Your favorite subscription-only magazines?
January 18, 2011 8:04 AM Subscribe
What are your favorite by subscription-only magazines?
One example: FUNGI magazine, published only 5 times per year.
What are your favorites?
I'm looking for print magazines only (not online).
One example: FUNGI magazine, published only 5 times per year.
What are your favorites?
I'm looking for print magazines only (not online).
I understand that you want to read things in print. I do too for certain things.
But why does it matter if the magazine is also online? What makes this not work for you?
posted by theichibun at 8:16 AM on January 18, 2011
But why does it matter if the magazine is also online? What makes this not work for you?
posted by theichibun at 8:16 AM on January 18, 2011
Make's not subscription-only.
MAKE is also available through many of the same leading online and brick-and-mortar retailers that carry O'Reilly's other publications, plus select newsstand outlets. See this list of retailers who carry MAKE on their newstand.posted by zamboni at 8:18 AM on January 18, 2011
Cook's Illustrated is a great resource, but might not fit your criteria: it is subscription only, but there is an online subscription so it is not print only. The print magazine is fantastic -- no ads and extremely useful recipes and equipment reviews. The recipes come at the end of articles that discuss how the author went through many trials to achieve the best whatever, and goes into what worked and what didn't work, so it's a good education. Not cheap but definitely worth it.
posted by tractorfeed at 8:26 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tractorfeed at 8:26 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
What are your favorite by subscription-only magazines?
I'm looking for print magazines only (not online).
I would like to answer your question, but I really don't know what you mean by this.
How unavailable online does it have to be?
For instance, if some but not all the articles are available for free online, does that count?
Some more context about your actual motivation for wanting "subscription-only" magazines might be useful.
posted by John Cohen at 8:33 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm looking for print magazines only (not online).
I would like to answer your question, but I really don't know what you mean by this.
How unavailable online does it have to be?
For instance, if some but not all the articles are available for free online, does that count?
Some more context about your actual motivation for wanting "subscription-only" magazines might be useful.
posted by John Cohen at 8:33 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Similarly, there are a lot of magazines that are not as widely distributed as, say, Time or Sports Illustrated or whatever, but are still sold in the occasional retail shop.
Would these be okay, or do you require that the magazines are strictly, 100%, subscription-only?
posted by box at 8:40 AM on January 18, 2011
Would these be okay, or do you require that the magazines are strictly, 100%, subscription-only?
posted by box at 8:40 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Cook's Illustrated is not subscription only. The fancy-pants grocery store up the hill sells individual issues, and I think I've seen it elsewhere.
I like American Bungalow. I'm not sure if it's subscription-only, though.
As others have said, I think a little detail from the OP would help here.
posted by griseus at 8:43 AM on January 18, 2011
I like American Bungalow. I'm not sure if it's subscription-only, though.
As others have said, I think a little detail from the OP would help here.
posted by griseus at 8:43 AM on January 18, 2011
Similarly, there are a lot of magazines that are not as widely distributed as, say, Time or Sports Illustrated or whatever, but are still sold in the occasional retail shop.
Yeah, "subscription-only" would seem to mean, literally, that if there's any newsstand in the world that sells individual issues, it doesn't count. I find it hard to believe that that's what the OP is looking for, but I can't really tell because the question is very vague.
posted by John Cohen at 8:57 AM on January 18, 2011
Yeah, "subscription-only" would seem to mean, literally, that if there's any newsstand in the world that sells individual issues, it doesn't count. I find it hard to believe that that's what the OP is looking for, but I can't really tell because the question is very vague.
posted by John Cohen at 8:57 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Banjo NewsLetter.
(even if their lack of coverage for old-time verges on the criminal)
posted by scruss at 9:01 AM on January 18, 2011
(even if their lack of coverage for old-time verges on the criminal)
posted by scruss at 9:01 AM on January 18, 2011
Response by poster: I understand that you want to read things in print. I do too for certain things.
But why does it matter if the magazine is also online? What makes this not work for you?
I don't care if it is also online, just don't want something that is online-only and calling itself a magazine. I'm looking for stuff to read when I'm not around the computer.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 9:01 AM on January 18, 2011
But why does it matter if the magazine is also online? What makes this not work for you?
