The Best American Magazine Writing 2007
All of the essays in the series' eighth year exhibit a timeless prose in the midst of meeting deadlines. But many also resonate with a special sense of timeliness, such as the insightful Rules of Engagement by William Langewiesche, a detailed study forVanity Fairof the U.S. massacre of Iraqi citizens in the town of Haditha. Other essays have a similar sense of urgency: Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman forRolling Stone—the result of a nine-month investigation—is a terrific and balanced look at an organization whose top leaders assert that false ideas, including the concepts of God, Christ, and organized religion, date back 75 million years to the work of an evil galactic warrior named Xenu. C.J. Chivers's The School forEsquireis a harrowing account of the three-day siege by Chechen terrorists of a grammar school in the Russian town of Beslan. Other, lighter pieces include Vanessa Grigoriadis's skillful depiction forNew Yorkof the crazy-like-a-fox business and personal lifestyle of Karl Lagerfeld, Boy Prince of Fashion.(Dec. 26)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.