recent book reviews in the wall street journal

JONATHAN TURLEY

“a bracing . . . buoyant book”: wall street journal reviews “the indispensable right”.

recent book reviews in the wall street journal

“Mr. Turley has written a learned and bracing book, rigorously detailed and unfailingly evenhanded. For all his grim recounting of the assaults on free speech, his is ultimately a buoyant book.” Wall Street Journal

You can read the review on the WSJ website .

Here are some of the prior reviews from civil libertarians, journalists, judges, and others of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage :

“Jonathan Turley’s magnum opus should be required reading for everyone who cares about free speech—certainly including anyone who questions or criticizes strong free speech protection. This a unique synthesis of the historical, philosophical, artistic, and even physiological bases for protecting free speech as a right to which all human beings are inherently entitled, and Turley provides riveting accounts of the courageous individuals, throughout history, who have struggled and sacrificed in order to exercise and defend the right. The Indispensable Right is an indispensable book.” —Nadine Strossen , former president of the American Civil Liberties Union

“Brilliant and intellectually honest, Jonathan Turley has few peers as a legal scholar today. With The Indispensable Right , he has given us a robust reexamination and defense of free speech as a right. Rich with historical content and insight, this superbly-written book calls out both the left and the right for attacks on free speech while offering in the final chapter a path forward.” —William P. Barr , former Attorney General and author of the No. 1 New York Times bestseller One Damn Thing After Another.

“This efficient volume is packed with indispensable information delivered with proper passion. Jonathan Turley surveys the fraught history of “the indispensable right” and today’s dismayingly broad retreat from its defense. He is especially illuminating on how the concept of “harm” from speech has been broadened to serve the interest of censors.” —George F. Will , Pulitzer Prize winner and Washington Post columnist.

“The First Amendment has consumed Jonathan Turley for more than thirty years. Lucky for us that he waited until now, amidst a climate of unprecedented rage rhetoric, to deliver a master class on the unvarnished history of free speech in America. The Indispensable Right is enlightening and engaging. It is also cautionary tale against state overcorrection of the often acrimonious, free exchange of ideas that are an essential part of the human experience.” — Michael Smerconish , host of CNN’s “Smerconish”

“During these often-bitter times, Jonathan Turley is my “go-to” commentator for smart, clear and honest analysis on any difficult legal controversy.” —Jim Webb , former Democratic U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, and bestselling author

“Jonathan Turley’s book is the rarest of accomplishments: a timely and brilliantly original yet disciplined and historically grounded treatment of free speech. He dispels the view that our current social turmoil is “uncharted waters”—from the 1790’s Whiskey Rebels to the 1920’s Wobblies to the 1950’s communists, we’ve been here before—and argues persuasively that free speech is a human need and that we must resist the urge to restrict speech as “disinformation” or “seditious” or offensive to “woke” sensibilities.” —Michael B. Mukasey , former Attorney General and U.S. District Judge

“Jonathan Turley is one of the most astute and most honest analysts of the intersection of politics and law. Thirty years in the making, this book brilliantly proposes means for preserving the most important Constitutional right: the right to free speech. Elegantly written, exhaustively researched, and passionately argued, Turley has given us a superb and necessary tract for our time.” —Stephen B. Presser , Raoul Berger Professor of Legal History Emeritus, Northwestern University School of Law

“Jonathan Turley recognizes free speech as an essential good—an activity that is central to our very nature as human beings. This is in sharp contrast with those who defend free speech as merely instrumental to some other value, like democracy or the pursuit of truth; rationales that are then used to justify limiting speech in ways that obstruct human flourishing. In this important book, he explains why free speech has historically come under threat during periods of rage and proposes policies that will protect freedom of speech from those who would today destroy this indispensable right.” —Randy E. Barnett , Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center

“The Indispensable Right is a courageous, provocative case by one of America’s most prolific public intellectuals for resurrecting natural law or embracing an autonomous basis for the protection of free speech. Not all First Amendment defenders will be persuaded––but one needn’t sign on to Turley’s robust view of free speech to appreciate the unique clarity and deep historical research he brings to his argument. Read this insightful book to understand the peril of today’s broad-based assault on free speech.”

—Michael J. Glennon , Professor of Constitutional and International Law, Tufts University, author of Free Speech and Turbulent Freedom: The Dangerous Allure of Censorship in the Digital Era.

“A vigorous defense of free speech, a right enshrined but often hobbled or outright abrogated. A smart book that invites argument—civil argument, that is, with good faith and tolerance.”

—Kirkus Book Reviews

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Best Fiction

The Journal reviewed best-of lists from 12 sources to discover the most-cited books of 2015. Among the year's best novels, Lauren Groff's Fates and Furies came out on top with seven mentions.

Best Nonfiction

Within the lists the Journal reviewed, only four nonfiction books received multiple mentions. Appearing on eight lists, Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me was not only the most-cited book in the nonfiction category, but also the most-cited book of the year.

Best Mystery & Thriller

Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train came out on top in the mystery and thriller lists with five mentions. Tied for second were Sue Grafton's X and David Lagercrantz's The Girl in the Spider's Web.

