An easy way to make some extra money is to sell your unused stuff. However, if you don't know when to sell certain items, you can lose out on some major cash — up to hundreds of dollars, in fact.

Luckily, INSIDER spoke to OfferUp — a popular online and mobile marketplace that rivals Craigslist— to find out what you should sell each month to make the most money possible. Check it out below, and start earning more for your stuff.

All data provided by OfferUp represents average item purchase price.

First up, January's the best month to sell your TV.

If you bought or received a new TV during the holiday season and want to sell your old one, don't wait too long. OfferUp users who sell their TV within the first month of the year earn an average of $189, compared to just $170 in June.

Sell engagement rings and other jewelry in February, just in time for Valentine's Day.

You'll earn an average of $870 if you sell an engagement ring on OfferUp in February — pretty impressive considering you'd only earn $690 if you were to sell the ring in October.

If you're itching to sell your old convertible or sports car, wait until March.

According to the DMV, convertibles and sports cars sell best in spring and summer. On OfferUp, people who sell their cars in March see less competition with other listings. They also earn $243 more on average compared to people who sell their cars in February.

Getting a Cuban cigar might become more difficult this week. 

President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to follow through on his campaign pledge to restate the importance of the 56-year-old trade embargo with Cuba, and ban tourist travel to the country, according to Politico.

In 2016, former President Barack Obama had lifted restrictions on tourists who wanted to take home the souvenir of a Cuban cigar — a prized item to the island.  

Cuba's tobacco production can be compared to Napa Valley's wine culture — it's taken seriously, and some Cuban tobacco farmers have even gained income by hosting international visitors, giving guided tours through the beautiful countryside, and an inside look at how the cigars are produced.

One such farm is the family-run and owned Montesino. Located in Pinar del Rio, a little over an hour west of Havana, the farm is one of Cuba's most renowned tobacco producers. Here's how it makes a fine Cuban cigar.

SEE ALSO: Puerto Rico just voted to become the 51st US state — here are 15 stunning photos that will make you hope that happens

Tobacco plants are generally planted late in the year, and grown for three months before picking it, leaf by leaf.

Tobacco seeds are extremly small, and each plant can produce up to 30 leaves.

Tobacco farmer Raul Valdes Villasusa shows his hands, calloused from years of hard work.

First dates are stressful. From deciding what to wear to making sure you don't have a giant zit that wants to join in on the fun (been there), you have enough to worry about. The last thing you want to stress over is making a mess of dinner, or your food making you feel more uncomfortable than you already are.

And while we would never dissuade you from ordering that messy cheeseburger, here are some first date foods that will help you keep clean, fresh, and comfortable.

Bite-sized pasta

Pasta seems like a no-no to order for a first date. But chances are you're going to find yourself at a place with pasta. Bite-sized pasta like ziti, penne, and farfalle can be a great choice, since you can stab them with your fork and that good grip will help save your outfit from stains.

If you're set on long noodles, stay away from red sauces and order a cream or oil-based sauce in case you do spill. Just be sure to pop a mint after dinner if you order a garlic-heavy dish.

Sushi

Sushi is clean, beautiful, and easy to eat. As long as you can master chopsticks, sushi makes a great first date option. You won't have to worry too much about spillage if you're careful with your movements and go light on the soy sauce.

Ginger, which is often found in sushi dishes and on the side, is great for digestion and can calm your stomach if you get the first date jitters.

Sushi offers a wide variety of options, so even if your date is vegetarian or the thought of raw fish freaks you out, you can still find a roll that works for you.

Chicken

Since red meats can leave you feeling bloated and fish can leave you smelly, chicken is the perfect option. Almost any restaurant will have a chicken dish on the menu. Just go light on the sauce if you get it, or ask for it on the side to avoid mishaps.

Fried chicken was even voted the best first date food. Which makes no sense to me, since I usually look like a wild dog when attacking a plate of fried chicken, but hey, to each their own!

The INSIDER Summary:

• These 10 spots offer a more unqiue experience than your typical flea market. 
• France is home to the largest flea market in the world, with over 180,000 visitors each weekend.
• Antiques and unique handcrafted goods are most of these market's specialties.  

