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Pocket’s Top-Saved Stories of January 2024

Why it’s tough to feel rested, how to deliver a eulogy or other challenging speech, and the man rich Ivy League hopefuls are banking on for help.

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Looking for some great weekend reading? These are the articles Pocket readers saved most in January.

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‘My Life Will Be Short. So on the Days I Can, I Really Live’: 30 Dying People Explain What Really Matters

Facing death, these people found a clarity about how to live.

Rest Takes Hard Work

“Learning to rest well is actually hard. Why is that? And how can we rest better?” writes Alex Soojung-Kim Pang.

How to Give a Eulogy, and Other Difficult Speeches, According to a Stanford Business School Lecturer

Matt Abrahams shares what he learned about speaking during emotionally charged situations after delivering his father’s eulogy.

How to Microdose Movement

Sitting for too long is bad for your health. Here’s how to move your body throughout the day.

Inventing the Perfect College Applicant

For $120,000 a year, Christopher Rim promises to turn any student into Ivy bait.

How to Find Hidden Cameras in Hotels and House Rentals: We Tested Five Ways — and One’s the Clear Winner [Week of 1/27]

CNBC teamed with a spycam company, who hid 27 cameras in a house. We tested five methods, one which found more cameras than the other four methods, combined.

Use the ‘FORD’ Method to Master Small Talk [Week of 1/27]

While some people have no problem striking up a conversation with a stranger in the supermarket checkout line or on public transit, small talk doesn't come as naturally for others—especially those dealing with social anxiety.

How a 27-Year-Old Codebreaker Busted the Myth of Bitcoin’s Anonymity [Week of 1/27]

Once, drug dealers and money launderers saw cryptocurrency as perfectly untraceable. Then a grad student named Sarah Meiklejohn proved them all wrong—and set the stage for a decade-long crackdown.

The Heart Rate Secret: What It Reveals About Our Health – From Sleep and Alcohol to Fight or Flight [Week of 1/27]

There are more and more ways to monitor our heart rates, but what do the numbers really mean? Here is everything you need to know.

The Pros and Cons of Washing Your Clothes Inside-Out [Week of 1/27]

There are more pros than cons, but it's not always the best course of action.

Popular Myths About Sleep, Debunked [Week of 1/20]

Is it OK to exercise before you hit the hay? Sleep for less than 5 hours a night? Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins sets the record straight to help you get better sleep.

The Tyranny of the Algorithm: Why Every Coffee Shop Looks the Same [Week of 1/20]

The long read: From the generic hipster cafe to the ‘Instagram wall’, the internet has pushed us towards a kind of global ubiquity – and this phenomenon is only going to intensify.

How to Write a Book Right Now [Week of 1/20]

Jami Attenberg and the mysterious case of the 1000 words.

Does Double-Dipping Really Spread Germs? [Week of 1/20]

Or is it just, um, rude?

The Most Common Causes of Death in the Home (and How to Prevent Them) [Week of 1/20]

Your house is supposed to be a refuge and a shelter. But there are a surprising number of ways your house can kill you.

After Two Decades Undercover, She’s Ready to Tell the Real Story of Human Trafficking [Week of 1/13]

She spent years fighting human trafficking as an undercover agent. Now she's telling the real story of some of the most heinous crimes in the country.

What to Say to Get Your Bills Lowered [Week of 1/13]

And when it’s worth your time to try.

There’s a Huge Covid Surge Right Now and Nobody Is Talking About It [Week of 1/13]

The US is in the midst of the largest Covid surge since Omicron, but with minimal testing and good population immunity, the wave is largely being ignored.

The Stanley Water Bottle Craze, Explained [Week of 1/13]

The Stanley brand is selling more than a tumbler.

24 Nifty Tips to Make 2024 Even Brighter [Week of 1/13]

Surprising and creative ways to help boost your health and happiness in the new year.

The ‘Wealth Transfer’ From Boomers Won’t Save Gen X and Millennials [Week of 1/6]

Experts say baby boomers will give more than $50 trillion to their heirs. But for many, health care costs will claim the bulk of that wealth.

The Year the Millennial Internet Died [Week of 1/6]

From Tumblr to Gawker, the sites and voices that defined the 2010s are gone or changed. There is no happy ending to this story.

Don’t Quit Booze – Just Drink Differently: 15 Ways to Change Your Life Without Trying All That Hard [Week of 1/6]

We ask the experts for the small life changes that can make a big difference.

‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7 [Week of 1/6]

A Times investigation uncovered new details showing a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the attacks on Israel.

Pack Your Memories Into Your Disaster Bag [Week of 1/6]

Survivors of disasters can benefit from preserving meaningful parts of their life.

Want More? Check Out Pocket’s Most-Read Articles of 2023

Exploring what’s breaking couples up, why some people get away with doing nothing at work, and how to feel alive again.

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