when one consider a subscription to Harper 's , it may be a good idea to spot check one 's core belief first , and then compare they against the editorial slant of the magazine . in the brief product review , Harper 's be describe as liberal and left-leaning . in my opinion , if it be to lean any farther , it would topple over . I have subscribe to Harper 's for several year now , and will continue to do so when my current subscription run out in the spring . over this time , I have be continually impress with the magazine 's consistancy and broad range article . it also seem to believe that its reader have longer attention span than what it take to read a postage stamp , and so it be never feel the need to follow the current trend of waste two or more introductory page cram full of paragraph-sized teaser article and sidebar . -lrb- see National Geographic , Scientific American , American Scholar , and just about the entire issue of the writer -rrb- . in any give issue of Harper 's , you will find : the index - a collection of statistics that tell they own story , the reporter 's Notebook - a spotlight soapbox , reading - a collection of short essay , fiction , memoir , transcript , etc. of wide and vary interest , review of New Books , a critical in-depth essay on some facet of Art or Literature , fiction , a memoir or a travelogue , and cover story that address the political and social climate in America . I do not agree with everything Harper 's put forth - as I say , they politics be plainly wear on they sleeve , and I think the reporter 's Notebook column be little more than a forum for gripe by a revolving coterie of journalist . at time elitist -lrb- though far less since Lewis Lapham 's influence have wane -rrb- and perhaps open to the claim they write from a ivory tower , it be also smart , funny , immensely engage , informative , and above all , think provoke . even if I be at odds with the view of a particular article , the occasion be a opportunity to redefine to myself where I do stand on the subject . as someone who believe himself to be centrally positioned socially and politically , neutral on many of the hot-button issue of today , and fiscally conservative , Harper 's still manage to entertain and engage on a regular basis . sadly , the author of my favorite recur column , John Leonard , die late last year . he review new book , and it be from he column that I learn of many of my own choice throughout that time . I can only hope that the new reviewer will share at least some of the same quality that Mr. Leonard do . lastly , if you be able to complete the puzzle in the back , then you be a far smarter person than i. I have subscribe for over three year , and I think I can count on one hand how many clue I have figure out . recommend for the open-minded .