There are so many routes you can take when planning your next adventure. Maybe you want to circle the globe and eat *tons* of food, or maybe you’re looking to log another exciting excursion in your personal travel journal. Thankfully, there are lots of helpful travel tips and nifty products out there for the modern-day nomad. In that spirit of adventure, we’ve come up with a globe-trotter’s guide to exceptionally amazing flea markets. Come along for an antique-filled, food-saturated, lively flea market trip around the world!

Otavalo Market in Otavalo, Ecuador

Grab a colorful handmade blanket (or three!) from this flea market known for its traditional Ecuadorian textiles. Enjoy the handcrafted goods and extraordinary charm of the locals.

Portobello Road in London, England

Solely dedicated to all things antique, Portobello Road will brighten your day with its colorful facade and leave your belly full of tasty treats.

Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey

Known for its hand-painted ceramics and gorgeous rugs, this place simply WOWs its visitors. Shop like the Turks and visit the two mosques the market houses for a memorable cultural experience.

The INSIDER Summary:

• Las Vegas got the name Sin City since gambling was illegal in 1910.
• Seattle is called the Emerald City due to its immense greenery and parks.
• Other cities in the US have nicknames with just as crazy as a background.

You’ve been throwing around the phrases Windy City, Sin City, and Big Easy for years. You even have a souvenir t-shirt with the words Big Apple printed in big block letters. Many city monikers have become part of the national vocabulary, but how much do you really know about their origins? Read on to find out the interesting back stories behind 10 major U.S. city nicknames. (And just in case you’re wondering, no, the Windy City was not named for its frigid breezes).

1. The Big Apple, New York City

Most visitors to New York City make it a point to try the city’s famous pizza, bagels, and hot dogs. Apples, however, probably aren’t factored in on the food tour. So, why is the city nicknamed after a fruit? According to the New York Public Library, the term was used to describe “something regarded as the most significant of its kids; an object of desire and ambition” in the 1800s. And while there’s a bit of debate of the exact origin -- or how it gained popularity -- the vast majority of folks note that the moniker can be traced back to the racetracks. While in New Orleans in the 1920s, a newspaper reporter by the name of John Fitz Gerald overheard some stablehands say they were going to the “big apple,” referring to New York City. He later used the catchphrase in one of his columns, and in 1924, he wrote “The Big Apple, the dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There’s only one Big Apple. That’s New York.” The term was picked up and spread around by sports columnists and musicians. In the 1970s, the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau president Charles Gillett used the term in a tourism campaign, popularizing it even further.

2. The Windy City, Chicago

Chicago’s must be called the Windy City because of the icy breezes that blow off Lake Michigan, right? While that is a literal interpretation, others think the nickname was coined elsewhere (its exact origins are unclear). One popular theory is that the term was created to call out Chicago’s locals and politicians, who were referred to as “full of hot air.” Etymologist Barry Popik has uncovered evidence that reveals the term was used as both a reference to Chicago’s weather and the city’s politicians. Newspapers dating back to the 1870s used the phrase, but the mystery still remains today.

3. City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia

This one’s pretty straightforward. The name Philadelphia combines the Greek words for love (phileo) and brother (adelphos). And William Penn, the city’s founder, is the one to thank for coming up with that. According to the Free Library of Philadelphia, Penn, who was a Quaker, envisioned a city of religious tolerance. In addition to being a strong believer in religious freedom, he also wished to live at peace with the Native Americans, and paid them justly for the rights to the city’s land.

The INSIDER Summary:

• We rounded up a list of the most controversial clothing items sold in recent years.
• Clothing from popular brands such as Urban Outfitters, T.J. Maxx, and Nike are included.

Every so often, fashion brands upset the masses by attempting to sell debatable merchandise.

While many designs were created in good faith, others have been perceived as ways to make money by ruffling feathers. Nonetheless, the internet rarely forgets.

Here are 11 examples of the worst clothing items and accessories that have left a lasting impression on the minds of consumers.

After receiving flack from the military community, Forever 21 pulled gray shirt-dresses that were designed to look like army training gear.

