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Pocket’s Top Stories of May 2023

Investigating the “jobless employed,” why no two people will ever see the exact same color, and more.

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Catch up on the articles Pocket readers couldn’t put down this month.

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Why Waking Up Earlier Isn’t Necessarily Better

Morning birds aren’t morally superior to night owls.

How Some People Get Away With Doing Nothing at Work

All hail the jobless employed.

As a Therapist, I Know What’s Breaking Couples Up

How relationships come to an end and the scourge of the smartphone.

25 Nonfiction Books You Need to Read This Summer

Because novels are just made-up.

The Big Idea: Why Color Is in the Eye of the Beholder

We might think the sky is blue and trees are green, but the truth is rather stranger.

[Week of 5/27] How to Deal With Your Doom Pile

They may be trending on TikTok right now, but the concept has been around forever.

[Week of 5/27] The Best and Worst Habits for Eyesight

Are carrots good? Is blue light bad? Experts weigh in on nine common beliefs.

[Week of 5/27] I (Basically) Stopped Weeding Thanks to This Game-Changing Gardening Method

Tilling is out. ‘No Dig’ is in.

[Week of 5/27] Did Scientists Accidentally Invent an Anti-addiction Drug?

People taking Ozempic for weight loss say they have also stopped drinking, smoking, shopping, and even nail biting.

[Week of 5/27] How to Quit Cars

They crowd streets, belch carbon, bifurcate communities, and destroy the urban fabric. Will we ever overcome our addiction?

[Week of 5/20] ‘Swedish Death Cleaning’ Can Improve Your Life Right Now

It’s meant to make things easier for your loved ones after you die, but it can help you beforehand too.

[Week of 5/20] The Best Sleeping Position for Minimizing Aches and Pains

Here’s how to train yourself to lie down correctly—and why it can help.

[Week of 5/20] The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History Is Here, With Familiar (Rich) Winners

An intergenerational transfer of wealth is in motion in America — and it will dwarf any of the past.

[Week of 5/20] How to Overcome Social Anxiety

When even everyday social situations make you feel self-conscious and afraid, it’s time to try these well-tested techniques.

[Week of 5/20] The Ugly Truth Behind “We Buy Ugly Houses”

HomeVestors of America, the self-proclaimed “largest homebuyer in the U.S.,” trains its nearly 1,150 franchisees to zero in on homeowners’ desperation.

[Week of 5/13] The 25 Greatest Comedy Movies of All Time

Take a look at our list of the 25 best comedy movies of all time below, where we discuss films from such iconic filmmakers as Woody Allen, the Coen brothers, Edgar Wright, Wes Anderson and Stanley Kubrick.

[Week of 5/13] ‘I’ve Been Cleaning Houses Professionally for Over 20 Years, and These Are the Filthiest Spots in Your Home’

You clean your kitchen surfaces and bathroom floors, but when was the last time you thought to scrub your faucet heads or clean the dishwasher filter? These are among the dirtiest spaces in your home, but they often go uncleaned because people don’t know they need to be cleaned.

[Week of 5/13] Here’s How to Actually Be Kinder to Yourself

Self-compassion isn’t silly—and it can make life’s challenges so much more manageable.

[Week of 5/13] Living in a Frank Lloyd Wright House: 7 Homeowners Share Their Honest Experience

The iconic architect designed hundreds of residential properties in his career—AD spoke with seven homeowners about the ways Wright’s work impacts their lives.

[Week of 5/13] Inside the Delirious Rise of ‘Superfake’ Handbags

Can you tell the difference between a $10,000 Chanel bag and a $200 knockoff? Almost nobody can, and it’s turning luxury fashion upside down.

[Week of 5/6] ‘The Godfather of A.I.’ Leaves Google and Warns of Danger Ahead

For half a century, Geoffrey Hinton nurtured the technology at the heart of chatbots like ChatGPT. Now he worries it will cause serious harm.

[Week of 5/6] How ChatGPT and Other LLMs Work—and Where They Could Go Next

Large language models like AI chatbots seem to be everywhere. If you understand them better, you can use them better.

[Week of 5/6] How to Feel Less Lonely as You Get Older

Work and family life are no longer so busy and life can suddenly seem empty. Here are some good ways to stay connected.

[Week of 5/6] Why a Healthy Gut Is So Important For Overall Wellness

Your tummy is a surprisingly vital center of physical (and mental!) health.

[Week of 5/6] How Music Affects Your Brain

Susan Magsamen explores how music has the power to transform and enhance our brains.

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