I don't care if it is also online, just don't want something that is online-only and calling itself a magazine. I'm looking for stuff to read when I'm not around the computer.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 9:01 AM on January 18, 2011
OK, my favorite magazines are The New Republic (subscribe) and The New Yorker (subscribe).
posted by John Cohen at 9:07 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by John Cohen at 9:07 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Monocle. Indeed, it's the only magazine I'm subscribe to anymore. It's sold at very few retail outlets and the subscription is 50% more than retail price yet it's doing well.
posted by wackybrit at 9:10 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by wackybrit at 9:10 AM on January 18, 2011
Cook's Illustrated is a great resource, but might not fit your criteria: it is subscription only
This isn't true. Cook's is available on for purchase in the magazine section of many bookstores, grocery stores, etc. It is a great resource, though!
posted by jacquilynne at 9:12 AM on January 18, 2011
This isn't true. Cook's is available on for purchase in the magazine section of many bookstores, grocery stores, etc. It is a great resource, though!
posted by jacquilynne at 9:12 AM on January 18, 2011
I don't care if it is also online, just don't want something that is online-only
So, if I understand correctly, you just want our favorite print magazines (yeah, 'print magazines' is a little hokey, like a lot of retronyms, but what else would you call it)?
I like The Baffler, Harper's and Wax Poetics quite a bit. Nthing Cook's Illustrated, too.
posted by box at 9:17 AM on January 18, 2011
So, if I understand correctly, you just want our favorite print magazines (yeah, 'print magazines' is a little hokey, like a lot of retronyms, but what else would you call it)?
I like The Baffler, Harper's and Wax Poetics quite a bit. Nthing Cook's Illustrated, too.
posted by box at 9:17 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Society of Primitive Technology. You can buy back issues (including two books of collected issues), but it's quite expensive compared to a membership.
posted by curious nu at 9:18 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by curious nu at 9:18 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Harpers is simply amazing. I cannot say enough good things about it and at less than 20 bucks/year it is a steal.
posted by willie11 at 9:19 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by willie11 at 9:19 AM on January 18, 2011
Response by poster: I thought giving an example was enough, but to clarify:
I am looking for magazines that are available by subscription only or which are very hard to find outside of a major city. Or they could be a foreign magazine that is in English but not distributed in the United States outside of somewhere big like New York or San Francisco. These are likely not well-known and cater to specific interests, hobbies, markets, etc.
Here's another example that I found by Googling:
Limousin World
I also do not care if there is an online component as long as I can subscribe to a print edition.
My motivation is to find magazines that interest me that I would not likely come across in a bookstore or newsstand.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 9:25 AM on January 18, 2011
I am looking for magazines that are available by subscription only or which are very hard to find outside of a major city. Or they could be a foreign magazine that is in English but not distributed in the United States outside of somewhere big like New York or San Francisco. These are likely not well-known and cater to specific interests, hobbies, markets, etc.
Here's another example that I found by Googling:
Limousin World
I also do not care if there is an online component as long as I can subscribe to a print edition.
My motivation is to find magazines that interest me that I would not likely come across in a bookstore or newsstand.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 9:25 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Perhaps you could tell us about your interests then? Most trade and academic journals will qualify. Most newspapers other than the NY Times/WSJ/USA Today will qualify (since their distribution is local and you therefore won't see them on a regular newsstand outside their target city.)
I like Proceedings from the US Naval Institute, but unless you're really into ships and naval strategy, that wouldn't be your thing.
posted by Jahaza at 9:49 AM on January 18, 2011
I like Proceedings from the US Naval Institute, but unless you're really into ships and naval strategy, that wouldn't be your thing.
posted by Jahaza at 9:49 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Adventure Cyclist magazine, focused on bicycle touring in the US and abroad. That page has a link you can click to get a free sample of the magazine. To subscribe, you become a member of the organization ($40/year or cheaper if you are a student or spring for multiple years).
posted by BlooPen at 10:40 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by BlooPen at 10:40 AM on January 18, 2011
Kind of woodworking specific, but
and like mother earth news but way better
posted by Redhush at 10:43 AM on January 18, 2011
and like mother earth news but way better
posted by Redhush at 10:43 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: http://www.shopnotes.com/
http://www.backwoodshome.com/
sorry
posted by Redhush at 10:44 AM on January 18, 2011
http://www.backwoodshome.com/
sorry
posted by Redhush at 10:44 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: I'm enjoying Saudi Aramco World. It's free; just sign up on the website. I subscribed out of idle curiosity, and have been surprised that it is reliably interesting and beautiful.