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https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/857718946878947330
Forever 21 made the Army PT shirt into a 'graphic tee' pic.twitter.com/UhmfAGzc77

In early May Revelist reported that alternate camouflage designs are still available for purchase online and in stores.

In 2013, Nike's bloody "Boston Massacre" shirts turned into an offensive reminder of the Boston Marathon bombings.

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The Nike "Boston Massacre" shirt is now selling on eBay for $155,000 http://t.co/Kt8kEiXH31

Nike claimed the design was intended to help New York Yankees fans celebrate the baseball team's double series sweeps against the Boston Red Sox, according to ABC News.

Despite being recalled, one eBay user made news for attempting to auction off a shirt for over $155,000.

In 2010, many alleged that Urban Outfitters promoted eating disorders with its "Eat Less" V-neck.

Tweet Embed:
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@LaurenBenton_1@_B_O_D_Y_ outraged that @UrbanOutfitters think an 'eat less' logo T shirt is acceptable fashion! pic.twitter.com/4lruUjugHR

The caption used to help sell the discontinued shirt online read, "'Eat less or more or however much you'd like in this seriously soft knit tee cut long and topped with a v-neck,"The Huffington Post reported.

Forget the typical European towns like Berlin and Madrid. Instead, treat yourself to a trip to some of the most glamorous destinations Europe has to offer, and vacation like a celebrity in hotspots like St. Tropez and Monaco.

Everyone deserves a little luxury, so check out these sophisticated spots that will have you feeling like royalty in no time. This isn't a summer vacation — it's summering.

Capri, Italy

Forget the hustle and bustle of Rome and go to this picturesque Italian island instead — a favorite destination of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Located on the stunning Bay of Naples and only accessible by ferry (or private yacht or helicopter), Capri isn't known as a celebrity vacation hotspot for nothing.

If you really want a taste of luxury, stay at the 5-star Capri Tiberio Palace Hotel and book the Bellevue Suite, where you can clink glasses of Champagne on your private terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. If you're looking for fine dining, enjoy a plate of lemon ravioli at Da Paolino, which is known as the "restaurant to the stars."

Monaco, French Riviera

You may have heard of this glamorous spot thanks to the prestigious annual Grand Prix motor race, Monte-Carlo, that it's home to, but Monaco oozes splendor year-round. Although Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, it makes up for its size in grandeur, as it attracts high rollers and is almost comically filled with yachts and luxury cars.

Located on the dreamy French Riviera, you can take a cruise across the Mediterranean coastline on a yacht, or stay on land to test your luck at one of the city's upscale casinos, such as the famous Casino of Monte-Carlo.

Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

This super tiny but stunning island on the Adriatic coast has been a well-known vacation destination for celebrities and royalty alike, and was a hotspot in the 50s-70s. Famous guests include Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and Claudia Schiffer.

Once a quiet fishing village, the whole island was bought and turned into a 5-star luxury hotel, and is now more glamorous than ever, attracting both Hollywood starlets and European royalty.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase

Right now, new customers can save 15% off their first three orders from Jet.com with the code “SAVE15” at checkout.

Eligible orders have a minimum of $35 with a maximum discount of $20, but the deal runs from now until September 1.

As usual, shipping is free for any order over $35 and thousands of essentials have two-day delivery so, unlike Amazon, you won’t need a membership to get access to the full cache of benefits.

If you're new to Jet, it's worth noting that the popular retail aggregator is one of the fastest growing e-commerce companies in the US — and that low pricing is one big reason why.

The company uses a pricing algorithm that’s designed to help their partners find ways to reduce inefficiencies and drop prices. This way, their partners are happy and their customers are, too. Sometimes when you add an item to your cart Jet will apply "extra savings" seemingly at random. Sometimes there are lower prices for those customers who opt to pay with a debit card or forgo free returns if you really want to save.

You can grab skin care and personal care items delivered in two days for much lower than their in-store price, as well as essentials like beverages, paper towels, vitamins, and snack foods in case you don’t have time for the store this week. For me, Jet is a helpful go-to for the household essentials I don’t want to use my free time grabbing and lugging home. Jet also has tech like the Fitbit, so you can get one of the best deals you're likely to find with an already low Jet price and 15% off with "SAVE15" too. 

