Harper's Magazine

Summary: Good variety of articles

After one year of subscribing, I recommend Harper's and recently re-upped for two years. I would agree with some reviews that say the writing is uneven, maybe not in quality always - the nature of the magazine is a variety of articles covering a broad range of topics, some of which I don't always read. At the same time, this is what I enjoy about the magazine: it's an interesting mix of articles and ideas that I haven't found anywhere else. I read magazines to get away from the computer and Harper's presents a broad range of ideas to keep me interested. The fiction and poetry is excellent. Artwork is scattered in the magazine that is also interesting. Others have mentioned the 'Harper's Index' and 'Findings' sections which are collections of statistics and recent research findings that are particularly entertaining for quick perusal. I also read the New Yorker, Atlantic, and Mother Jones and find Harper's fits nicely with these as it comprises many ideas to think upon (as a Swedish friend phrases it).

Summary: America's last real Magazine

I'm a conservative (but lately more of a libertarian) but Harper's is my favorite magazine. It has honest political commentary, hard to find these days, that I don't always agree with but concede that the arguments are often compelling. The short stories are usually great, and the book reviews better than most. A favorite feature is "Findings" a short list of recent and bizarre scientific findings. I read it aloud to my family (and yes they enjoy it and look forward to each issue, too). Sometimes the editorials are a bit cynical but they are almost as likely to trash the Democrats as the Republicans (a healthy sign since I feel both parties have been co-opted by special interests).

You will also get news here without commentary, such as transcripts from Guantanamo, bizarre and revealing emails, and recently discovered correspondence from unlikely political leaders. All without commentary so you avoid the usual media attempt at controlling your opinion.

Sure, I might occasionally get mad at or ignore some authors, but I've found life isn't as fun without this magazine.

Summary: The best magazine for liberal politics

I'm more libertarian than liberal, so I disagree with many of the views expressed in Harper's. And yet, I look forward to it every month--indeed, more than I look forward to Reason. Why? Because Harper's isn't just a place for political diatribes (see: The Nation or Mother Jones); it's a place for original journalism and thoughtful, timely analysis, right up there in the mid-to-highbrow pantheon with The Atlantic and The New Yorker.

As a bonus, the subscription comes with full access to the website, Harpers.org, where you can search for and download any article that's been published in the magazine's long and storied history.