Fortune
by The Time Inc. Magazine Company
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Just as Wall Street is an icon to the investment community, Fortune magazine is one to its readership, the difference being Fortune's diversified reach into the many facets of business: technology, companies, global economics, and, of course, your personal fortune. While many a narrow-focused business and investing magazine has come and gone, Fortune has grown and prospered, investing as much in content as ad space and staying in print since the 1930s. Columns include features on the marketplace, tech movers and shakers, career trends, U.S. politics, and even European business. Readers also look forward to the annually updated Fortune lists, which include the "40 Richest Under 40," "Most Powerful Women," and the "Fortune 500," an exclusive collection of companies whose employees are undoubtedly Fortune readers as well. --Mace Bainwright ... Read more

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Good magazine
Of the Big 3 (FORTUNE, Forbes, and BusinessWeek), I like FORTUNE the most.BusinessWeek feels like it's always copying someone or dying to jump on the bandwagon for the next big thing.Forbes is a good magazine but sometimes is so original that it veers too far from its original purpose---to report and analyze the business world.
FORTUNE profiles the people it chooses and writes about current events without just summarizing the way BusinessWeek does.

The CEO Business Journal
Financial magazines are in great abundance on the newsstand shelves and one of the best known among them is Fortune. This publication is popular for many reasons, foremost among them being the annual Fortune 500 rankings, which presents the corporations in the United States in a ranking list based on sales.

Does Fortune have much else to offer besides this annual ranking? Yes and no. There is some good reading to be found here from time to time, with Fortune writers presenting some good articles on a diverse range of topics from taxation, to employee benefits, to political regulation of business. But in other ways, Fortune's primary focus makes it the type of magazine that few can relate. Most of what you read in Fortune is aimed at CEO's and other high- ranking corporate officers. Articles that discuss how a CEO successfully contained costs and helped increase shareholder value make for some ok reading, but they are not the type of articles that most readers can relate to.

Fortune is very much a corporate publication, and while it does present a few articles on personal finance, it would be better if it contained more. Also, it would be nice if there was a more personal dimension to this magazine. Along with more articles on personal finance and investing, I would like it better if it included stories of actual families illustrating what they have done to achieve their personal goals.

Fortune magazine will continue to remain one of the definitive publications in its field for corporations and for CEO's in particular. It could use a few improvements and a little better focus, but it's still a decent magazine to read. Even if you don't own your own business, Fortune does provide some useful tips for business success.

outstanding articles, really gets to the heart of the matter
As a Fortune reader for an embarrassingly long amount of time, it is a pleasure to say that it is getting better and better. The articles are really well-written and substantive.It is a real counter-balance to the daily business news - just enough above the fray to be insightful, but not so abstract as to be out of practical touch.Well done. ... Read more

Asin: B0000AWD8Z
Subjects:  1. Business    2. Investing    3. Economics    4. Business & Economics    5. Personal Finance - Investing    6. Corporate Finance   

Fast Company
by Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing
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Since 1995, Fast Company has been an informative and vital voice of the changing business industry. The monthly magazine is a beacon to new industries, especially those tied to the Internet, but offers more. Inside are smart attitudes and information that give entrepreneurs and business professionals the particulars of leadership and organization, no matter what the trade. Find key ingredients of working in teams or read a candid interview with the leaders of today's leading-edge companies. The magazine also offers practical business tools and tactics, from must-have gadgets to how to handle voluminous amounts of e-mail. Ideas come from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, Harvard, and even Las Vegas. The magazine dubbed the entrepreneurship and consulting movement "Free-Agent Nation," and overnight became the bible for those working for themselves. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

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I Just Love This Magazine!
I only read two magazines cover to cover: Fast Company and The New Yorker. Why? I never read Fast Company in the '90s during the day. But I am constantly surprised by stuff I find in its pages. The stories are entertaining and surprising. Most of the stuff the magazine runs you won't get or see anywhere else. I just read the story on George Stalk in the newest issue. Wow! Couldn't imagine seeing this in any other magazine--except The New Yorker. Keep up the great work.

