But first. The Economist’s new venture is “an inspirational lifestyle magazine which instead of helping readers make decisions in their professional life, helps them do the same in their personal life”.
“Take white-collar boxing – the latest stress reliever for Wall Street and City elite. Tired of punching a bag at the gym, they have now moved on to punching each other in front of a paying audience. If smacking around your colleagues doesn’t sound appealing, how about brushing up on your space travel tips so you can be first in line to book your space flight? If all that sounds too strenuous, check out the dos and don’ts of selecting massage therapy. Other articles include the latest on gadgets, health innovations, luxury items and how to order your own bespoke car.”
I suppose they forgot the first rule, that we don’t talk about fight club. And also the part about status-seeking through rampant consumerism being a bit of a trap. Especially if you just acquire the same crap everyone else has. Which you will if you buy this magazine. Worth noting if you’re one of today’s busy global managers and hoped Intelligent Life would give you an executive summary of all that culture stuff.
{ 19 comments }
Jor 05.25.05 at 11:08 am
I’m surprised there hasn’t been a magazine like this earlier (or am I just not looking hard enough?). How many CEO books are their offering guidance and balance, etc?
HP 05.25.05 at 11:18 am
Jor, I believe Forbes has a spinoff “lifestyle” magazine. I saw a copy lying around at work once. Full of articles on where to find the best deals in yacht maintenance and crap like that.
Anderson 05.25.05 at 11:24 am
The mailing list would be useful for helping decide who should be first against the wall when the revolution comes ….
Martin 05.25.05 at 12:09 pm
The New York Times, probably the best, and certainly one of the best, news sources in the US (despite its problems) must spend 20% of its pages (70% on Sunday) on essentially the same sort of junk.
jet 05.25.05 at 12:10 pm
What’s wrong with boxing? And do most people buy gadgets because they want to prove how big their dick is, or do they buy them because they are fun toys and for some strange reason people like fun?
bi 05.25.05 at 12:16 pm
Obviously anyone who insists on buying the _latest_ stuff is trying to prove how big his d!ck is.
It’ll be nice if these schmucks can also start talking about some old stuff that’s not so in fashion, but obviously old things can never be fun, eh?
Espen Andersen 05.25.05 at 12:20 pm
Isn’t there any relief from the managed life terrorists? Please send your comments to the Economist, including the heading.
Jacob T. Levy 05.25.05 at 12:21 pm
I’m a big Economist fan and I’m with Maria here. When I got this announcement in my inbox I first thought it had to be a joke or a scam. Blech.
Uncle Kvetch 05.25.05 at 12:24 pm
they have now moved on to punching each other in front of a paying audience
I’m really torn here. On the one hand, I detest boxing. On the other, I’d pay good money to watch a couple of loudmouth New York lawyers pound the living crap out of each other. I’d pay even better money if said lawyers were the ones I work for.
Ginger Yellow 05.25.05 at 12:34 pm
There’s something strangely fitting that they manage to make money out of their own stress relief.
Uncle Kvetch 05.25.05 at 12:36 pm
Isn’t there any relief from the managed life terrorists?
Heh…hope you don’t mind if I steal that term, Espen.
If you really want to be sick, take a look at the stuff in this genre that’s marketed to gay men: “All you need is to be young, gorgeous, and rich. We’ll do the rest!”
Peter Clay 05.25.05 at 12:57 pm
This isn’t the sort of thing anyone reads; people buy it to leave around to impress others (and sometimes themselves). Occasionally looking at the pictures of shiny things is fun. I’m sure it will subsequently be revealed to be an elaborate hoax by the editors of the Economist…
abb1 05.25.05 at 1:31 pm
Mausoleum.com:
Barry 05.25.05 at 2:29 pm
“True companion?” I’m not sure that I want to know that.
Steve LaBonne 05.25.05 at 3:02 pm
From Ambrose Bierce’s “Devil’s Dictionary”: “Mausoleum, n. The final and funniest folly of the rich.”
Anthony 05.25.05 at 8:01 pm
#6 – old stuff can be fun, but it doesn’t buy ads.
The Economist tells its advertisers that its readers are terribly affluent – when I first subscribed, I started to receive a far higher class of junk mail than my fairly affluent parents.
This latest offering from the Economist may be an attempt to maintain the illusion that its subscriber base is CEOs and Cabinet Ministers.
the bachelor 05.25.05 at 9:31 pm
Whatever happened to the Guardian magazine? I thought it was supposed to come out over in the US quite a while ago.
Oskar Shapley 05.26.05 at 9:50 am
TYLER
The people you’re after are everyone you depend on.
We busily manage your companies, invest your money and pay your salary. We defend you in the court. We drive in limousines. Do not fuck with us.
GP 05.29.05 at 12:32 pm
Clearly you guys have never seen The Robb Report. In many way, Intelligent Life sounds like a very pale imitation. TRR is a celebration of orgiastic consumption that only the ueber-rich can even begin to contemplate. It the resource they crave when they say to themselves, “Gee, what should I do with that spare ten million?” If you’ve already got a private jet, a Maybach with a chauffer, and four or five large modern houses, you might be running out of ideas. Never fear, Mr. Robb will help you spend your dough, or at least help you figure out if there really is nothing left for you to buy.
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