If you want, you can add a donation to your order. Using Jet’s JetCares program, some organizations have been able to save enough to make a real difference in how much good the can do with the budget they have, such as one nonprofit that was able to double the number of diapers given to families in need each month.  

According to their most popular items, customers often come to Jet for furniture, jewelry, and smart home and audio gadgets and accessories. We rounded up some of the best items below to help you get started.

Shop the rest of Jet.com here >>

SEE ALSO: 10 must-have tech accessories under $10

Fitbit Charge 2 Activity Tracker + Heart Rate

BUY ON JET >> 

Apple Smart Watch Series 2, 42mm

BUY ON JET >>

Alps Mountaineering Meramac 2-Person Dome Tent

BUY ON JET >>

LONDON — Nigel Farage, UKIP, and the Brexit referendum may one day be counted among the saviours of the European Union.

A survey by the Pew Research Center of nearly 10,000 citizens across 10 European nations, including the UK, showed that a sharp dip in the EU's popularity was reversed after Britain voted to leave the bloc in June last year.

"Even British voters, who narrowly elected to withdraw from the EU, have markedly improved their views of the Brussels-based institution," Pew said.

The survey showed that a median of just 18% in nine major EU countries want their own country to follow the UK out of the European Union.

But chances of the UK reversing its decision to leave are dwindling. The political turmoil in the UK has not deterred Prime Minister Theresa May, who intends to lead Britain into talks with EU figures next week, while back home she tries to arrange a minority government deal with Northern Irish party the DUP.

The UK government's Brexit Secretary David Davis and the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, agreed on Thursday that official divorce talks will begin Monday, June 19.

Here are the charts:

Brexit has done more than nearly any political event since 2010 to improve the EU's popularity among its citizens. You can see the favourability boost after the referendum below, even in the UK. Brexit reversed a long-term downward trend in views of favourability towards the EU.

Only Greece, which has struggled with a sovereign debt crisis, has a less favourable view of the EU than the UK.

A median of less than one in five people say they want to leave the EU, but many more want a referendum to confirm their country's membership, strengthening the EU's political mandate.

The stars are aligning for the stock market, but not in the way bulls might like.

There are four economic indicators that show remarkable similarities to 1999, the year before the dot-com bubble burst and stocks were plunged into a bear market, says Brad McMillan, the chief investment officer of Commonwealth Financial Network in Waltham, Massachusetts, which oversees $114 billion.

While McMillan isn't making an exact prediction for the top of the stock market, he thinks investors should be increasingly conscious of how economic data is flashing warning signs.

"The tech industry is booming, unemployment is low, consumer and business confidence are high, and investors are very complacent," McMillan wrote in a blog post on Wednesday. "Now, 1999 was a good year, just as 2017 is shaping up to be a good year. With the wisdom of hindsight, though, we know that even as things were great, the seeds of the next downturn were already growing."

McMillan drew a similar parallel to 1999 in an interview with Business Insider last month. He called an equity bear market "quite possible" sometime in the next 12 to 24 months. "We could be headed for some stormy weather over the next couple years," he said. Read the full interview here.

Meanwhile, check out four charts McMillan says highlight the uncanny similarities between 1999 and present day:

Consumer confidence is high

When consumer confidence was high in 1999, it peaked the next year before quickly falling, McMillan wrote in a follow-up blog post on Thursday. Translating that scenario to current times, the market would see a similar decline in early- to mid-2018.

"Based on the current data, confidence does appear to be topping," McMillan said. "Although there are no signs of a substantial decline yet, levels are certainly no longer increasing."

Source: Commonwealth Financial Network

Business confidence is high — even more so than in 1999

McMillan once again highlights an indicator that is high at the moment but stabilizing. If the comparison to 1999 rings true, the ISM Manufacturing Index will start dropping in earnest in early- to mid-2018, he said.

Source: Commonwealth Financial Network

The Fed is providing more monetary stimulus now than it did in 1999, according to the yield curve

The spread between the 10-year and 3-month rates is tightening at the moment, and we're nearing a "trouble zone" that marks a major recessionary signal, McMillan wrote in his follow-up blog post. He also highlights that while the Fed is keen to keep hiking short-term rates, longer-term ones are showing "no real sign" of a significant increase.

