Economist magazine subscription at a discount.
Reading The Economist is a very different experience from that of reading the "big three"-- Time, Newsweek, and US News-- for two reasons.
First, it's a British publication, written in a very British manner. It's tone can vary from flatly dry to dryly ironic to jarringly blunt. There's nothing here that one can call politically correct; the authors and editors call 'em as they see 'em.
Second, it's a serious news magazine. Each issue is packed with stories about current affairs, politics, economics, and business. There are also book and movie reviews. However, there is almost no pop culture news and absolutely none of the celebrity gossip that has begun to corrupt the "big three."
It's important to understand that reading The Economist takes some commitment of time and effort, probably at least two or three hours an issue. Every article is deeply analytical, and many stories are revisited weekly for updates. This is a NEWS magazine, not a news MAGAZINE, if that makes sense.
The issue of political bias always arises with the media. The Economist takes definite stands on nearly every issue, and those editorial stands are clearly stated and defended. However, it is at the same time scrupulously fair and balanced. That's quite a trick, but the staff pulls it off week after week.
So, if you're ready and willing to spend some time reading thoughtful, thought-provoking, in-depth analysis of the news of the world, you won't find a better news magazine than The Economist.
The Economist Magazine Subscription Review
I have always been interested in keeping up with current events. As a child, foolishly, i used to watch Fox News, thinking that it was a gem. As I got older and my intellectual capacity started increasing I started becoming disgusted with cable news, which most of the times seems like a circus show.
I started reading the NY times and the Economist and found that, when bundled up together, I could get a clear picture of pretty much everything going on in the world very easily.
What other people have said of The Economist is true: it's not written for the average, spoon-fed American. It takes work to plow through this stuff. However, I've found that it has helped me tremendously in almost every aspect of my life (I know, how cliche!)
Perhaps the most tangible way it has helped me is with my English and writing skills. Now, English is not my first language (and when i started reading the magazine my brain would fry before i could get through a fourth of it). Getting through this magazine has helped me become a better writer and reader (i can think critically now, in English!). This was so noticeable that when i retook my SAT's a year later after discovering this Magazine my score jumped from a 470 in Critical reading to a 640 (out of 800) and my writing score jumped from a 500 to a 700 (out of 800). The articles College Board made me analyze seemed like a piece of cake compared to those of The Economist.
For the record, i wrote my SAT essay about Obama. I got all the information for it from the Economist.
LESSON: gift this subscription to any SAT anxiety filled teenager you know! (trust me, there are many.) He or she will be grateful.
The economist has taught me so much about so many different areas. I confess, i feel like an "intellectual" sometimes because of this magazine.