The July 1993 Reader’s Digest
As an issue editor I selected and edited the contents of the July 1993 issue. I didn’t do it alone, however. In those days the editorial staff numbered about 120.
(You can read the “teaser” for any piece by hovering on its title. Clicking or tapping will either show you the piece or open an email asking me for particulars. If the print is too small, you’ll find easier-to-read links under the cover image.)
- A Bold Step to Save Russia (p. 33)—To avert a collapse that could engulf the world, the country’s worthless currency must be replaced
- The Boy Who Heard the Future (p. 38)—From a simple childhood question came a revolution in the way we hear music
- Good Food You Can’t Get (p. 43)—Decades of research have perfected a wonderful way to keep meat, seafood, and produce fresher and safer—yet it’s not being widely used. Why?
- Anatomy of a Riot (p. 48)—How media-spread rumors ignited a city
- The Baggy Yellow Shirt (p. 57)—How a silly prank became a ritual of love
- What Every Woman Needs to Know About Estrogen (p. 60)—For many, hormone supplements may be a lifesaver
- A Ticket to Better Schools (p. 65)—Milwaukee’s voucher system places power over education where it belongs—with parents
- Confessions of a Tax Fraud (p. 71)—Would someone please explain my $6 crime?
- Can Animals Think? (p. 75)—[No blurb, just a photo of a gorilla in “The Thinker” pose]
- Heroes for Today (p. 80)—Every town and city in America has its own examples of courage, kindness, and decency. Here are three…
- The Trouble With Teen-Agers (p. 83)—[No blurb. Final sentence: “The trouble with teen-agers is that they keep us from forgetting how we once were.”]
- Should You Refinance? (p. 85)—With mortgage rates at their lowest in two decades…
- She Wrote America’s Favorite Song (p. 90)—Katherine Lee Bates’s words to “America the Beautiful” never fail to bring a lump to the throat and a surge to the heart
- Swarm of Terror (p. 94)—John Shane had survived a head-on collision, but a greater danger was still to come. [Page is decorated with images of honeybees.]
- Little Green Lie (p. 100)—How a hoax becomes a best-selling book when it serves a special cause. [About the children’s book “Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle”]
- Dealing With a Difficult Boss (p. 105)—Do you work for a bully, a jellyfish, a perfectionist? Try these strategies.
- Everything’s Not Okay (p. 113)—If it’s MY son, it’s not MINOR surgery. [Dave Barry’s best column.]
- Peppers—Hot, Hotter, Hottest (p. 115)—They not only make food taste better—they’re good for you
- Divorce and Kids: The Evidence Is In (p. 118)—Do the children do better if an unhappy marriage is dissolved?
- Trust in God, But Lock Your Car (p. 124)—Timeless insights from a father. [Example: “Never order chicken-fried steak in a place that doesn’t have a jukebox.”]
- America’s Biggest Business (p. 129)—It’s government
- Love Big Enough to Share (p. 130)—She was MY dog, I declared, and no one else’s
- That’s Outrageous! (p. 135)—Spotlighting absurdities in our society is the first step toward eliminating them
- A Father’s Legacy (p. 138)—The good doctor taught his son more than the art of healing
- Stories for the Asking (p. 143)—Show interest in others, and every encounter becomes an adventure
- Unclutter Your Life (p. 153)—What to do if your stuff is driving you up the wall
- Room at the Table (p. 161)—In my darkest hour, my guardian dear was there watching over me
- Capsized! (p. 165)—It started out as every man’s dream—an adventure to an island paradise in the South Pacific
- Let’s Play Ball! (p. 11)—[No blurb. A short, nostalgic essay on sandlot baseball.]
- Make Your Child a Leader (p. 19)—By knowing these eight secrets you can…
Reader’s Digest, July 1993, cover. Reprinted with permission.