Source: Commonwealth Financial Network

Have you ever used Uber, Ebay, Facebook or AirBnB? Then you are officially part of the sharing economy. 

The unofficial "economy" encompasses the ideas behind open-source software and peer-to-peer sharing.

Companies like Uber let you connect with other users in order to find a ride without talking to a big taxi company. AirBnb lets you connect with people offering rooms for rent, without having to go through a hotel.

The sharing economy is all about decentralizing the platforms where consumers communicate and exchange goods, which hopefully makes using available assets more efficient. You are no longer paying rent on your empty apartment when you go on vacation because you can use AirBnB to have someone else rent your room.

Currently, the sharing economy is worth about $250 billion and growing fast. However, Bank of America Merrill Lynch thinks it will eventually be worth $2 trillion. 

The companies that can get into this new economy early have the best chance to grow quickly, and BAML laid out those that it thinks are the best positioned to skyrocket along with the sharing economy.

Read below to find out which companies made the list:

Amazon (AMZN)

Sector: Platforms

Current Price: $960.00

Year-to-date growth: 27.74%

Other companies in the space:Alibaba

Click here to learn more about the company...

Box (BOX)

Sector: Cloud services and equipment

Current Price: $18.34

Year-to-date growth: 31.09%

Other companies in the space:IAC, Intuit

Click here to read more about the company ...

Facebook (FB)

Sector: Media

Current Price: $148.91

Year-to-date growth: 27.82%

Other companies in the space:Match Group, Netflix

Click here to learn more about the stock ...

It might be hard to imagine being worth £81 million at the age of 18, but for football's wonderkids, the figure isn't out of reach.

A leading research group in Switzerland has put together a list of estimated transfer values for the most expensive footballers in Europe — and we've singled out the highest-ranking teenagers.

Football think tank CIES Football Observatory adopts a "scientific approach" to its methodology, taking into consideration six factors when putting a price on the head of Europe's top players:

1. Player performance: The quality and consistency of their form
2. Player performance in relation to their club: Are they the star player?
3. International status: How established are they for their country?
4. Contract: Players with longer deals are more expensive
5. Age: Younger players command higher fees
6. Position: Goal scorers are more expensive than goalkeepers

Here are the five most valuable teenage footballers in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1, ranked in ascending order.

5. Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan — €39 million (£34.1 million).

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's talents belie his years. The 18-year-old may lack experience but he is already a first team staple at AC Milan.

Last season he made an astonishing 158 saves from 41 appearances in all competitions and clearly has a promising future in football.

That future is currently up in the air, though. This is because Donnarumma has reportedly rejected an £80,000 per week contract to stay at Milan, meaning he could be on the move in the summer transfer window.

4. Renato Sanches, FC Bayern München — €45.4 million (£39.7 million).

Renato Sanches became a league champion with Benfica when he was just 18 years old, in 2016. Later that summer he helped Portugal win the European Championships and then secured a mega money move to FC Bayern München.

Sanches has attracted comparisons to legendary Dutchman Edgar Davids, not just because of his hairstyle, but also his playing style. A defensive midfielder by trade, Sanches — now 19 — is yet to break into the Bayern first team, but it is surely only a matter of time before he ousts the likes of Arturo Vidal.

3. Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund — €60.6 million (£53 million).

American prospect Christian Pulisic may only be 18 years old, but the playmaking midfielder already plays a key role for Borussia Dortmund.

The versatile attacker made 42 appearances in all competitions at club level last season and has broken into Bruce Arena's US national men's team.

Pulisic punctuated his pedigree with a virtuoso performance against Trinidad and Tobago, scoring both goals in a 2-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

At Insider Picks we try to write about a mix of big and small companies — whether they're the titans you've heard of or up-and-coming startups looking to disrupt an industry.

We've written about the products from the five companies below, but in case they've fallen under your radar, we're calling them out again here. You'll find out who they are, what makes them interesting, and which of their products are most worth checking out.

You might be surprised that a company you've heard of only once or twice is making the product you wish you'd bought months ago.

