#5SmartReads - May 31, 2022

An avid reader, Shibani shares her book reviews in her Instagram stories and highlights. She's read over 65 books already this year, so she has plenty of recommendations for you. When she's not reading, you can find her attempting to grow a cut-flower garden, on her Peloton, or out walking her dogs!

The Air Conditioning Paradox (Vox)

As we officially enter summer, a lot of us will be turning on our air-conditioning. And while climate change is making us hotter, in turn requiring more air-conditioning, we are adding to the problem each time we cool off. How can we balance staying cool without heating up our planet?

Spot The Difference: The Invincible Business Of Counterfeit Goods (The Guardian)

This is a long read, but if you're interested in learning more about fakes, particularly luxury fakes, this is a good one.

The Surprising Afterlife Of Used Hotel Soap (The Hustle)

Now that we're traveling and using hotels again, do you ever wonder what happens to all those little bars of soap?

On TV, South Asian Women Are Choosing Their Own Happiness (Elle)

Sometimes the arc of cultural change can be painfully slow. When I married my non-Indian husband nearly 18 years ago (yes, we were practically children LOL) I was doing something very unexpected. Lucky for me, my parents DGAF about what other people thought, and were nothing short of 100% supportive. But back then, I was the exception. I'm happy to see more South Asian women blazing their own path, both professionally and personally, on their own terms.

Cats Actually Know Each Other’s Names, Study Suggests (Vice)

And finally, for the cute story of the day, I share this.