what magazines to subscribe to ?

[vasyachkin]

although i admit that with internet there is much less incentive to pay for magazine subscriptions i still subscribe to a few, namely

scientific american ( like it )
mit's technology review ( like it )
road and track ( my friends like it )
muscular development ( my favorite mag )
pc magazine ( rather weak )

i also get FHM for free ( won't complain since its free )

what else should i get ? is there some good magazine on computers ?

what about FHM-like magazines, which ones are good, Rolling Stone ? MAXIM ?

[Shana]

I've got magazines coming out my ears vasyachkin! I'm convinced they're breeding...it's a bit disturbing really. Not sure why I have so many, but...sigh...I just do.

I have EVERY home magazine....I'm an interior designer, so I have a viable excuse for that.

Vogue
W
Allure
Conde Nast Traveler
Islands
Time
Interview
Oh there are too many too ennumerate!!

What do you do when those cute little kids come door to door selling magazine subscriptions? Gah, I hate to say no to them!!
I swear I am made of jello. I've tried hiding, but I swear they know I'm hiding.

[Shana]

Uh oh...I just realized you're asking for magazine subscription suggestions. Sorry, I misread your OP!! eeek. Thought you were asking what magazines we subscribed too. I need sleep. :smack:

[Hugh Jass]

Ah, magazines, my own personal kryptonite. I get Maxim. It's pretty good. I think it's the best of those magazines.

I stopped reading Rolling Stone years ago. They recently go a new managing editor and had a run of magazines with people like the American Idols on the cover. If you are looking for a serious music magazine, I suggest Uncut, a British mag that comes with a CD of the latest music. They talk a lot about old music, though. Blender, by the Maxim people, has tons of reviews of the latest tunes.

Dunno about good magazines about computers.

I have a certain weakness for Reader's Digest. Lots and lots of things to read, wide variety. Also Consumer Reports. They don't pull any punches. Like history? Try American Heritage.

You know, to be honest, there are so many out there, for so many distinct interests, that I doubt my suggestions would be too helpful to you. Do you have a Borders, or similar giant bookstore near you? They always have decent collections of mags. It might just be a matter of buying a few and seeing if they are any good. That's what works for me.

[ultrafilter]

PC World's a pretty basic computer magazine, and most people like it. You should check into it.

You should also check out Testosterone (http://www.testosterone.net), a free online weight training magazine.

[Harriet the Spry]

A plug for Business 2.0. I think it has a good mix of fact, perspective and a little humor that would appeal to many Dopers. For example, an annual summary of the 100 dumbest business moves of the year.

[Tapioca Dextrin]

I highlt recommend The Fortean Times ("www.forteantimes.com) to all dopers. Your source for all things bizarre but with documentation. It started in 1973, so it must be good :D

[Tapioca Dextrin]

I highly recommend The Fortean Times (www.forteantimes.com) to all dopers. Your source for all things bizarre but with documentation. It started in 1973, so it must be good :D


Preview is my friend

[dal_timgar]

THE ECONMIST

Read a couple of books by Vance Packard so you will notice what THE ECONOMIST never talks about.

THE HIDDEN PERSUADERS, THE WASTEMAKERS, THE STATUS SEEKERS

Otherwise it's a great zine. I hear Marx read it.

Dal Timgar

[Hugh Jass]

Originally posted by dal_timgar
THE ECONMIST

Read a couple of books by Vance Packard so you will notice what THE ECONOMIST never talks about.

THE HIDDEN PERSUADERS, THE WASTEMAKERS, THE STATUS SEEKERS

Otherwise it's a great zine. I hear Marx read it.

Dal Timgar

Okay, now I'm curious. I used to subscribe to the Economist. Can you provide a summary of what those books are about? What does the Economist never talk about?

[Geoduck]

The Week. Worth every penny, it will make you seem lots smarter about current events.

[WordMan]

I dabble with a lot of magazines, but I subscribe to and read only three consistently:

1) The New Yorker - deserving of its reputation. Sometimes a bit lofty, but the articles are incredibly well written and interesting, and the fiction is literate to a level rarely found elsewhere.

