Whether you are Catholic or not, it would be difficult to seriously denigrate the quality of writing presented herein. While I often disagree, I never fail to be impressed by the perspicacity of Neuhaus, Bottum, Arkes, and the multitude of fine authors who make this publication a joy to read.

Ironically, I am no fan of President Woodrow Wilson; however, I cannot remember a single issue of The Wilson Quarterly (TWQ) in which I have not found something that I spent the remainder of my morning researching. Also, the new format of TWQ is much improved over its older, slimmer version.

The queen of my reading - I save and savor every edition of The New Criterion. Timely and topical, the very best writing on culture and current affairs from Roger Kimball, Hilton Kramer, Paul Johnson, and one of my more recent favorites, Theodore Dalrymple.

It's a pity that this is the only openly conservative book review (or the only one I know of). It is nearly always filled with the very best writers and reviewers, without the pretentiousness of something like The Times Literary Supplement (TLS). I've enjoyed it greatly, however, I must advise that Claremont has terrible customer service, and I often never receive my subscription.

Though not as high-minded as First Things, and certainly not as thoroughly Catholic, Books & Culture is always greeted excitedly in my postbox. It is pervaded by the type of Christian ethos that puts me at ease, and filled with the type of reviews that quickly bring me back to Amazon.com to do some shopping.

By now most anyone will have adduced that I am a fan of G.K. Chesterton. Gilbert does an outstanding job of introducing readers to the writer, and of applying his writings to modern cultural quandaries. Each issue is likely to contain something the reader cannot wait to share with a friend, or a passage that does not elicit a good deal of laughter.