “Start Thinking Rich.”

Andscape

Dallas Mavericks Guard Kyrie Irving Learns How to Lead a Shoe Brand With Anta

Eight-time NBA All-Star is ‘trying to evolve the vision’ as chief creative officer of Anta’s basketball division.

The Atlantic

Thanksgiving Recipes Keep Getting More Outlandish

Trying something new is exciting, but there’s also a financial incentive behind the need to churn out unfamiliar dishes.

The Ringer

Pass the Gravy, Pass the Remote: A Music Documentary Thanksgiving Survival Guide

With Ringer Films’ ‘Yacht Rock’ documentary ready to set sail over the Thanksgiving weekend, we decided to bring to you a list of emotional-support music films to help get you through the season.

Parents

Mandy Moore’s ‘Not Sustainable’ Toddler Challenge Is Actually Very Common

Mandy Moore shares her relatable kid sleep challenge and experts weigh in with actionable tips to help.

New York Magazine

Matt Gaetz Stays ‘In the Fight’ … by Selling Videos on Cameo

Head to the personalized video site to see Gaetz in How to Lose Attorney General in 10 Days.

Martha Stewart

16 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes That Go Beyond Turkey Sandwiches

From a hearty brunch casserole and turkey pie to salad and desserts, these Thanksgiving leftover recipes will transform holiday extras into tasty new meals.

Literary Hub

On Small Business Saturday, Consider the Small Press

The literary ecosystem can feel vast and overwhelming within an industry in major flux, constantly threatened by corporate greed and inefficiency.

Life Hacks

Tips for better living

GQ

What's the Best Workout For Longevity?

Longevity doctors and other experts weighed in on the ideal life-extension workout routine.

Time

The Art of Protecting Your Peace

Underreacting isn’t about maintaining perfect composure. It’s about limiting harm in times of turmoil, writes Courtney Carver.

Time

What Are the Symptoms of Bird Flu?

The virus has sickened 55 people in the U.S.

SELF

7 Signs a Loved One May Be Developing Dementia That a Lot of People Miss

New issues with driving, money, and sleep can all indicate something’s up.

The Washington Post

Inside Your Body, Aging Unfolds at Remarkably Different Rates

Recently, scientists at Stanford University began to wonder why identical lab mice, bred with the same DNA and brought up in identical conditions, wound up so different in their old age. Some mice could ace cognitive tests and race around on their running wheels.

CNET

You Don’t Have to Pay for More Gmail Storage: How to Get Back 15GB for Free

Instead of deleting those spam emails and unsubscribing to newsletters you stopped reading, try this hack.

Slate

Welcome to the Human Doom Loop

How to break the cycle of virtual life that is making us lonely and unhappy.

SELF

Why You’re Waking up With Anxiety and How to Start Each Day Less Frazzled

The quality of your sleep and the size of your to-do list can both play a role.

CNBC

Renters Struggle to Build Wealth, Report Finds. Here’s How They Can Boost Financial Wellbeing

Renters typically have a much smaller net worth compared with homeowners in the U.S. Yet, there are ways for tenants to build wealth as they rent.

The New Yorker

Why Is Gratitude So Difficult?

When we feel grateful, we’re doing something that’s more complex than it seems.

Time

How to Navigate the Holidays on a Weight-Loss Drug

Instead of adjusting or skipping doses, try tweaking your diet and exercise habits.

NPR

Trump Has Promised Lower Taxes. These Are 3 Ways It Could Impact You

From “no tax on tips” to Social Security, Donald Trump has made a range of promises about the taxes Americans will pay. We take a look at three changes we could see in the months ahead.