DON'T MISS: 50 must-have tech accessories under $50

SEE ALSO: Amazon's store brand makes a lot of great tech, but these are the 10 gadgets actually worth buying

Who they are:

Monoprice has been a long-time friend of geeks looking to avoid high markups on cables from traditional big-box retailers. 

Why you should know about them:

They're not just about cables anymore! For the past few years, Monoprice has started to enter different industries, but their mantra has stayed the same: cut out the middle step between the product and customer, and save the customer money. Their emphasis is placed on value, so in many cases, you'll be getting a Monoprice product that's comparable to a name-brand one, but without any extra bells and whistles.

Which products you should pay attention to:

5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System, $102.13, available at Amazon

Who they are:

Pad & Quill is a retailer selling hand-crafted cases for Apple (and some Android) devices.

Why you should know about them:

If style and craftsmanship are two attributes you're looking for in a case for your tech, Pad & Quill should be your first — and maybe only — destination. Out of all the cases I've tried for my phone, none match the aesthetics of the company's Woodline Case.

I'll still try other cases for review, but Pad & Quill's continues to be the phone case I use on a daily basis. Many of their products are hand-assembled in the US, so if you're looking to support the domestic economy with an aesthetically peerless case, you should certainly check them out. 

Which products you should pay attention to:

Woodline Case for iPhone 7, $49.95, available at Pad & Quill

Woodline Case for iPhone 7 Plus, $49.95, available at Pad & Quill

Contega Linen iPad Pro 9.7 Case, $119.95, available at Amazon

Contega Linen iPad Pro 12.9 Case, $129.95, available at Amazon

Cartella Slim Case for 2016 Macbook Pro 13, $89.95, available at Pad & Quill

Cartella Slim Case for 2016 Macbook Pro 15, $99.95, available at Pad & Quill

You can check out all of Pad & Quill's products here.

Who they are:

As the original makers of the iPhone battery case, mophie has cemented their legacy as a key mobile-accessory maker.

Why you should know about them:

If you care at all about keeping your devices alive, mophie should be one of the first companies that you should think of. They're all about making batteries of all shapes and sizes, but their standout products are their battery cases. I've tried two of them: one for my iPhone 6 Plus and one for my iPhone 7 Plus, and both have impressed. They're relentless in their pursuit of making battery cases that keep bulk and weight down to a minimum, which I can appreciate.

Which products you should pay attention to:

Juice Pack for iPhone 6/6s, $49.99, available at Amazon

Juice Pack for iPhone 6/6s Plus, $84.49, available at Amazon

Juice Pack for iPhone 7, $82.99, available at Amazon

Juice Pack for iPhone 7 Plus, $98, available at Amazon

Power Capsule, $29.99, available at Amazon

Editor's note: The charging pad comes bundled with the iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6/6s Plus cases, but isn't bundled with the iPhone 7/Plus case. It can be purchased separately here.

You can check out all of mophie's products here.

The best books have the potential to stick with you long after you've finished them. Some can even affect how you look at the world.

We've put together a list of 25 such books — taking inspiration from Amazon's list of 100 books to read in your lifetime, recommendations from Goodreads users, as well as some of our own personal favorites. 

These books' exploration of politics, history, and the human condition are so insightful, they've withstood the test of time.

The next time you're looking for a riveting read, consider picking up one of these 25 mind-blowing books. 

Talia Avakian contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

SEE ALSO: The 13 most over-the-top billionaire toys

"1984" by George Orwell

First published in 1949, George Orwell’s account of a chilling future is a timeless read.

His book is where the idea of Big Brother originated, and his messages of a restrictive government remain as insightful today as they did when they were originally written more than 60 years ago. 

Orwell presents readers with a vision of a haunting world that remains captivating from beginning to end. 

Buy the book here »

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

Huxley's masterpiece is a powerful work of speculative fiction where "World Controllers" create the ideal society.

While most society members are content with a world where genetic engineering, brainwashing, and recreational pleasures meet all their needs, one newcomer longs to break free. 

Huxley's enthralling tale takes readers through a frightening and thought-provoking take on society.

Buy the book here »

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

"Frankentein" tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a doctor who brings a creature to life, only to recoil at how hideous it is. 

