The Wall Street Journal (6-month subscription)

The Op-Ed pages are also a treasure, particularly if you do subscribe to the Journal's libertarian-Republican point of view. And even if you don't it's always worth learning what the other side says. Leftists are well represented in the person of Al Hunt, whose weekly commentary keeps the reader abreast of what's current in Democratic circles. Writers from all sides are regularly represented in guest columns, too; last week's paper had an essay by Lech Walesa on the role Ronald Reagan played in supporting Solidarity and the Pope in the early days of their struggle againt the Polish government.

I've begun almost every weekday of the past twenty years with a cup of coffee and my copy of the WSJ. I can't imagine changing.


must be known to be loved   October 12, 2006
David A. Baer (Indianapolis, IN USA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

Question: Is there a better American English-language daily anywhere?

Answer: no.

The Times (of London) is a great and venerable paper, but not easily available in the US and focused on a different reality.

The New York Times is an institution in its own right, better than WSJ on foreign affairs, and a much more complete paper.

But the Wall Street Journal is as good as it gets for a daily newspaper reader in this country with a business bent, an appreciation for an unfailingly high standard of writing and editing, and no particular interest in 'soft' topics or the New York cultural scene.

This is one very crisp paper. The last time an article got too wordy was back in 1967 and that writer's body was never found.

Just kidding. But it would be a convenient myth for explaining WSJ's disciplined tone.

In the 'Personal Journal' section, I routinely find articles that reshape some aspect of my personal (usually financial) life and habits.

Sports news is heady and analytical. For example, as I write this review we are in the thick of the American and National League Championship Series. Today's reportage does not tell me who won and lost last night and why. Instead, the 'On Sports' column is called 'Base Instincts' and explains why so many third base coaches end up as managers. In short, apart from the players they are the most important guy on the field.

Across the page, the 'By the Numbers' column is called 'Praising Pitcher's Parks'. It asks why teams that play in pitcher-friendly parks do so well in October.

As of this moment, I still don't know who won last night. But I know a lot more about the game of baseball.

Best of all, you can generally avoid the pricey subscription if you're willing to use frequent flyer miles to subscribe.

One memorably off-kilter film moment had its protagonist emerging from his tent and declaiming, 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning.'

'Never smelled napalm and don't hanker after the carnage. But I can say that the sight of my Journal in the driveway every morning in its little blue bag is an oddly comforting experience.

Buy it.


Among the Best   October 28, 2006
Elijah Chingosho (Nairobi, Kenya)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful


"The Wall Street Journal" is one of the most-in-depth business journals available. It is an interesting blend of current events and insightful analysis of prevailing and sometimes not so apparent trends. The quality of reporting is generally balanced and professional.

Although every newspaper has a political orientation of one sort or the other, the Wall Street Journal news reporting is largely free of politics, making it a good source of unbiased news and information for most people. However, its editorial section is conservative, although thankfully the editorial section is a tiny portion of the whole magazine.

The journal has a lot of insightful business news that every manager at any level should find useful. The reporters cover the various topics in great detail and with knowledgeable perspective from all sides. They are not afraid to cover corporate transgression with rigour and honesty.

The journal also covers various other topics such as personal finance, special reports, business profiles, interviews, commentary, market and news of note for management personnel.