2) Entertainment Weekly - I love pop culture and feel like EW provides a reasonably intellectual point of view as to what is out there and whether it is worth my time and/or money. I appreciate it as a filter and also to know what is Hot, even if I want no part of it...

3) The Economist - I trust it more than any American-based news source, except maybe the New York Times...

[umop ap!sdn]

What? No mention of Discover?

It's been my favorite since 1991 (I miss Science Classics, tho).

[Duderdude2]

Skeptical Inquirer

[Blonde]

People
Us
InTouch
Newsweek
Vogue
National Enquirer
Star
Newsweek
MotorTrend
Jane
InStyle
Entertainment
Glamour
Reader's Digest
Ladie's Home Journal
Vanity
Texas Monthly



What? :cool:

[fizgig]

I really like Outside Magazine. Great travel articles, as well as current environmental issues, personal interest, fitness, outdoor sports, etc.

For music, I'm getting Spin for free, and it's pretty good. I like the British mag Mojo, but it's spendy by the issue, and I'm not sure that US subscriptions are available.

I've also been getting The Week for free, and it looks good, but *le sigh* a new one shows up before I even get a chance to look at the previous week's. In the past, I've subscribed to The Nation, but had the same problem, and let my subscription lapse.

Stuff is another FHM/Maxim type magazine that seems OK, though I'm not a dude, and don't really read the free issues I get.

In the past, I've gotten Car and Driver, which I prefer slightly over Road and Track.

Used to read Muscle and Fitness avidly, but haven't been hitting the gym as regularly lately. When I do, I pick up M&F Hers, which isn't quite as hardcore.

I also subscribe to Horse and Rider, and like Equus and Practical Horseman, but you're probably not interested in those.

[Shirley Ujest]

Tapioca! I read Fortean Times[/b] too.

I no longer feel alone in this world knowing that someone else out there reads about [i]Nazi UFO's and other Secrets of the Third Reich

It is pricey for the subscription though, and at $7.25 an issue at the store, but the 17 other books I must have, it's freakin' expensive. I can't complain, there are no lipstick ads or ' how to have earth shattering sex right now' articles.




Speaking of that: How's the sex life? :D

[Shirley Ujest]

Oooh, I should have put a GMWTFH*







*Great Minds Wear Tin Foil Hats.

[Jonathan Chance]

I live, eat and breath magazines. It is (literally) my profession. Got a question about how they work? I'm your man.

Because of that I have almost none at my home. I get:

National Geographic (I have almost 40 years worth)
My Big Backyard (for the three year old)

I subscribed to Baseball America and Discover a few years ago because the poor kid who called me up telemarketing was so bad I had to walk her through her script and close the sale for her.

[unclviny]

I subscribe to:
The classic motorcycle.
Classic bike.
Classic bike guide (anyone notice a theme here?).
And I joined the Antique motorcycle club of America www.amca.org because they have an awesome magazine/newsletter thingie.
Car & driver.
Maxim (I got a super cheap long term subscription when it came out and it used to be excellent oil rig fodder).

unclviny

[unclviny]

Sorry,
Wrong link, try www.antiquemotorcycle.org

unclviny

[vasyachkin]

not looking for any music magazines. i seriously doubt they will feature the kind of music i actually enjoy, like "vnv nation" or "x-dream"

can anybody go more indepth on:

The New Yorker
Entertainment Weekly
The Economist

what are those about?

also what is Maxim good for ?

[Jonathan Chance]

The baby oil industry, in my opinion.

[minor7flat5]

Definitely get Invention & Technology (http://www.inventionandtechnology.com).

Where else are you going to read a several-page article describing the challenges of docking spacecraft, in laymans terms? Or a in-depth history of the computer mouse, with photos of the first wooden mouse? How about proximity-fused AA rounds from WWII that used little tube-based radio circuits?

It's a shame that it only is published once a quarter. I look forward to each issue with great anticipation.

