in June of 1850 , a new magazine appear on the american scene . create by a New York publishing company call Harper & Brothers , the periodical receive the appropriate name `` Harper 's magazine . '' over the year , the magazine begin print article and story from american author , include William Dean Howells , Mark Twain , Theodore Dreiser , John Muir , Jack London , and many other big literary name immediately recognizable to reader of literature . Harper 's also publish news about the big story of the day , such as a article write by Henry Stimson defend the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima . astonishingly enough , the magazine nearly fold in 1980 until several big shot step in and rescue the periodical with grant money . needless to say , Harper 's magazine still chug along , and I recently subscribe to see what this historic publication look like today . what I find both elate and bother I . Harper 's magazine be a entertaining read , if the September 2003 edition be any indication , but at the same time the politics express in several of the entry leave a slightly sour taste in my mouth . the September issue overflow with article about politics , book review , essay , letter from reader , picture of artwork , and several excerpt from current literary effort . there be even a doozy of a puzzle towards the end of the magazine for those who want to test they mental power . it look as though the editor of the magazine keep advertising to a minimum -lrb- a good thing -rrb- , and there be not any of those annoying , and sometimes perfumed , insert you find in most magazine . nothing kill a magazine quicker in my mind than detect wave of some cheap cologne waft off a article about politics or entertainment . my favorite odor free article in this issue of Harper 's include a travelogue piece about Waziristan , a rugged region in Pakistan where Taliban exile mix with hostile pashtun tribe who possess a decidedly anti-american mentality . the article , write by a american woman , be slightly histrionic in its presentation but it be very informative . sure enough , a week after I read this article someone on the news mention the region in the context of american anti-terrorism effort , and I be happy to know something about it before hand . another article worth mention be a essay about the public school system write by a retired teacher . the author of this piece deride the crush boredom of the educational system for both student and teacher , and trace the development of we school back to Prussia in the 18th and 19th century . while I disagree with he political leaning , I do find he conclusion that we school serve as factory to churn out good little sheep that only know how to shop relevant and satisfying . my favorite literary excerpt come from a israeli journalist name Oz Shelach , who write a book call `` Picnic Grounds . '' the excerpt come in bite size little fragment that shed some insight into the problem between the Israelis and Palestinians , among other topic . some of the stuff in this issue of Harper 's magazine be good reading material . regrettably , my politics do not mesh well with the staff at Harper 's magazine . I sigh aloud every time I see a reference to identity politics , specifically in a literary critique about V.S. Naipaul write by Terry Eagleton . I should be fair and state that I see a full page advertisement from a group seek to limit immigration into the United States , and there be a critique of the new Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry that do question the inclusion of several poet who write about nothing except identity theme , so there do seem to be a attempt at balance . overall , Harper 's magazine be definitely a left orient publication . I think I can live with it now that I know what to look for in future issue , but for some people this might present a significant problem . one good aspect : while there may be a mess of leftist at the helm of this magazine , at least they still know how to have a laugh . include in this issue be a description of a italian board game about woman of the night . base on Monopoly , the Italians call this game `` Puttanopoly , '' and the excerpt take from the card in the game be as hilarious as they be inappropriate for this review . after finish this issue of the magazine , I realize that even though I disagree with its politics , I be still look forward to receive my next issue . I read this magazine cover to cover in just a couple of day , and for the most part I feel I learn a lot about various topic in the process . you simply can not resist the price offer here for a year 's subscription , so give Harper 's Magazine a chance . no matter what you outlook on life , I guarantee you will find something here to tickle you fancy .