Over the past couple of years, I’ve let every one of my magazine subscriptions lapse.

Part of it is that it became expensive, and I needed to reduce expenses. But more often than not, I wasn’t making time to read them. They’d pile up and the days would go by as they remained unread.

When I was looking for something to read, I’d grab a book instead.

But I think it’s time to reevaluate that. I’ve recently come to realize that I really enjoyed the periodic arrival of great writing in my mailbox; I simply need to make the time to slow down and read them when they arrive.

This week, I’d like to share with you a few great magazines that I have, at one time or another, subscribed to — and to which I will likely consider renewing my subscriptions soon.

The New Yorker: At $109 a year, The New Yorker is by far the priciest subscription on this list, but it’s worth every penny. The reporting is superb and the stories are compelling. It is the gold standard of news and culture magazines. (It was The New Yorker that this week broke the bombshell story about New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, prompting him to resign four hours after the story hit the Internet.)

Juxtapoz: This offbeat art magazine showcases painting, photography, illustration and graffiti and street art, and profiles the artists behind the work. Each issue is rich and colorful, and a joy to flip through. And at $29.99 for four quarterly issues, it won’t break the bank.

The Paris Review:The storied literary journal that was founded in Paris in 1953, but moved to New York City in 1973, where it has been headquartered ever since. There probably has not been a more influential literary journal publishing poetry and prose in the English language. It’s a little pricy, at $49 a year for four quarterly issues, but it’s worth it if you can afford it.

Harper’s: The second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S., Harper’s has been providing smart content since 1850. With quality, longform reporting and quirky regular features like Harper’s Index and Findings, the $49/year subscription rate is a worthwhile investment.

Interview: Is it a little pithy? Yes. But it is also incredibly captivating and supremely affordable. The monthly magazine, founded by Andy Warhol, features, well, celebrities interviewing one another. And, perhaps because the tables are turned, the resulting conversation is often more insightful than traditional interviews. For instance, in the latest issue, actor Seth Rogen interviews rapper 21 Savage. And at just $25 per year, it’s a real bargain.

The Believer: Originally published by McSweeney’s, The Believer has been called “highbrow but definitely bizarre.” I’d agree. It’s uniquely quirky, and tough to describe. It’s not exactly a literary magazine, but frequently features some of the best writers in the world. The Believer publishes every other month, and an annual subscription runs $48.

 

This is a good start. I’d also recommend PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers, The Atlantic, Esquire, Hi-Fructose and Texas Monthly. Nearly all of these magazines will let you read a number of their stories online before deciding whether you’d like to commit to a subscription.

Damien Willis is an unpaid columnist for Pulse, writing primarily about entertainment and pop culture. He may be reached at [email protected] or @damienwillis on Twitter.