About the Book:The Best American Magazine Writing 2008 is an essential guide to the year’s most entertaining, politically charged, and sophisticated essays. With pieces first published in The Nation, National Geographic, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker, among other leading publications, this anthology illuminates the most compelling issues of the past year and points to the topics that will concern us in the next. Chosen from among the winners and finalists of the 2008 National Magazine Awards, these articles span an eclectic range, from a chilling account of the CIA’s secret interrogation program to a humorous look at the absurdities of modern medicine, from a scathing critique of America’s activities in Iraq to an acid takedown of snark culture. The anthology also includes Matthew Scully’s fascinating peek inside the making of the George W.Bush presidency; Walter Kirn’s surprising report on the mental effects of multitasking; Steve Oney’s investigation into the unforeseen casualties of the Iraq War; Christopher Hitchens’s frank assessment of the relationship between illicit sex and politics; Matt Taibbi’s award-winning profile of Barack Obama; Peter Hessler’s tour of China’s instant cities; Caitlin Flanagan’s flirtation with the online escapades of minors; Kurt Andersen’s meditation on American greed; and Evan Wright’s absorbing account of Hollywood’s oddest comeback. From one girl’s escape from Burundi to an expose of American coal mining, The Best American Magazine Writing 2008 showcases the unparalleled work of our greatest writers and critics.Table of Contents: Contents Introduction Jacob Weisberg, editor-in-chief, Slate Acknowledgments Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief, Glamour and Immediate Past President of ASME1. Everybody Sucks Vanessa Grigoriadis New York Finalist-Feature Writing2. China’s Instant Cities Peter Hessler National Geographic Winner-Reporting3. Present at the Creation Matthew Scully The Atlantic Finalist-Profile Writing4. The Black Sites Jane Mayer The New Yorker Finalist-Reporting5. Specialist Town Takes His Case to Washington Joshua Kors The Nation Winner-Public Interest6. City of Fear William Langewiesche Vanity Fair Finalist-Reporting7. “You Have Thousands of Angels Around You” Paige Williams Atlanta Winner-Feature Writing8. Obama’s Moment Matt Taibbi Rolling Stone Winner-Columns and Commentary9. Out in the Cold Mike Kessler 5280: Denver’s Mile-High Magazine Finalist-Public Interest10. Brouhahaha Hendrik Hertzberg The New Yorker Finalist-Columns and Commentary11. Pat Dollard’s War on Hollywood Evan Wright Vanity Fair Winner-Profile Writing12. The Autumn of the Multitaskers Walter Kirn The Atlantic Finalist-Essays13. Betrayed George Packer The New Yorker Finalist-Public Interest14. Babes in the Woods Caitlin Flanagan The Atlantic Winner-Reviews and Criticism15. Underworld Jeanne Marie Laskas GQ Finalist-Feature Writing16. I Am Joe’s Prostate Thomas E. Kennedy New Letters Winner-Essays17. American Roulette Kurt Andersen New York Finalist-Columns and Commentary18. Casualties of War Steve Oney Los Angeles Finalist-Profile Writing19. So Many Men’s Rooms, So Little Time Christopher Hitchens Slate Finalist-Columns and Commentary20. Don’t Cry For Me, Iwo Jima Tom Carson GQ Finalist-Reviews and Criticism2008 National Magazine Award Finalists Judges, 2008 National Magazine Award Winners, 1966-2008 ASME Board of Directors, 2007-2008 Permissions List of Contributors