I have let all of my other subscriptions lapse since I discovered a nasty underhanded trick that all publishers do: They charge more for your renewal than for new subscribers. For example, the renewal card says "get 12 issues for 29.99 at a savings of x", while even those silly cards that fall out of the magazine offer the same for 19.99. It makes sense from a business perspective, but it annoys long-time customers such as myself. I'll restart the subscriptions soon as a "new customer".

[Jonathan Chance]

It's not nasty...it's economics. A new subscriber is much much much much harder to get on board than a retention subscriber.

You're not the only one that notices that. And you're not the only one who does what you do.

For all of me you're welcome to it. But I know some publishers who won't let someone use a 'new subscriber' offer if they've been on the list in the last year.

[minor7flat5]

Originally posted by minor7flat5
Definitely get Invention & Technology (http://www.inventionandtechnology.com).I looked further at their website and found that they have many of their articles online in their archives.

Here's the article on docking spacecraft (http://www.inventionandtechnology.com/2001/02/docking.shtml[/url).
Great stuff!


Oh an Jonathan (on preview), I understand that it is economics. Nevertheless, I don't particularly care for this technique since it does feel unfair on the surface and it is done clandestinely, hence my "nasty trick" remark.

I cancelled Scientific American over the phone the other day because even though I let it lapse, they billed me, insisting that I had sent in the card. Happily, the lady on the phone set everything straight. When I confronted her with the price disparity issue, she told me that they honor any lower price for renewals, even the new-subscriber rate -- all I have to do is ask. I am pleased with their response. I will resubscribe. Good customer service makes all the difference.

[StGermain]

I subscribe to Smithsonian and Practical Horseman.

StG

[Shirley Ujest]

I would also like to recommend for the novice DYI and Not Gen X but don't know what: www.readymademag.com


It's my favorite home decor/recycle/whatever magazine. ( the fashion section is just plain silly, but that seems to be the point in mags.)

[Ellis Dee]

I only have two subscriptions:

Sports Illustrated
Playboy

I recommend them both highly.

[NicePete]

Let's see. I subscribe to:

The New Yorker (excellent writing, both fiction and non-fiction. A literary must)

Popular Science (it's cheap and keeps me updated on tech issues. And cars.)

This Old House (I live in one.)

Southern Living (Likewise)

Book (published by Barnes and Noble, it's a house organ but still a pretty good newsmag on the book world)

Louisville (local stuff)

The wife and kids get others, can't think of what they are at the moment.

Mags that are passed on to me and I read semi-regularly:

Time (from the folks who bring you <i>People</i>!)

U.S. News and World Report (from the folks who bring you George W.!)

National Geographic (If you don't know NG, you've been living in a cave for at least 120 years.)

Gourmet (great food for people with more money than sense!)

[vasyachkin]

Originally posted by Frankd6
The New Yorker (excellent writing, both fiction and non-fiction. A literary must)


that non-fiction writing, do you mean news ?

[I_Know_Nothing]

Originally posted by vasyachkin
not looking for any music magazines. i seriously doubt they will feature the kind of music i actually enjoy, like "vnv nation" or "x-dream"

can anybody go more indepth on:

The New Yorker
Entertainment Weekly
The Economist

what are those about?

also what is Maxim good for ?

I read the economist about 3 times a month and love it. Although it leans a little conservative, especially for an international magazine, it goes in debth in many areas that are not covered as much by American mainsteam news and you can get a little more multinational opinion on many domestic issues.

I think Maxim is pretty worthless. Every other story is about some ditz I could care less about or some BS advice on how to get laid/take advantage of vulnerable women. Seems most of the writers are ex-jocks who never took a class in journalism.
If you are looking for the type of magazine, try Playboy. It has much more relevent and better written articles, better interviews and the pictorials are basically the same sans the clothes. It also seems much less mysogynistic(i don't personally subscribe though). Don't know how you'd feel having that laying around the house though.

I haven't read the New Yorker but have heard good things about it.

[Landshark]

Right now I am receiving three magazines:

Consumer Reports

National Geographic

Westways (which comes free with my Auto Club of Southern California membership)

I'm content with those.