Best Young Adult

Two novels, Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen and I Was Here by Gayle Forman, topped the young adult lists with three mentions each. Eleven additional titles received two mentions.

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Wsj books of the year.

The Wall Street Journal's top 10 fiction, nonfiction, mystery and children's books of 2015.

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The WSJ asked 50 friends —from Marco Rubio and Indra Nooyi to Doc Rivers—about their favorite books of 2015.

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Notes: Books on the compilation list were sourced from Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Washington Post, Kirkus, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Library Journal, New York Times, Telegraph, Oprah, BookPage and Economist. If lists were not sorted by category, the Journal assigned a category for each book. In some cases, a publication would include the same book several times; these were counted only once per list.

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Donald Trump

What We Know—and Don’t Know—So Far About the Trump Rally Gunman

Follow to Donald Trump Rally Shooting- Bethel Park, PA

T wenty-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified by the FBI on Sunday as the shooter behind the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on Saturday evening that left one bystander dead and two others injured.

What We Know So Far About the Trump Rally Shooting

Eyewitness Accounts
What We Know So Far About the Gunman
Politicians Condemn Shooting
What to Know About the Victims
The Recent History of Political Violence in America
Column: The Danger of Treating Politics Like War

Crooks was killed at the scene by a Secret Service sniper, and investigations continue into his motives, which remain unclear.

Here’s what we know so far.

‘No indication of any mental health issues’

The FBI says that Crooks was not known to the agency prior to the incident.

In a call with reporters Sunday night, the FBI special agent in charge, Kevin Rojek, said there was “no indication of any mental health issues” regarding the shooter.

During a private congressional briefing on Wednesday, the New York Times reported, the FBI revealed that the gunman’s online search history included a query on “major depressive disorder.”

Limited social media presence

Rojek also said authorities “have not yet identified an ideology” associated with Crooks. The agency has interviewed more than 100 people , including Crooks’ family and friends, and cracked into his two phones using the Israeli technology Cellebrite, according to the Washington Post , but has yet to find evidence of his motivations.

President Joe Biden on Sunday urged people to refrain from making assumptions. “Let the FBI do their job, and their partner agencies do their job,” he said.

Read More: What to Know About Women in Secret Service as Critics Blame ‘DEI’ for Trump’s Shooting

Crooks reportedly had a limited social media presence, though a spokesperson for the platform Discord said in a statement shared with TIME that the company “identified” a “rarely utilized” account that appears to be linked to Crooks. The spokesperson said that the company is cooperating with law enforcement but that it “found no evidence” the account was used “to plan this incident, promote violence, or discuss his political views.”

Fox News reported that the FBI told Senators on Wednesday that Crooks had written on gaming platform Steam: “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.”

Registered Republican, donor to progressives

State public voting records show that Crooks was a registered Republican, while Federal Election Commision documents show that a donor with the same name and address gave $15 to ActBlue, the Democratic fundraising apparatus, on Jan. 20, 2021—the date of President Joe Biden’s inauguration. The donation was earmarked for the Progressive Turnout Project.

A spokesperson for the Progressive Turnout Project told CNN that “the email address associated with the contribution only made the one contribution and was unsubscribed from our lists 2 years ago.” They added: “We unequivocally condemn political violence in all of its forms, and we denounce anyone who chooses violence over peaceful political action.”

During the Wednesday congressional briefing, the FBI said it found no indication Crooks had any strong partisan political views and that he had searched images of public figures including Trump and Biden as well as FBI director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland, according to the New York Times . Crooks reportedly also looked up dates of Trump’s public appearances and the upcoming Democratic National Convention .

From an affluent Pittsburgh suburb

The FBI identified Crooks’ hometown as Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh about an hour south of where the Trump rally was held. Dan Gryzbek, a county council member representing the area, described the neighborhood where Crooks’ family lived as “pretty firmly middle class, maybe upper-middle class” to the New York Times . According to the Census Bureau , Bethel Park’s population is 93% white with a 1.3 times higher per capita income than the rest of Pennsylvania.

The address of Crooks’ family home was in a district that Biden won in 2020 with 52% of the vote to Trump’s 46%. Crooks’ father is a registered Libertarian and his mother is a registered Democrat, according to voter records, CNN and the Times reported. Both parents are licensed professional counselors, according to state records.

Sources told the Washington Post that both Crooks’ parents have health issues and appeared to investigators as loving parents who may not have been closely attuned to their son’s activities.

Seems to have acted alone

“While the investigation to date indicates the shooter acted alone,” the FBI said Sunday, “the FBI continues to conduct logical investigative activity to determine if there were any co-conspirators associated with this attack. At this time, there are no current public safety concerns.”

The FBI repeated that Crooks appeared to act alone during the agency’s briefing to Congress on Wednesday. Director Wray also said there’s no known foreign nexus, in response to a question from Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) in reference to recent reporting about an unrelated Iranian assassination plot targeting Trump, PunchBowl News reported.

Used an AR-15-style rifle purchased legally by his father

Multiple law enforcement officials have said that the firearm used by Crooks in the shooting was an AR-style rifle that was legally purchased by Crooks’ father. Crooks’ family is cooperating with investigators, Rojek has said.

