My Mentor, 'The New Yorker'

'The New Yorker' is one of my oldest subscriptions. I've been subscribing it since early 2017.

At that time, I was sick and didn't have a work permit, so I couldn't pursue a job. I was researching bioinformatics and publishing science articles on various health topics. I was also exploring art, gardening, and photography as ways to restore my health.

Meanwhile, I wanted to improve my English further. I used to read articles using different keywords on Google News. I didn't even check which newspaper the article belonged to. Only after reading it, if it impressed me, would I look at the source. Again and again, I found that the articles I resonated most were from 'The New Yorker'. 

Only a few articles a month were free, an I read a lot. So I decided to subscribe to it. I consulted my spouse. He said, "Who subscribes to newspapers these days? Everything is free." But I've always been a rebel. If I'm denied something reasonable, I want it more. So I subscribed right away. And I loved it. It felt so right use of money.

They had opened their archive from 1925! Imagine, paying around $100 a year and getting access to 100 years' worth of literary and journalistic brilliance. People spend that much on coffee or cosmetics. Here I was investing in my mind and outlook.

I read a lot of it. It helped improve my command of English and boosted my confidence. The writing quality in the magazine was so good that sometimes, while lying down and reading, a sentence or paragraph would give me goosebumps, and I'd stand up out of respect for the writer and the craft.

We humans are creatures of environment, and I couldn't have asked for a better mentor than 'The New Yorker'.

However, once I became busy with childcare, I started neglecting it. I had subscribed to the digital version only. But recently I thought, maybe the print version would work better. If I'm cooking or relaxing, I could read more efficiently. Who knows, it might even inspire me to write more!

So I subscribed to the print version. When I received my first physical copy, I felt emotional. My father, a school teacher in India, always set aside money for magazines despite his low salary and many responsibilities. That simple habit enriched our childhood beyond measure.

Subconsciously, I wanted the same for myself and my kids. Since my father had passed away around the time, I had started to get the print copies, this memory made me pause and I looked solemn. My daughter noticed and gently rubbed my palm, saying, "Don't cry, Mommy. We are not on this earth to last forever." 

We don't hesitate to spend on material things, but we often think subscribing to magazines is a waste of money. But here's what I've learned. If I'm raising a thoughtful, curious child, it's because she hears rich, meaningful things from a mother who reads contents full of depth and wisdom.

The below picture shows my year-worth of the magazines. Recently, 'The New Yorker' celebrated its 100th anniversary. Imagine, a century's worth of magazines could fill a huge shelf.

I was excited and told my 5-year-old daughter, "If I get these many magazines, think how much knowledge I'll gain in a year! I believe it'll help me become a better writer." Always quick with her thoughts, she added, "And a better teacher too." I loved her response.

Let me share my strategy of reading 'The New Yorker'. I'd type in any keyword I desire to read on, and let it surprise me. It was fun, it was cerebral, and I discovered things I never expected.

I found writers like Annie Proulx there. One of her story, Them Old Cowboy Songs (2008), about a struggling homestead couple, tugged at my heart.

Because of 'The New Yorker' stories, I went on to buy books by David Sedaris, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Joan Didion. I also discovered lesser-known writers like Callan Wink.

And if you didn't know, the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary was awarded to Mosab Abu Toha for his portrayal of the Gaza war, which was originally published in 'The New Yorker'.

So yes, I hold great regard for 'The New Yorker', but there are many other great works out there too.

All I want to say is this: spend your hard-earned money on real, enriching things. We are creatures shaped by our environment. What we choose to consume, builds the mindset that shapes the direction of our lives.