Strengths: Quality reporting, depth of coverage on stories covered, a good amount of international coverage

Weaknesses: Intimidating format, little social perspective

Summary: If I remember correctly, this magazine was originally owned by an English publisher, and it shows in the style the magazine carries. You can always count on the Economist for long articles that provide a thorough look at every angle of a story, with minimal illustrations and often with references language that will make you feel smart for understanding. Great for those who ever considered going school after getting their college diploma, but a bit of a chore to read for anyone else.That being said, you can't get a better source for this information in the mass media -- the Washington Post New York Times might come close. If there were the breadth of stories to match the depth of coverage, you wouldn't need news from anywhere else. Of course, you'd probably want it, as the slight libertarian streak of most of their writers probably wouldn't sit well with those who consider themselves real liberals or conservatives.