The New Yorker

Previously, I used to read the Economist but the writing wasn't very descriptive, and the opinions / predictions of the writers were vague (or depressingly pessimistic!). Overall, the New Yorker's style is precisely the opposite of the Economist. The writing is usually flowery and descriptive, showing you rather than telling you. Certain writers and topics can be hit-or-miss, however I am willing to forgive some excesses. The reason I favor the New Yorker is their coverage of economics, sociology, and current events. If I want to know what is happening on the ground in the Arab Spring, this is where I turn. If I want to learn something shocking overlooked tidbit of history, I open the New Yorker. For example, in the 7/25/11 issue, there are articles about the Freedom Riders, tiny houses, the value and purpose of going to college, and the world of hedge funds. These are the things I value; writing that challenges my beliefs and informs me, that isn't politically correct or afraid of offending. These main articles, which are the meat of the magazine, are why I read. As the the rest: the sports articles can be good, but it's hit or miss for me (not one of my biggest interests). The short fiction section can be good, but lately I've been skipping it due to lack of time. The theatre or classical music articles tend to be fawning and pretentious, full of name-dropping and obscure references. For people who are unacquainted with those topics, it amounts to a waste of space. It's not the topics themselves I'm disinterested in; for example, if someone were to write a biographical style piece on Mahler, then I can enjoy it because I don't need to know anything previously to enjoy it. Update Jan 2014: The cartoons have been getting better lately. Before I felt they fell flat a bit, but there's wittier material now. Definitely check out the magazine, and if you are interested in it long-term, call the CSR to get a discounted subscription. Look into Harper's as well, it's just as good writing.

Well-written, timely, erudite and down-to-earth -- no other magazine is as informative and varied in tone, or as much a pleasure to read. The "New Yorker" has a number of "beats" it covers -- contemporary politics, media, popular culture and art, humor, new fiction and a smidge of local, New York goings-on (not as much as in the old days, but the regionalism is still a delight.) Yes, other magazines cover these topics, but not in as accessible a manner. The "Atlantic" and "Harper's" tread similar paths, but they both seem overly stern and inaccessible by comparison. The "New Yorker" used to be incredibly fusty: since the magazine's 1992 facelift, courtesy of editor Tina Brown, it has a much lighter, more youthful tone. This, mixed with the erudite, well-researched, well-crafted writing, makes it one of the most rewarding reading experiences in America today. No matter what the topic, an article in the "New Yorker" will always be a shining example of language used to its best effect. Plus, I like the cartoons. (PS - I weary of the "three F" -- fashion, food and finance -- reporting, but even if they overdo these subjects, it's still a great magazine.) (DJ Joe Sixpack)

Sometimes I wonder how I could ever get on without my copy of The New Yorker. Its coverage of literature, theater, art and movies can't be beat. I especially love going to their literature section. In their most recent magazine they had an article about David Mitchell and his books, The Cloud Atlas and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob deZoet. They have a wonderful cast of staff writers - think David Sedaris, Ian Frazier, Nora Ephron, HIlton Als - and it just keeps getting better. I love their choice of articles from the biopics to the myopics. They do stories on crime, culture change, culture, investigative reporting and it's al just plain GREAT. They also publish one short story a week and it's a stunner about 50% of the time. I could do without any magazine that I subscribe to except the New Yorker. Put me on a Desert Island with a few books and a regular delivery of theNew Yorker and I'll be a happy camper.

I have been a New Yorker subscriber since my high school creative writing class, which included subscriptions for everyone in the class (how cool is that?). I moved to NYC 2 years later, and the New Yorker has been my guide ever since. It is great for current arts, film, and theater listings. The cartoons are great. But the real prize in reading the New Yorker are the in-depth articles that you won't find elsewhere. Insightful, intelligent, thought-provoking. This magazine is pricey, but I just can't give it up. I decided to renew on Amazon this year in order to get the most savings, but honestly, the prices are about the same whether you order direct or not.

This past Christmas, my sister only wanted one thing - a subscription to the New Yorker. She handed me one of those magazine insert subscription order cards - you know, those pain in the butt mailers that are always falling out of the magazines - in droves? Well...the cost was $49.95 for the year. Hmmm... I thought I could get a better price. And when searcing on the Net, sure enough, the best price was at Amazon.com. And with the reputation of Amazon.com, I knew it was "as good as it gets". I subscribed that day for my sister - for $10 off what the magazine was charging - and had two happy customers! Thanks Amazon.com for being consistent with good quality and affordable prices! Drew

I have subscribed continually to The New Yorker magazine throughout several years in Texas, seventeen years in Hawaii and the last three in L.A. I follow its movie reviews like a Bible. It contains articles so varied in content and so well written that one is constantly surprised and illuminated and in the case of its humorous pieces and cartoons, thoroughly entertained. My only problem is trying to finish one before the next one arrives. If I had a time machine, I'd set it back to the days of the Algonquin round table, but short of that, The New Yorker is the next best thing.

It's the New Yorker.

This magazine has excellent reporting, telling stories in-depth that other news sources pick up after they read about them in the New Yorker. I have read this for many years, and the mix of humor, science, politics, world events and fiction offers something for any mood. Not to mention the cartoons - I must admit I scan through and check them first!