Who Needs Fortune or Forbes
I just picked up a recent issue, the one with New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell on the cover. Wow! This is a remarkably surprising and entertaining magazine--and one of the few to deliver useful advice and lessons that immediately help you at work. If you're in business, reading Fast Company doesn't feel like homework which is the sense I get from other business magazines. It's one of the few magazines I can read from cover to cover and greatly enjoy. I find myself re-reading some of these stories (the writing quality often approaches what you'd expect to find in an Esquire or New Yorker). It's my new favorite magazine!

Smart Moves
Truly one of the best print and neumedia that I've perchanced to read, and be part of online.

I would recommend FastCompany to every business entity or entrepreneur. FastCompany's articles have facets of a diamond that most businesses tend to overlook! Its a brilliant magazine and would make a great gift subscription for the budding Technopreneur. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7Q4
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business   

Business 2.0
by The Time Inc. Magazine Company
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Business 2.0 offers today's "visionaries" a refreshing blend of traditional and contemporary business strategies. Lighthearted perspectives give way to hard-hitting articles on industry trends, while historic references pay homage to some of the world's all-time-great business leaders. Regular features include "Startup" ("People, trends, wild conjecture"), "What Works" ("Tactics, tools, true-life adventures") and "Self Serve" ("Navigate your life, enhance your view"). Throw in some flashy graphics and unusual fonts, and a slant towards the Internet economy, and Business 2.0 is well-positioned for the next century of business.--Elizabeth Malker ... Read more

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Uneven
If you're going to publish a business magazine, then you should publish articles that are useful to people in business. Business 2.0 does this, but only with every second or so issue. In between, they publish a lot of vapid, unfocused material that is unworthy of publication anywhere.

The good articles are worth enough to me that I'll continue to subscribe, but I wish they'd get their act together.

Good for keeping on top of a lot of business topics
I have been a subscriber for some time. It's a business publication that does not focus solely on Wall Street financials - they are there to a lesser degree but this is not the publication if that is what you are looking for. Think entrepreneur or general business topics and that's Business 2.0. It does not focus on one topic or industry but covers all to some degree - think `oddball' as well. Monthly sections include `What's Next', `What Works', `What's Cool'. The articles are cutting edge in some cases, well researched and well written with an informal slant. They cover tech, marketing, product development, product design, ideas, new products and services, M&A's and a wide range of general business topics. You will find out about new things before most of your coworkers, giving you interesting conversation fodder for the water cooler, happy-hour settings. To go even further in figuring out their demographics and target market/s, the ads include autos like Camry, Land Rover LR3, Mini Cooper and even the Porsche Boxster, Laptops, Business Productivity Software like Office 2003, Business Products like copiers and printers, Mobile calling plans, HP, Credit Cards and even Lufthansa airline. So if you are not in this demographic, maybe they're not targeting your demographic. Why Buy: You are an up and coming business major or business professional in your `building your career foundation' of your career. You are entrepreneurial minded. You want to keep on top of a wide range of business topics and even some that are not yet making the news. As a gift for someone with these interests.

amazon is incredibly overpriced on this
amazon sells a one year subscription for $14 which includes a $5 amazon certificate that you get later.

in the actual magazine, the subscription card is 6.99 for one year or 2 years for $10.00

so use the card, save some money and also dont have to wait for your $5 back and then find something at amazon that you can use the $5 certificate on.
... Read more

Asin: B00005R8BQ
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Business    3. Technology   

Wired
by Conde Nast Publications Inc.
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Lots of Flash, No Bang.
Wired purports to be a cutting edge high tech magazine. In fact, it is little more than a Nerd's version of People magazine, with a lot of short, unconnected articles purporting to offer inside information from the tech community. It is most likely to be of interest to Gamers (and has lots of ads addressed to that crowd).

The best thing about it is its (expensive) graphics, but that doesn't justify wasting your time or money on it.

BEWARE OF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
I got a letter from a collecting agency stating WIRED hired them "to write you as to why payment has not been made as of this letter date." The letter ends in a bold, italicized threat:

"This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose."

