# Are these the 10 best magazines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748 "2004-06-16T22:30:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/1 "2004-06-16T22:30:34Z")
The _Chicago Tribune_’s Tempo section is announcing their 50 best magazines. They revealed the top 10 in a [press release](http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040616/cgw042_1.html) today: 1. Wired 2. Real Simple 3. The Economist 4. Cook’s Illustrated 5. Esquire 6. New Yorker 7. American Demographics 8. Men’s Health 9. Jane 10. Consumer Reports 11-50 remain a mystery until tomorrow. I subscribe to Cook’s and the New Yorker, both of which are very good indeed. My wife gets Real Simple, which seems well put together for a lifestyle magazine that doesn’t speak to my lifestyle. I sometimes pick up Wired, the Economist and Jane, and yes, they’re good too. (Although I’d swap Jane for Bust in the women’s magazine category.) And of course I consult Consumer Reports for major purchase decisions, so good call on that. I think they’re overstimating Esquire, which I wouldn’t elevate above, say, the Atlantic (which better be in the next set). I might bump something for Entertainment Weekly, which does a pretty good survey of American pop culture on a weekly basis. You can get more in-depth info on movies, music or TV from other magazines, but not the breadth. I’ve never read American Demographics or Men’s Health, but now I’d kind of like to. (There’s a short justification for each pick at the link above. And they did this [last year](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-0306120068jun12.story), too.) I hope the Believer is in the next 40 picks; I wouldn’t put it in the top 10, but it’s hard to pass up a new issue. Other reactions? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/2 "2004-06-16T22:43:00Z")
Not too much experience with most of those. Cook’s Illustrated is excellent – it’s from the same people who do America’s Test Kitchen. I read every word of it. I LOVE their hand-drawn illustrations. Pricey though. Consumer Reports bores me. But useful – it told me what toaster to buy. Wired. I used to get this. The main articles were always very good, and often ridiculously long. The front and back were worthless though. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/3 "2004-06-16T23:16:34Z")
I’ll buy Cook’s Illustrated and the New Yorker, but the others seem like more of an exercise in diversity than quality. And where’s Harper’s? ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/4 "2004-06-16T23:19:31Z")
Where the hell is Skeptical Inquirer? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/5 "2004-06-16T23:19:43Z")
_Men’s Health_, fer cryin’ out loud? And where’s _Juggs_? OK, just kidding about that one. Initially I thought only American-published magazines were included, but then noted that _The Economist_ is on the list. So I find it strange that none of my fave UK-published titles show up (yet). Now I can hear y’all clamoring, “but Kabong, what’s _your_ top ten?” So, since you asked, here they are, in no particular order: _Car_ (UK) _Fortean Times_ (UK) _Empire_ (UK) (the World’s Greatest Movie Magazine, in case the title is obscure) _Air International_ (UK) _The Economist_ (UK) _Smithsonian_ _Trains_ _The Atlantic Monthly_ _Wired_ _Entertainment Weekly_ Yup, I likes transport and movies, I do. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/6 "2004-06-16T23:21:01Z")
I’ve always thought Wired was ridiculously overrated, and it’s not even as good today as it once was because it has to keep bumping into reality. Esquire is an astounding choice. In the 1960s, yes, it was the best. Now? I’d go with the Atlantic as well, or even Vanity Fair. I stopped reading American Demographics because I thought that the conclusions it kept trying to wring out of the data were either simplistic or forced. It may have gotten better. The Economist has some good points, but it’s often excruciatingly boring. If they were going to throw in a British magazine, why not make it something lively, like The New Scientist? New Yorker has improved and is in one of its periodic up cycles. Consumers Reports is the best in its field, but if that’s your criterion you can throw in anything from Sports Illustrated to Premiere. No business magazine? Fortune has done a series of outstanding articles in the past year. Of course, these lists only exist for people to disagree with them. ---
**Author:** ![Aitara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aitara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aitara)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/7 "2004-06-16T23:38:55Z")
I would remove Real Simple, Men’s Health, and Jane. I would replace them with Atlantic Monthly, Utne Reader, and World Press Review. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/8 "2004-06-16T23:58:47Z")
Magazines I read: Economist New Yorker Vogue Archaeology Jane Q Lucky US Weekly (I’m hiding my face in shame but after umpteen law classes I REALLY need to come home and think about J.Lo.) Ms. Cooking Light Notice I led off with the intellectual ones? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/9 "2004-06-17T00:03:28Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > _Empire_ (UK) (the World’s Greatest Movie Magazine, in case the title is obscure) > > Yup, I likes transport and movies, I do. Empire! Empire! I was thinking about changing my subscription from ‘Total Film’ to ‘Empire’, until I bought a copy of Empire. I’ve never read a more sycophantic magazine ever. Their reviews are so wrong as well. ‘Last Samurai’ - five out of five. Give me a break. _Total Film_ is the best movie magazine and even that’s flawed. Best magazine ever has to be the multi-platform videogame mag called **Edge** , it’s the business. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/10 "2004-06-17T01:02:29Z")
