# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/21 "2004-06-17T23:03:31Z")
[hi-jack] El Kabong & Arch Trout, not that anyones getting into an argument over whether Empire or Total Film is better, but dont any of you think theyre more or less the same? Take for example the freebies they’ve been giving out of late: First Empire gave us the Ultimate Test 1989-2004 Movie Quiz Book Then Total Film gave us Halliwells so you think your a movie mastermind Quiz book Empire gave out a 2 big movie posters, I think Spiderman and Catwoman. Total Film gave out a poster, and 6 little postcard things Empire gave out a celebration of LOTR with that Oscar poster Total Film gave out that huge Aragorn poster And thats only in the last couple months… Not that Im complaining, I get both magazines and like them. Some times the reviews are bit out there, sometimes theyre not. If I had to pick, I think Id pick Empire, they seem ore human in there writing. [/hi-jack] Sorry Interro! ---
**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 18, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/22 "2004-06-18T17:05:30Z")
They’re trying to get **$9.50 american** for **Fortean Times**! The price has been steadily rising, and I missed the last issue, but it wasn’t more than $7.50 2 months ago, I’m sure! I guess I hit my price wall, 'cause that’s just ridiculous! WG ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/23 "2004-06-18T20:30:45Z")
_Jane_, while a moderately entertaining read, should not be on a list at a higher position than _Entertainment Weekly_. I look forward to my weekly dose of Dalton Ross and some of the smartest/funniest people in entertainment journalism. _Jane_ has Pam Anderson…'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/24 "2004-06-18T22:39:04Z")
I couldn’t get to the Trib link, since they want me to register. The choices are a bit surprising from what I can tell in this thread, though. **The Atlantic** is the best mag out there, IMO. There’s something nice when a book review adds up to 26 pages (A4 size, times 14pt) and I as a reader get the feeling that it’s not for a selfserving purpose, but because they actually have something to say. I fork up $10 every month for that (US mags are very overpriced at the newsstands over here). Was **Wallpaper** on that list. I’d never subscribe to it, because it gets repetitious, but I do enjoy it and pick it up a couple of times a year. I find **Esquire** to be boring, mostly because I have a feeling that the publisher doesn’t know where it’s supposed to be going. Sadly, since I’m interested in music and movies, there are no good movie or music magazines around. Maybe it’s an age thing (I’m 43), but it seems to me that those who write about music today are only comparing things to other things - X has the raw feel that Y had when they made their debute 24 years ago, but with some Z from the 90’s added to make up a totally new and exciting mix. I actually read that **The love Below** by **Andre3000** was the album Prince didn’t make in 1988. Movies are another thing. To get that interview with _that_ star, which will give them a big feature and portrait on the cover (which will sell copies) they tend to give good reviews to so-so films. In fact, entertainment journalism is basically corrupt. Swedish magazines are bland and boring, if they’re not clones of international publications. When last I had a GF, I got to brows through **Elle** and was surprised how good it was, once all those ads and that boring fashion stuff was taken away. And I can’t afford to buy all the stuff I want from the US and UK, so I’ll have to stick with the titles that interest me. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/25 "2004-06-18T23:23:45Z")
Wait a minute. Of the 50 Best Magazines, the list includes \*Real Simple \* and _Men’s Health_, but not _Harper’s_ or _National Geographic_? Sorry, I can’t take this seriously any more. ---
**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 19, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/26 "2004-06-19T01:08:02Z")
> [@The Gaspode](#): > > I couldn’t get to the Trib link, since they want me to register. Oh, sorry. I must have a cookie in my browser and didn’t realize they were a register-only site. (Have you checked [bugmenot.com](http://bugmenot.com)?) Here’s 11-50. I think the titles alone would count as fair use – in the article, they each have a few sentences of explanation and justification attached. 1. Whole Dog Journal. 2. Time. 3. Reason. 4. People. 5. Business Week. 6. Fine Homebuilding. 7. The Atlantic Monthly. 8. National Review. 9. Conde Nast Traveler. 10. No Depression. 11. Cooking Light. 12. Aperture. 13. Us Weekly. 14. Car and Driver. 15. Essence. 16. Science News. 17. Budget Living. 18. Sports Illustrated. 19. Vogue. 20. Entertainment Weekly. 21. Parenting. 22. Gourmet. 23. Martha Stewart Weddings. 24. Dwell. 25. The American Scholar. 26. The New York Review of Books. 27. Wooden Boat. 28. New York. 29. National Journal. 30. Donna Hay Magazine. 31. Texas Monthly. 32. Vanity Fair. 33. Chicago. 34. In Touch. 35. Heeb. 36. Legal Affairs. 37. ToyFare. 38. Rolling Stone. 39. Seahorse. 40. Chicago Wilderness. Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair seem like easy bumps, to me, because I don’t think they’re particularly good at what they’re trying to do. Parenting isn’t a bad choice, because I don’t have kids but find it an interesting read when I’m hanging around the gym waiting to go home. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/27 "2004-06-19T02:13:22Z")
I’m very surprised to see **Reason** near the top 10. Pleasantly surprised, mind you. And really suprised that **National Review** made it into the top 20. Again, pleasantly surprised. And I’m glad they noticed that **Car and Driver** is superior to **Road and Track**. They should have included **Flying**. That’s a real oversight. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Mr\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/28 "2004-06-19T03:11:07Z")
Wow I’m surprised to see so many admiting to liking Us Weekly. It’s a huge guilty pleasure for me, I have no idea why as it’s basically pictures with some one liners here and there. Jane? Really? I read it for the first few yrs and enjoyed it but it got a little celeb worshippy for me which is fine in of itself but not while there were proclaiming to different from the other women’s mags. Also despite promising to feature all women equally I never saw full figured, average women in the fashion layouts. I know, I know asking for a miracle. I used to be a major magazine freak and I still enjoy a few (US Weekly, EW, Macleans, pretty much any music mag) but the internet has taken a lot of my interest away. ---