I never subscribed to this magazine yet I got this letter. I called the handy number right at the top of the "bill" and I was forwarded to a recording with the following instructions:

press "1" to make payment
press "2" if already paid
press "3" never received subscription
press "4" never renewed subsciption
press "5" never ordered subscription


I pressed 5, and that was that. Talk about a low way to get subscribers. This is bottom feeding. Magazines used to offer you incentives. Now they threaten to louse up your credit rating.

Anyway, I am writing this to inform and warn existing and future subscribers about this magazine. Based on the options given above, not only "non-subscribers" like me get a letter from a collecting agency to subscribe to this magazine, but also existing subscribers who did not renew their subscriptions.

I think this is taking guerilla marketing a bit too far - not only are you being billed for something you didn't order, but they're skipping right over you and sending your name directly to a collection agency.

The Dark Side Of Wired
I was a Wired subscriber for 2 years but later on decided not to continue with the subscription. I wish it was that easy! They sent me a couple issues after the subscription ended (without any approval!) and then started to bomb with those endless mail reminders like "we still didn't get your payment, please don't forget" and "we want you not to miss any of our great issues". Sure thing, I ignored them but now they forwarded my info to some collecting agency which threatens me and asks to pay the subscriprion fee plus late fees plus collection fees.

The magazine itself is okay though. I quite understand this review is basically not what people write about things but anyway. I just wanted to address this information to whoever might be interested in it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7TL
Sales Rank: 8
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business    4. Technology   

Harvard Business Review
by Harvard Business Review
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"Process is God" might well be the motto of this management resource. The Harvard Business Review is all about best practices and better practices and being front and center with the latest and greatest ideas about how to run anything from a railroad to a recovering dotcom. Although the magazine's eagerness to adopt buzzwords makes it a target for jargon watchers, it is at heart conservative and cautious. What is the key to success, according to the Harvard Business Review? Lead, motivate, innovate! And then use the performance measurement tool of the month to make sure that the leading, motivating, and innovating worked, you know, just to be on the safe side. --Edith Sorenson ... Read more

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Not Cutting Edge
This is my third year as a subscriber - sometimes I wonder what I have missed before that. HBR is not about being the first to print the latest management trends or techniques. The majority of the articles involve a ton load of research spanning years and in some cases decades. The research covers numerous companies so that there is a justifiable amount of truth to what is being written. It would be tomfoolery to adopt these techniques and assume that they will automatically apply to your company or department without some sort of additional or complimentary technique. However HBR covers many of the different management styles with practical examples. Then occasionally they revisit an article that they printed eons ago, giving you a fresh insight on how accurate or even inaccurate they were in their research. Each month there is a fictional Case Study that tries to mimic the real world. At the end of each Case Study authorities in the case study field give their professional views on what should be done. Occasionally these fictional studies do reflect your own corporate trials and tribulations. There is the `HBR at Large' section and `Best Practice' covers real world practices and their thoughts on them. HBR will teach you a lot. You should know that you probably wouldn't read every article every month. You're looking at 125-175 pages per month and about 100+ pages of content per month - fine print!. Why Buy: Quite possibly the most impressive magazine to have on your desk when anyone steps into your office. It's inevitable, almost everything involves money and business - HBR greatly improves your odds with the business part. As a gift for the business minded person (corporate or entrepreneur) in your life - male, female, romantic, non-romantic.

The HBR Equity - Coffee Table or Boardroom?
HBR is a good read there is no question.It has a history of ground breaking articles published, granted.I thoroughly enjoy it, when I can get it in Poland. Every graduate from a reputable management school should receive a free year's subscription.Most of these readers would renew at the regular price, IMHO.

That acknowledged, I am a public relations practitioner and I have a gripe with HBR.There is not a whole lot representing my profession besides culture change and some interesting HR cases, which I could audit at any university if I so wanted. This makes HBR a soft read for my needs.

I teach public relations to 5th year students at the state university, link MBO and financial results with PR management same as any department would be required.In my capacity as an instructor, I encourage my students to offer counsel and read through P&L's.I encourage them to look at problems with detailed financials and prepare their proposed programs with an understanding of the corporate audience.I encourage research, not only polling publics outside the company but also to take a pulse of the company itself: much like a professional doctor would do with a patient when diagnosing a problem before beginning a procedure.