Left tormented and in isolation, the innocent creature turns on his creator in this eloquent Gothic thriller, which touches the hearts of readers with its messages of the dangers of science and human judgment.

Buy the book here »

Tesla is rolling out another Auopilot update this weekend as it inches closer to its most ambitious demonstration yet: an autonomous Tesla driving itself between Los Angeles and New York.

Tesla has been rolling out updates to its second-generation Autopilot system, known as Enhance Autopilot, since January.

The updates will eventually pave the way for Tesla cars to become fully autonomous later down the road. 

Scroll down to see the updates going live this weekend and what's in store for the future:

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk: Fully autonomous Tesla will drive across the country by the end of 2017

Enhanced Autopilot is made possible thanks to a suite of new hardware that Tesla has been integrating into vehicles since October 2016. For example, new Tesla cars now have eight cameras that provide 360-degree visibility and 250 meters (820 feet) of range instead of one camera.

New Tesla cars still come with one radar sensor, but it has enhanced processing that allows it to see through heavy rain, fog, dust, and even a car in front of it.

Tesla is also still using 12 ultrasonic sensors — however, they have been updated to detect hard and soft objects at nearly twice the distance of the previous sensors.

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When it comes to looking for a new job, most people are reactive—they spot a job posting and apply, hoping they’ll stand out amongst a long list of candidates who also spotted the same posting.

But what if you could be proactive in your job search? In other words, what if you could steer your job-search efforts in such a way that you could sit back and let opportunities come to you?

It sounds idealistically impossible. But it’s not.  

“Reactively responding to job postings may provide immediate gratification,” says Hannah Morgan, a job search and social media strategist and founder of Career Sherpa. But, “the odds of getting a response are slim and the odds of landing a job are even slimmer.”

Plus, by doing all the searching yourself, you’ll miss out. “There are more opportunities than seen posted on job sites,” Morgan says. “Shifting the focus to a proactive job search feels empowering. You’re in control, and creating the potential for opportunities to find you.”

Ready to do it? Here’s how.

SEE ALSO: 10 things never to say in your first 30 days of work

1. Get your friends involved.

Employee referrals are one of the most powerful tools in your job-hunting arsenal. And who better to toss you a recommendation than the people who know and love you best in the world?

So, “send an email letting your friends know you’re looking for a new job,” suggests Heather Huhman, Generation Y career expert and founder of Come Recommended. “Explain to them what you are looking for and include a copy of your resume. If anything opens up at their company, they’ll have you top of mind.”

2. Turn Facebook into a portfolio.

This social media site isn’t just about snooping into your high-school friends’ lives. You can also “use status updates to help your personal network understand your areas of expertise and career focus,” points out Morgan. “Share information related to your career goals, such as trending industry news or updates from companies you are interested in working for.” A long-lost friend might just come to you with a lead.

3. Talk ‘shop’ at social events.

A lot of us like to leave work, well, at work. But Huhman says we shouldn’t be afraid to talk shop when we’re out and about because you never know who’s listening, and what insider information they may know.

“Whether you’re attending a dinner party or just sitting next to someone on a plane, discussing with them what you do for a living is a great idea,” she says. Think of it this way: “If the person doesn’t know about an opportunity for you, at least you’ll have grown your professional network.”

Amazon is buying Whole Foods in a blockbuster deal for $13.7 billion. 

It's not clear yet what Amazon plans to do with the upscale grocery store, but one thing is clear: Amazon has big plans for the future of grocery stores. 

The online retail giant revealed a concept for a physical store in a video in December.

The store, called Amazon Go, doesn't work like a typical Walmart or supermarket — instead, it's designed so that shoppers will use an app, also called Amazon Go, to automatically add the products they plan to buy to a digital shopping cart; they can then walk out of the building without waiting in a checkout line.

The idea is that Amazon's machine-learning technology can automatically identify when a product is added to your cart, so you don't have to do it yourself. When you leave the store, Amazon automatically charges your Amazon account.

The stores will sell ready-made food, staples like bread and milk, and other grocery products. Amazon says its stores are about 1,800 square feet, so they are relatively small compared with big supermarkets.

