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It’s Been 25 Years Since 9/11—These Are the 10 Most Powerful Stories About the Tragedy

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You’ll Never Guess How the Football Huddle Got Its Start—Here’s the Fascinating History Behind This Strategy

I firmly believe that the only good thing about the end of summer is the beginning of football season . Though I’m a die-hard New York Giants fan (it’s been a rough few years, but things are gonna turn around!), I’ll watch any and every game I can. On Sundays—and Monday and Thursday nights—from Week 1 through the postseason, you’ll find me near a TV, very likely yelling at the announcers. But even if the extent of your football knowledge is the name of the team your family roots for, you’ve seen the huddle: The action ends, the players wander back toward one another, and suddenly they’re standing shoulder to shoulder in a little circle. There’s some serious discussion, a few nods, and then they break apart and race to their positions. It happens over and over, in every football game. It’s such a familiar part of the sport that most of us never stop to wonder about it. But why do football players huddle? As it turns out, this f...

Watch The Reader’s Digest Escalator Interview with Author Ayad Akhtar

Ayad Akhtar is the kind of writer who refuses to play it safe. The Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and novelist has spent his career tackling some of the thorniest questions about faith and what it means to belong in America. His debut novel, American Dervish , followed a Muslim boy growing up in Wisconsin and wrestling with faith and first love . Then came Disgraced , his blistering play about a successful Pakistani American lawyer whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel over the course of one explosive dinner party. Since then, Akhtar has taken on everything from religion and family ( The Who & The What ) to Wall Street excess ( Junk ) to geopolitics and capitalism ( The Invisible Hand ). In other words: If there’s a complicated subject most people would rather avoid at dinner, Akhtar has probably written something brilliant about it. And he’s got the accolades to prove it. In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Disgraced , Akhtar h...

The Jellycat Christmas Collection Just Dropped—and These Festive Plushies Won’t Last Long

Yes, Halloween and Thanksgiving still have their moment in the spotlight before winter officially takes over. But if you’re the type who likes to get a head start on holiday shopping (and spare your December self a little stress), now is the perfect time to snag a few Christmas gifts while they’re still in stock. Plus, spreading out your shopping can be a whole lot kinder to your wallet. Naturally, beloved plush brand Jellycat is already getting into the holiday spirit. The 2026 Christmas collection is already here, bringing plenty of festive cuteness. Here’s everything you need to know. What is the 2026 Christmas Jellycat collection? This year’s holiday collection is packed with cuddly winter creatures, festive Amusables, and all the cozy, Christmasy charm you’d expect from Jellycat. And as always, the beloved plush toys are made with high-quality fabrics under ethical working conditions. The new friends for 2026 include: Amuseables Mullover Spiced Drin...

Here’s the Science Behind the Sunday Scaries—And How to Banish Them So You Can Actually Enjoy Your Entire Weekend

It usually starts with one seemingly simple thought. Tomorrow is Monday. One minute, you’re enjoying the last stretch of your weekend. The next, you’re mentally opening your inbox , rehearsing tomorrow’s meeting in your head and remembering those three things you swore you would deal with on Friday and somehow never got to. Your shoulders tense. Your stomach twists. The weekend was supposed to last until you were nestled in bed, but your brain is already sounding Monday morning’s alarm clock. That familiar shift from relaxed to vaguely doomed is what people mean when they talk about the Sunday scaries. And if you’ve ever Googled “ what are the Sunday scaries ” while actively experiencing them, you’re far from alone. In a 2025 survey by Adobe of 1,004 full-time U.S. employees, 82% said they had experienced the Sunday scaries. And it gets worse: 42% said they had lost sleep over them, and 35% reported physical symptoms such as headaches, ten...

Don’t Throw Away That Old Phone! Here’s How to Turn It into a Free Security Camera

Chances are, you’re holding on to an old iPhone or a cracked Android tablet you haven’t used in … let’s just say a really long time. Maybe you think it could come in handy, especially if your new device ever goes on the fritz, or that it could be worth money someday. Or maybe you just don’t know how to dispose of it properly . All legit reasons, even as the tech clutter keeps (and keeps) accumulating. Well, we have some good news for you: Your time has finally come—and you’re about to save a bundle with this clever upcycling hack. I have turned old devices into everything from digital photo frames to oversized TV remotes, but my favorite trick , by far, is turning them into security cameras. You can put them in a nursery like a baby monitor, watch your pets while you’re at the office or even prop them up on windowsills to keep an eye on your packages. It works like a charm, just like a pricey Nest camera—except it’s free. It...