The Best American Magazine Writing 2020

This collection of essays will throw you for an intellectual loop. There's something here for everyone, beginning with the first essay on prison snitches, through discussion of slavery and ending with an expose about the USS Fitzgerald. I think one theme that ties these pieces all together (while it may not have been intended) is the idea of unintended consequences. Throughout these essays, the choices that people made affect future outcomes and in some instances, in the long term. The idea of a debutante ball even oozes with the concept.

I was glad, that while political themes pop up throughout the collection, it is not tirade on current politics and dysfunction; quite a breath of fresh air (coming from someone who reads a lot of nonfiction writing).

If you're looking for thought provoking, stimulating writing, I'd encourage you to go to this volume.

Even if you are a keen fan of press journalism and try to read as much as you can, it's impossible to keep in touch with everything that is published in the US. That's why I like so much such collections as "The Best American Magazine Writing". It gives you a good overview and brings very varied stories, and from a very broad range of publications, not only the obvious ones like "NYT" or "New Yorker". It also doesn't focus only on the US, and I've found the examples of international reporting particularly compelling.

Thanks to the publisher, Columbia University Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I am definitely going to adopt this text for the next academic year. I always enjoy the Best Magazine Writing series, but this years articles will particularly well-chosen. There’s a nice selection of topics and ideas present here. I think these articles are so timely and engaging and give the students such a valuable opportunity to read about contemporary issues in thoughtful, engaging ways. Thank you for allowing me access!

These are the type off Anthologies I live for. I love investigative journalism and excellent magazine articles! I love them, but with media, newspapers, magazines, television, and documentaries, it is just about impossible to keep up with every magazine article. This is why I so appreciate that the Editor Sid Holt did all that work for me. The first article by Pamala Colloff is terrific. She addresses how much the DA’s office leans on jailhouse snitches, who often are not reliable sources for death sentence and murder case convictions. This is quite problematic, since often that is the primary evidence used to get a conviction. People in jail are aware that if they can help the DA’s office on a case, it will greatly reduce their upcoming outstanding case. The only people unaware of this are the juries. There was an article from the NYT The 1619 Project which addresses the nations history around slavery and it’s legacy. Another article is by Arundhati Roy, a wonderful journalist to read. These are the top articles and if I did not have this book, I would have missed them.

So, thank you NetGalley for an advance review copy. Please note, I select books that I am honestly interested in reading and do read them fully and always give my honest opinion. I think that is essential.

Another terrific collection of informative absorbing articles.The article on Das offices using jail house snitches was of particular interest tome since I am involved in the criminal justice system.Another intelligent absorbing journal that I will be discussing and continue to dip into.#netgalley #columbia

Go to any article in this collection and you will find something meaty and interesting to read. Entries are from publications including The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Fortune Magazine, The New Yorker and The Georgia Review, among others. All of the entries’ writers were either a finalist or prize winner in categories including Reporting, a Single Topic Issue, Feature Writing, Profile Writing and more.

This is a collection that includes many serious and thought provoking reads. It is definitely worth the reader’s time and attention.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

Loved this series of magazine articles. Excellent variety of writing and such interesting bodies of work.

The depth, breadth, and excellence of the articles and stories in the annual guide THE BEST AMERICAN MAGAZINE WRITING 2020 was exactly as needed -- exciting, informing, and thought-provoking ideas and stories from some of the very best writers working today. I loved being able to dive into any story, trusting that it would be a solid, entrancing read. I appreciate the advance reader copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Well researched, engaging stories. But, very depressing. I live in Florida and the feature story involves the correupt Orlando Police dept. I read the newspaper and was familiar with this story but, not the level of corruption which is still an issue and appears to be getting worse. This is HEAVY reading.
I would suggest some 'lighter' stories intermixed.
Topics discussed are Genocide in Rohingya, Mass incarceration, Slavery and its legacies, I struggled getting through the weight of it, and all of the ramifications, particularly now, as we hbernate in our homes, with fear of the Covid virus encapsulating our lives.
Why is it that you news folks always focus on the negative-dismal-forces which puts us in a mindset of wanting to slit our wrists. Yes, its bad 'out there' but, there are some good people with worthwhile experiences.
Why don't you focus on those stories?
Articles are from stellar publications such as the NY Times, Fortune, Catapult, ProPublica, The Nation, Georgia review.
Thank you NetGalley and Columbia University Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
jb/
https://seniorbooklounge.blogspot.com/

A great overview of a variety of topics. Perfect for a day spent lounging, and absorbing information about topics you may not have known you cared about, but should.

I'm not sure what to say about this book other than it's a good guide. I guess I would get another if given the opportunity.