Last year, Amazon internal plans show it could build 2,000 grocery stores across the US in the next decade, Business Insider previously reported. The first Amazon Go store opened to the public in Seattle earlier this year. 

Here is what Amazon says it will be like to shop in one:

SEE ALSO: Amazon is doubling down on retail stores with plans to have up to 100 pop-up stores in US shopping malls

SEE ALSO: Internal Amazon documents reveal a vision of up to 2,000 grocery stores across the US

Amazon Go sells prepared foods and other grocery staples.

Everyone who shops needs an Amazon Go app. You scan a QR code when you walk in.

You scan the app on a futuristic turnstile when you enter the store.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce plans to follow through on his campaign pledge to restate the importance of the 56-year-old trade embargo with Cuba, and ban tourist travel to the country, according to Politico.

In 2016, former President Barack Obama had lifted restrictions on tourists who wanted to take home the souvenir of a Cuban cigar — a prized item to the island.  

Commercial flights are currently freely going in and out, and it's becoming a viable vacation destination for those who can qualify to travel there. 

Here's a look at daily life on the once-restricted island, which will enter its tourist high season in December.

SEE ALSO: How a real Cuban cigar is made, shown in 13 gorgeous photos

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From Havana's National Museum of Fine Arts to the smaller art markets in the streets, tourists can find beautiful and colorful art all across the city.

Soccer games are played everywhere, even in the street.

Cubans are known for their love of vintage cars.

Whole Foods has been desperately trying to shed its "Whole Paycheck" reputation for years as it loses millions of customers to grocery store rivals like Kroger and Trader Joe's.

The news that Amazon will acquire Whole Foods for $13.7 billion could make the upscale grocery brand a lot more competitive when it comes to prices.

Amazon has the "financial capacity to price aggressively," Moody’s vice president Mickey Chadha wrote in an email. 

“Dominant players like Walmart, Kroger, Costco, and Target now have to look over their shoulders at the Amazon train coming down the tracks," Moody’s lead retail analyst Charlie O’Shea said.

In April, we visited a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe's to see how their prices on 28 similar items compared. The two stores are just a few blocks away from each other in New York's Union Square.

Overall, our Whole Foods basket was about $30 more expensive than our basket at Trader Joe's, but not everything at Trader Joe's was cheaper. Many prices were actually quite similar at the two stores.

The final bills came to $115.90 at Whole Foods and $85.33 at Trader Joe's, after we accounted for the products' varying package sizes. 

Here's how the prices compared: 

Red peppers

Trader Joe's: $0.99 each 

Whole Foods: $3.99 per pound

One medium-sized red bell pepper weighed nearly one pound, so peppers were far more expensive at Whole Foods. 

Organic avocados

Trader Joe's: $2.29 each 

Whole Foods: $2.79 each 

Organic strawberries

Trader Joe's: $5.99 for 16 ounces

Whole Foods: $5.99 for 16 ounces

Strawberries were expensive across the board.

Ford has gone all in with the redesign of its critically important Super Duty series of large pickup trucks. The Super Duty had been refreshed and updated, but it hadn't been completely rethought in two decades.

Ford makes a lot of money off these ginormous F-Series pickups, so a new Super Duty was a big risk. Customers from this type of truck, optimized for work and for towing, are among the most demanding in the auto industry.

The carmaker had already taken one huge risk with its legendary F-150 full-size pickup, switching to aluminum from steel in production. That worked out well, so Ford moved on to the Super Duty lineup, the F-250 and its larger stablemates.

While I had checked out the new F-150 and been pleased, I had never actually driven a Super Duty. It was a big missing piece of my ongoing professional development.

Plus, who doesn't like a big ole pickup? So when Ford told me I could borrow a 2017 F-250 Super Duty Platinum 4x4 Crew Cab, with a mighty 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbo diesel engine, I said heck yes!

Here's what it was like to have this mountain of a pickup in my driveway for a few days last year:

Our borrowed Super Duty arrived in a "Magnetic" gray paint job.

This pickup tipped the scales at around 6,000 lbs. — three tons!

I think the tree was intimidated. I didn't even think to ask my Prius how it felt. It was acting like it wanted to go hide in the garage.