The last print magazine subscription I'm still willing to pay for is New Scientist--tons of useful and fascinating stuff, well presented.
posted by Corvid at 11:16 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
The last print magazine subscription I'm still willing to pay for is New Scientist--tons of useful and fascinating stuff, well presented.
posted by Corvid at 11:16 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Perhaps you could tell us about your interests then?
I'd rather not, so that I don't limit the suggestions. I just want to know what your favorites are so that I can check them out and expand my horizons.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 11:23 AM on January 18, 2011
I'd rather not, so that I don't limit the suggestions. I just want to know what your favorites are so that I can check them out and expand my horizons.
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 11:23 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: I am surprised that nobody has dropped The Art of Eating yet ... it's like the original foodie nerd magazine. And it is everything the author seems to be looking for. Very hard to buy retail (as in only available at super specialty food \ cookbook shops, at very tiny quantities and on capricious delivery schedules)
Bicycle Quarterly isn't bad, though I let my subscription lapse recently. It's mostly the work of Jan Heine and his articles work well for some readers, and not others. Same can be said for The Rivendell Reader (though the Riv Reader is now available on line).
I also tend to like the Adventure Cycling Newsletter as it has some neat travel journals and tour ideas.
posted by bl1nk at 11:57 AM on January 18, 2011
Bicycle Quarterly isn't bad, though I let my subscription lapse recently. It's mostly the work of Jan Heine and his articles work well for some readers, and not others. Same can be said for The Rivendell Reader (though the Riv Reader is now available on line).
I also tend to like the Adventure Cycling Newsletter as it has some neat travel journals and tour ideas.
posted by bl1nk at 11:57 AM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Review of Contemporary Fiction is put out by the same people involved in Dalkey Archive Press and is grrrreat. NYRB, London Review of Books, Paris Review, Granta are all solid too. More ubiquitous but The New Yorker, The American Scholar, Wire, Zoetrope, One Story, and Ploughshares are pretty ok. Nthing Gastronomica and Art of Eating.
posted by ifjuly at 12:36 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by ifjuly at 12:36 PM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: i like my style
032c
I don't know if these are subscription only, but I think they are hard to find at newsstands.
posted by bluefly at 12:39 PM on January 18, 2011
032c
I don't know if these are subscription only, but I think they are hard to find at newsstands.
posted by bluefly at 12:39 PM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: I bought someone a subscription to McSweeney's Quarterly and they loved it.
posted by Jorus at 1:17 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Jorus at 1:17 PM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: This one has an online presence and can be found in some bookstores, but Cabinet is pretty cool.
posted by degoao at 9:24 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by degoao at 9:24 PM on January 18, 2011
Best answer: Fungi Magazine - Dare you to try to find this in a bookstore.
posted by wcfields at 9:45 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by wcfields at 9:45 AM on January 19, 2011
Response by poster: Fungi Magazine - Dare you to try to find this in a bookstore.
I dare you to try to find it in my original question :-)
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 2:08 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
I dare you to try to find it in my original question :-)
posted by buckaroo_benzai at 2:08 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You won't find As Loud As Possible in newsstands...
posted by Joseph Gurl at 3:35 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 3:35 PM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Thing Quarterly could not possibly be sold in stores.
I got it as a gift and have since given it as a gift due to its awesomeness.
(Warning: does stretch the definition of "magazine" by a lot.)
posted by nev at 6:13 PM on January 19, 2011
I got it as a gift and have since given it as a gift due to its awesomeness.
(Warning: does stretch the definition of "magazine" by a lot.)
posted by nev at 6:13 PM on January 19, 2011
Late response - I just discovered that Beer Advocate is subscription-only. I haven't seen a copy yet, but plan to subscribe as the forum and back issues look awesome.
posted by momus_window at 1:26 PM on January 25, 2011
posted by momus_window at 1:26 PM on January 25, 2011
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posted by RJ Reynolds at 8:07 AM on January 18, 2011 [1 favorite]