Granted, there are very few case studies I can use to promote sound PR management thinking rather than the over-predominant "technical" thinking of PR as an extension of a creative communications artform.(O, how I wish for a case with figures like something in Marketing Logistics or Financial Management!) For my money, in PR, there is nothing but artistry and the name of the HBR.I concur with another reviewer, mnetzley, who suggests that the level of presentation between the covers has fallen to the level of a Harlequin romance for business managers: dumbed-down anecdotes, and stories masquerading as case studies, IMO.

For illustration, there was a communications case a couple of years ago dealing with Crisis and the corporate need for good communication.One of the reviewers assessed it right in the post mortem: trouble began before the problem arrived.But this begs two questions: Why wasn't the problem identified before the crisis appeared; and why wasn't THAT tool presented for learning rather than the case itself?It was a nice case as far as it went but it was for the coffee table and not the boardroom.

And that seems to be the level of the HBR these days. Of course, I expect more from the HBR so your mileage may vary.But isn't the cachet of HBR the avant-garde?For me to rate it higher than a three at this stage, I feel I would be doing a disservice to the old magazine that published ground-breaking articles while humouring a brand equity that has lost its vision to its own magnificence.

Great Gift Idea
I'm buying this for my son for Christmas, but I should have been a better businessman.The Harvard Review web site is selling subscriptions for [...], so I paid [...] more than I should have.
[...] ... Read more

Asin: B00005U5EB
Subjects:  1. Business   

The Wall Street Journal
by Dow Jones & Company
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Few newspapers enjoy the prestige and authority of The Wall Street Journal. Its distinctive six-column format delivers news from around the world along with comprehensive business and market coverage that make it a must-read for corporate America. But the Journal covers more than just business--column four on the front page features intelligent and eclectic stories that are among the most widely read in America; Friday's "Weekend Section" takes on film, leisure, wine, music, and sports; and its probusiness editorial page will make any capitalist's heart glow. The Wall Street Journal is an ideal gift for students, corporate types, and anyone wanting to listen in on the national dialogue. --Harry Edwards ... Read more

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Simply The Best Daily Newspaper In The USA
This newspaper is far superior to TV news. It does articles in depth and has nuggets of amazing news stories that you will not find anywhere else. It is a window on the world of news, business, finance, medicine, science, travel and politics. In addition to the print version, WSJ also offers an internet version.

THE daily printed media; only competition is the Internet
Of the printed daily newspapers, WSJ is easily the superior in just about every aspect that really matters. NYT has a lot more and better photographs, but they are best viewed on a computer screen. There's not much to argue (regarding the relatively conservative editorial page) in this review that hasn't already been written; and one more center-right Midwesterner's recommendation is not going to be of much incremental value. However, as an investor and consumer I can state that WSJ and its website have been the primary source of credible information about businesses, law, finance and consumer products. Anybody that works for a living, has a mortgage or has a long-term savings plan would benefit from reading the WSJ as often as possible. There's simply no substitute.

Good reporting, childish editorials.Get the FT instead
When you subscribe to the Wall Street Journal it's like getting two newspapers:a good news reporting paper and an what at times seems like an editorial page written by sophmomores in the local Young Americans for Freedom college rag.It's not that I mind right-wing editorials, I'm somewhat of a libertarian myself, it's just that its editorial page puts ideology ahead of reason far too often for my taste.For a much better deal-- business news, all the financial quotes, much better international coverage, and excellent and concise reporting -- choose the Financial Times.At the moment an annual subscription is selling for $50.It's a much better publication and on Saturday's has a very fine weekend section with good book reviews and arts and culture coverage.Also because the FT is based out of London the editors are much more balanced and less cowed or ideologically obedient.Even if they were similarly priced the FT would be the better deal.As it is the FT costs a fraction of the price of the WSJ. ... Read more

Asin: B00005R8BI
Subjects:  1. News & Politics    2. Business