Magazines

By Steve Black -- Library Journal, 02/01/2009

New Reviews for February:
Culture | Debbie Bliss Knitting | Esperanza | Quiddity | Strategy

Anthropology Now. 2009. 3/yr. $375. Ed: Katherine McCaffrey. ISSN 1942-8200. illus. adv. Aud: GA, Ac (Subject: Anthropology. Issue examined: Vol. 1, No. 1, Apr. 2009)
"Other disciplines have a magazine for the general public. Why can’t we?" ask the editors in the inaugural issue of Anthropology Now. The concept is sound: the methods and findings of anthropologists can be relevant and appealing to the general public. Articles in the inaugural issue include "Becoming Monsters in Iraq," a piece on why women have breasts, and a profile of Margaret Mead. Curiously, though, the magazine has the look and feel of a scholarly journal, despite the inclusion of some poetry, creative nonfiction, and a sprinkling of black-and-white graphics. Unfortunately, the price is also that of a scholarly journal, quite high for the amount of content. Despite these drawbacks, the publication should interest the general public and students of anthropology; a good choice for libraries able to afford it. [Print & electronic subs: $394; online-only: $341. Sample issue (PDF).] 

Bible Study Magazine. 2008. bi-m. $14.95. Ed: Michael S. Heiser. ISSN 1945-0923. illus. adv. Aud: GA (Subject: Bible—Study & Teaching. Issue examined: Nov./Dec. 2008)
This enthusiastically evangelical magazine published by Logos Bible Software is colorful and attractively designed and includes interviews with famous evangelicals, reports on recent biblical research, and scholars’ explanations of biblical concepts. A "What They Don’t Tell You in Church" column in the examined issue features a chart of apocrypha included in various versions of the Bible. Other articles in the inaugural issue address the pros and cons of various Bible translations and dictionaries. Bible Study Magazine is a serious, clearly written popular magazine that uses biblical scholarship to illuminate, not refute, the principal beliefs of evangelical Protestantism. Highly recommended for religious studies collections in academic and public libraries. 

Cancer Fighters Thrive. 2008. q. $16. Ed: Edgar Staren, M.D. illus. adv. Aud: GA (Subject: Cancer—Patients. Issue examined: Vol. 1, Nov. 2, Fall 2008)
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) publishes this to support the organization’s stated approach, "Patient Empowerment Medicine." The articles are geared specifically to patients of practices affiliated with CTCA. The question for librarians is whether Cancer Fighters Thrive is balanced in coverage and of interest to a broad audience. On the whole, it is. Topics include medical treatments, personal success stories, and psychological aspects of fighting cancer. The center’s holistic approach to therapy will appeal to a wide readership, although readers should be aware that all content directly or indirectly supports the company’s activities. While this magazine’s native habitat will always be oncologists’ waiting rooms, this is a worthy title for public libraries’ fitness and wellness collections. [Sample issue (PDF).] 

Culture: The Word on Cheese. 2008. q. $40. Ed: Elaine Khosrova. ISSN 1945-1466. illus. adv. Aud: GA  (Subject: Cheese. Issue examined: Vol. 1, No. 1, Winter 2008)
Those interested in eating locally and naturally produced food will find much to enjoy in Culture. Artisanal cheeses are attracting national interest beyond their strongholds in Wisconsin, Vermont, and California, and this new magazine explains why and how via articles on successful cheesemakers and cheesemongers. It celebrates the virtues of the blues, the cheddars, and even the “stinkys” with descriptions, recipes, and suggestions for pairings with beer, wine, fruits, and other foods. Well edited and beautifully illustrated, Culture is a delectable choice for public libraries and highly recommended for libraries serving the culinary arts.

Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine. 2008. s-a. $7.99/issue [newsstand/yarn store only]. Ed: Debbie Bliss. illus. adv. Aud: GA (Subject: Knitting—Patterns. Issue examined: Vol. 1, No. 1, Fall/Winter 2008)
Vogue Knitting has created a colorful, glossy vehicle to promote the styles and wares of knitting entrepreneur Debbie Bliss. It is primarily a source of patterns for stylish sweaters, but the magazine also includes interviews, book reviews, and patterns for things like baby blankets and socks. The examined issue has instructions for 36 projects. Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine should appeal to many needle crafters and is a good choice for any library collection of craft patterns. Unfortunately, SoHo Publishing has chosen to sell it only in yarn stores and at newsstands. Unless subscriptions become available, librarians may find acquiring this magazine more trouble than it’s worth.