My top ten, in no order : The Match! Entertainment Weekly Bitch Vanity Fair Sports Illustrated Fortean Times 2600 GAMES Giant Robot Consumer Reports **Utne Reader** has fallen, or rather HAD fallen when I stopped reading. **Adbusters** bores me these days. **Bust** infuriates me sometimes with its contradictory messages. I’ve opened an issue or two of **Wired** , and have been underwhelmed. My wife reads, in addition to several of my top ten, **People** , **Us Weekly** , and **Mother Jones** , which I read, and **Cook’s Illustrated and Real Simple** , which I don’t 🙂 George ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/11 "2004-06-17T02:16:40Z")
Does Wired still use pink text on purple background in 2x3 inch blocks scattered all over the page? Brian ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/12 "2004-06-17T03:19:07Z")
I was all excited to get a subscription to WIRED before I realized that they put the entire contents of the magazine (albeit without the photos) online. Then I actually read the magazine. Ugh. I was surprised just how many magazines do that and how much less expensive my life is because of it. I did want to say that choosing MEN’S HEALTH was surprising since it’s now basically MAXIM for old folks. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/13 "2004-06-17T03:57:07Z")
How can that list not include _National Geographic_? Sorry, I just can’t take it seriously. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/14 "2004-06-17T04:02:11Z")
I like WIRED. That and COSMO are the only 2 mags I subscribe to (hi, I’m single!!). I like the short pieces in Wired. I like most of the long stories. I even like the ads. Granted, 75% of the stuff is over my head but I do read it cover-to-cover and eventually pass it off to my friends. It does have alot of content, too. And usuallyu each month there’s something in it that I can later bring up in conversation to make me seem more smarter than I really am. Cosmo, on the other hand, is like the uppity older sister I never had (or wanted). I like the ads in there too. Good thing, cuz there’s more ads than content anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/15 "2004-06-17T18:01:30Z")
The [full list of 50](http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-040615mags,1,1202754.story?coll=chi-homepagenews-utl) is online today. I’m not going to retype the next 40 titles, but you can check the link for explanations of why the Tempo staff chose each title. Of magazines that we’ve mentioned: No _Utne_ (which I can agree with), no _Harper’s_ (which surprises me), no _National Geographic_, no _Skeptical Inquirer_ or _New Scientist_, no _Bust_ or _Bitch_. _Entertainment Weekly_ is #30. > [@lissener](#): > > the others seem like more of an exercise in diversity than quality. That’s pretty much de rigueur for pop culture lists, innit? > [@Duderdude2](#): > > Where the hell is Skeptical Inquirer? I have to admit that SI is one of those magazines that I want to like, that has interesting information, but that I don’t think is all that great _as a magazine_. As a reference, aces. As ammo for skeptics, ditto. As a pleasant read, not so much. > [@wheresgeorge01](#): > > Bust infuriates me sometimes with its contradictory messages. That’s actually one of the things I like about the magazine – it’s happy to be schizophrenic. Or to have multiple personality disorder. Or whatever. My own top 10, by the way, not ranked: _Entertainment Weekly_ _The Atlantic Monthly_ _The New Yorker_ _Cook’s Illustrated_ _The Economist_ _Bizarre_ – the apex of trashy _The Believer_ _Bust_ _Us Weekly_ – the best of the tabloidesque US mags _New Scientist_ – I only read it every few months, but it’s very well done ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/16 "2004-06-17T18:19:34Z")
I love Popular Mechanics 🙂 Yeah, it’s silly but I love it. Along with Jane’s Defense Weekly and The Economist, of course. I subscribe to Ms., but it always makes me so angry I can’t really list it as a favorite, it’s more like something I do that’s good for me rather than something I do because I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/17 "2004-06-17T19:05:05Z")
_US Weekly_? :smack: Who needs signs of the apocalypse when you see this? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/18 "2004-06-17T19:41:00Z")
> [@Arch Trout](#): > > Their reviews are so wrong as well. ‘Last Samurai’ - five out of five. > Give me a break. Yeah, I liked it the first time I saw it, only it was called _Dances With Wolves_. No order and all that… 1. Maxim 2. Newsweek 3. Popular Science 4. OMNI (yeah, gone, but I’m putting it in for spite. I really liked it) 5. Time 6. Game Informer (What? I have news mags in the list!) 7. Reader’s Digest 8. Popular Mechanics 9. The Sporting News 10. SI ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/19 "2004-06-17T20:07:28Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > _US Weekly_? :smack: > > Who needs signs of the apocalypse when you see this? Whoa, there, young horseman. I think _US Weekly_ is a perfect specimen in its genre: not as light-and-fluffy as _People_, not as salacious as the _Enquirer_. I suppose it’s a guilty pleasure if you feel guilty about ever being interested in celebrities, but since I only occasionally indulge I don’t feel guilty at all. That said, I think I’ll bump it from my list for a slot titled “random magazine that I picked up and thought was interesting this week” – most recently _Fortune_, but can be anything from _Sight & Sound_ to _ReadyMade_ to _McSweeney’s_ to _Gourmand_. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/20 "2004-06-17T22:20:11Z")
And where, I prithee, is the lovely periodical _Weird NJ?_ [http://www.weirdnj.com/home/index.html](http://www.weirdnj.com/home/index.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748.md?page=2)