**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 19, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/29 "2004-06-19T03:18:36Z")
> [@](#): > > El Kabong & Arch Trout, not that anyones getting into an argument over whether Empire or Total Film is better, but don’t any of you think theyre more or less the same? Well, to be honest, from what I’ve seen of _TF_ they are in fact about the same in overall content, but _Empire_, so far as I know, was first, and I find _TF_ rather more difficult to find in the States. That said, I’ll agree that _Empire’s_ reviewer got it entirely wrong on _Last Samurai_; death-glorifying hogwash, thought I. Still like the liveliness of the text and their comprehensive approach to movies, TV, DVD and soundtracks. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/30 "2004-06-19T05:49:13Z")
Jesus Christ. **National Geographic** didn’t even make it into the top 50?! And that fluff piece **People** sits at #14? You have GOT to be shitting me. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/31 "2004-06-19T12:59:37Z")
I’m glad to see _Heeb_ made the list, because it actually encourages younger Jews to _gasp_ make up their own minds about themselves and their world. Not an easy task in an America where Jews are supposed to support Israel, right or wrong. It also celebrates what’s good and right about being Jewish in an America where so many people think Christianity is the be-all and end-all of human existence. YMMV. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/32 "2004-06-19T13:04:31Z")
My life is so simple that I can live it without buying a magazine that tells me how to live a simple life. Agree with the others. _National Geographic_ and _Smithsonian_ are two of the best magazines out there. I was happy to see Cook’s Illustrated up there, though. It is an excellent magazine. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/33 "2004-06-19T14:13:30Z")
I vote for ‘Skeptic’, as published by Michael Shermer and the Skeptics Society, as the finest magazine in the world. It does help that it is edited by Shermer himself, a powerhouse of energy, intelligence, wit and warmth. One of its great strength is that if Shermer figures an article warrants a detailed 40 page rebuttal, he’ll make the space and run it. He also walks the talk - he’s not about championing a pre-determined point of view, he’s after the evidence and whatever truth it leads to. So if he runs an article and better facts come along, he’ll run the corrections and apologise for not getting it right before. He also actively encourages rebuttal and discussion in articles, so if writer X criticizes the work of person Y, Shermer will go out of his way to get hold of Y and get him to write his reply. It’s superior to Skeptical Inquirer in every way (SI is essentially now just a fund-raising vehicle and never stops its tedious tin-rattling for donations, donations and yet more donations to build yet more buildings serving no particular purpose). The other great thing about Shermer’s mag is that even people who don’t think they are interested in Skepticism find it fascinating reading. I’ve often shown copies to friends and they’ve asked to borrow them so they can read them at their leisure. (I’ve no financial or other interest here; the Skep Soc do sell a video that I’m in, but I make no money from it.) ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/34 "2004-06-19T18:30:55Z")
In Touch at number 44? Fucking In Touch? This rag sits in a bin by the counter of a pizza place I frequent for people waiting for an order and it reads like People written by and for 5 year olds. Where’s **Play**? Sure it’s about video games, but I think it’s the best game mag out there. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/35 "2004-06-19T18:55:49Z")
What, no _Big’Uns_? 😉 Is _Time_ really that much better than all the other news magazines that didn’t make the list (e.g. _Newsweek_, _The Week_, _US News & World Report_)? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/36 "2004-06-19T19:15:47Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > 1. OMNI (yeah, gone, but I’m putting it in for spite. I really liked it) Sniff, sniff… ☹ I used to love OMNI…I can’t believe I had forgotten about it… A toast to OMNI! ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/37 "2004-06-19T19:18:12Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > I vote for ‘Skeptic’, as published by Michael Shermer and the Skeptics Society, as the finest magazine in the world. It does help that it is edited by Shermer himself, a powerhouse of energy, intelligence, wit and warmth. One of its great strength is that if Shermer figures an article warrants a detailed 40 page rebuttal, he’ll make the space and run it. He also walks the talk - he’s not about championing a pre-determined point of view, he’s after the evidence and whatever truth it leads to. So if he runs an article and better facts come along, he’ll run the corrections and apologise for not getting it right before. He also actively encourages rebuttal and discussion in articles, so if writer X criticizes the work of person Y, Shermer will go out of his way to get hold of Y and get him to write his reply.) Definitely agree here. I don’t have a subscription just yet, but I pick up an issue everytime I see one, that and SCIAM. Shermer is a good writer IMO and it’s a shame about the recent debacle of a ‘debate’ he had with Hovind. I always wanted to see one of his debates, but never got a chance to. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/38 "2004-06-19T20:07:35Z")
No **Science** or **Nature**? :o ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/39 "2004-06-19T20:20:54Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. No Depression. Is this the same No Depression that covers alt-country music? How would that make number 20? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748/40 "2004-06-20T02:03:48Z")
The lack of both Smithsonian and especially National Geographic make that list a sad thing indeed. The last few times that I’ve picked up Wired, it seemed much more geared towards selling lifestyle accessories than it used to be, and I’m surprised to see it top the list. If only they had listed the first three years of Spy magazine, I would have forgiven them their sins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-the-10-best-magazines/250748.md?page=3)