Esperanza. 2008. q. $19.95. Ed: Nicole Peradotto. illus. adv. Aud: GA (Subject: Depression, Mental–Popular Works. Issue examined: Fall 2008)
Esperanza’s mission—“to empower people with hope, helpful tools, and ongoing support”—is achieved through summaries of news stories, profiles of people coping with depression, articles and short pieces on techniques for coping, and a few book reviews. The examined issue includes an interview with actress Mariel Hemingway, an article on depression among lawyers, and a story on the benefits of light therapy for seasonal affective disorder. Esperanza’s advisory board consists mainly of directors of advocacy groups. The authors are journalists, not doctors, and the editors are adamant that content should not be taken as medical advice. A full-page ad thanks Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical for platinum sponsorship, but articles in the examined issue focus more on behavioral approaches. While much of the information could be found scattered in newspapers and other health magazines, Esperanza is well organized around its theme, visually attractive, and clearly written.

Modern Witch. 2008. q. $24. Ed: Sandy Lareau. ISSN 1941-3319. illus. adv. Aud: GA (Subject: Witchcraft. Issue examined: Beltane 2008)
The intended audience of witches, druids, practitioners of Asatru, priests and priestesses of Vudon, and pagans is certainly alternative, but the topics and writing styles in Modern Witch are less offbeat than one might imagine. The magazine's positive tone emphasizes respect and tolerance. It has colorful but simply designed pages, and the ads fit the intended readership. Articles in the thin, 18-page issue examined include an interview with M.R. Sellars (author of the "Rowan Gant Investigations" series), advice on raising pagan children, and a guide to pagan festivals. While some patrons may find offence in the very concept of paganism, nothing in the examined issue is remotely obscene, and the few criticisms of mainstream religion are indirect and mild. Modern Witch is worth acquiring for collections of alternative-press publications and for diverse collections of spiritual literature. 

Quiddity. 2008. s-a. $15. Eds: Joanna Beth Tweedy & Ted Morrissey. ISSN 1941-2606. illus. Aud: GA, Ac (Subject: Literature—21st Century. Issue examined: Vol. 1, No. 1, Spring/Summer 2008)
A publication of Springfield College–Benedictine University in Illinois, Quiddity features new poetry and short fiction from writers around the world as well as a sprinkling of black-and-white illustrations. It has a companion public radio program that invites accepted authors to read their works on air. The next issue will celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial. Many literary journals launched in the 21st century are edgy and experimental, with an in-your-face attitude and provocative graphics; in contrast, Quiddity is conservative in its graphic design and respectable in its content, although its authors do not shy away from exploring sensitive topics. A fine choice for any collection of contemporary literature.

Strategy. 2008. bi-m. $19.95. Ed: Mavian Arocha. illus. adv. Aud: GA, Ac (Subject: Business. Issue examined: Vol. 3, No. 1, 2009)
Atlanta-based Strategy’s succinct articles are grounded in findings from academia. The masthead includes acknowledgements of dozens of professors of business from around the country. The magazine’s clean graphic design is conducive to identifying items of interest quickly. “Out of Academia” sections summarize scholarly journal articles on management, accounting, finance, supply chain, technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Articles are brief, focusing on business strategies and interviews with successful businessmen and -women. Unlike many other business magazines, there is little focus on specific companies. Strategy successfully communicates relevant findings of academia in a highly readable and visually appealing fashion; highly recommended for public and academic libraries.

Ty Pennington at Home. 2008. q. $15. Ed: Karen Walden. ISSN 1936-5063. illus. adv. Aud: GA (Subject: Interior Decoration. Issue examined: Vol. 1, No. 3, Fall 2008)
This magazine exemplifies how personality and brand can merge into one and find a home in the checkout aisle. Ty Pennington, the popular host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, lends his name to and acts as editorial director for this Woman’s Day spin-off. The magazine has an attractive, easy-to-browse, and fluffy mix of product recommendations, design ideas, and tips on entertaining. Not surprisingly, the URL does not go directly to the magazine but only to a site busy with home décor promotions and publications. Pennington’s brand and brief stories about his TV show are all that distinguish this from the dozens of other shelter publications; however, that may be enough to make Ty Pennington at Home worthwhile for public libraries.

See Magazine Reviews for September–December