Read More: How the AR-15 Rifle Became America’s Most Dangerous Weapon

NBC News reported Monday that more than a dozen other guns were found in a search of the Crooks’ family home.

A law enforcement official told CNN Monday that on the morning of the Trump campaign rally, Crooks purchased a five-foot ladder and 50 rounds of ammunition before driving to Butler. It’s unclear if Crooks used these in the assassination attempt.

A rifle enthusiast since he was a teen

According to photos and videos of the scene of the shooting, Crooks was wearing a shirt associated with Demolition Ranch, a popular gun channel on YouTube. (Matt Carriker, the host of the channel, said in a video statement on Monday that he was “shocked and confused” and offered condolences to the victims of the shooting . “This channel was never meant to incite violence or hate—it never has, it isn’t, and it never will be a channel that does that,” he said.)

Crooks had tried out for his high school’s junior varsity rifle team when he was a freshman, CBS reported, but classmate Jameson Myers said Crooks didn’t make the team and never tried out again.

Jameson Murphy, another former classmate, told the New York Post that Crooks “was such a comically bad shot he was unable to make the team and left after the first day.” Another classmate also told the Post that the rifle team coach had concerns about Crooks based on “some crass jokes” Crooks made and how he interacted with others. “Our old coach was a stickler, he trained Navy marksmen, so he knew people. He knew when someone’s not the greatest person,” the classmate said.

Crooks did, however, belong to a local gun club, the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club , which has a 200-yard rifle range among its facilities. The club confirmed Crooks’ membership in a statement provided to multiple media outlets that admonished the violence and offered condolences to the victims but said it couldn’t offer any more details as investigations remain ongoing.

The day before the shooting, Crooks visited a shooting range to practice firing, according to a law enforcement official speaking to CNN.

Amid speculation that Crooks may have had a military background, the Pentagon told the Associated Press that “there is no military service affiliation for the suspect with that name or date of birth” in their databases across military branches.

Left behind explosive materials

The FBI said that, when it searched Crooks’ home and vehicle to collect additional evidence, suspicious devices were found and have since been “rendered safe” by bomb technicians.

According to CNN, investigators found a bulletproof vest, three fully loaded magazines, and two remote-controlled explosives in his car, which was parked near the rally. An unnamed law enforcement official told CNN Crooks was found with a detonator on his body, and his car’s trunk contained a metal box of explosives connected with wires to a receiver. He also had a drone, which, the Wall Street Journal reported, he used to aerially scout the site of the rally just hours before the shooting.

Sources told Fox News that law enforcement also found bomb-making materials in Crooks’ home, while CNN reported that investigators found an additional remote-controlled explosive device, another bulletproof vest, and a 3D printer in his home—and that Crooks had received deliveries of multiple packages, including some marked as potentially hazardous, in recent months.

A nursing home aid with an engineering science degree

Crooks graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County with an associate degree in engineering science just over two months ago, a school official confirmed to the New York Times .

Crooks worked as a dietary aid at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement,” Marcie Grimm, the facility administrator, said in a statement to multiple media outlets, adding that Crooks “performed his job without concern and his background check was clean.”

A colleague at the nursing home described Crooks as caring and apolitical at work to CNN . “It’s hard seeing everything that’s going on online,” the colleague said, “because he was a really, really good person that did a really bad thing, and I just wish I knew why.”

Officials told CNN that Crooks normally worked on Saturdays but had requested time off on the day of Trump’s rally, telling his boss that he had “something to do.”

A quiet, lonely nerd in high school

Bethel Park School District confirmed in a statement that Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High in 2022. It offered its condolences to victims of the shooting and said it is cooperating with law enforcement investigations.

According to the New York Times , Crooks’ only record of disciplinary problems was being sent to detention once in the eighth grade for chewing gum.

Former peers, speaking to media outlets, painted a portrait of a social outcast who kept a low profile.

“He didn’t really fit in with everybody else,” classmate Sarah D’Angelo told the Wall Street Journal . “He was there but I can’t think of anyone who knew him well,” another classmate told BBC .

Crooks was “a loner” who “would sit alone at lunch,” classmate Jason Kohler told ABC News . He would regularly wear camouflage outfits and was “bullied” for the way he dressed, Kohler told NBC News .

“There was definitely chatter about him just looking a little different,” another classmate, who asked not to be named, told CNN . “Almost a retro nerd vibe.”

Summer Barkley, another classmate, told BBC that Crooks was “always getting good grades on tests” and was “very passionate about history.”

Zach Bradford, another classmate, described Crooks to the New York Times as “incredibly intelligent” and said his views in high school seemed “slightly right leaning.”

Most—but not all—who knew Crooks expressed disbelief at his involvement in the shooting at the Trump rally.

Jim Knapp, Crooks’ since-retired guidance counselor at the school, described Crooks to the Times as “a very good student” and said “not once did he ever get in trouble.”

“He never outwardly spoke about his political views or how much he hated Trump or anything,” D’Angelo added to the Wall Street Journal .

“I was just, like, shocked—I just couldn’t believe he did something that bold, considering he was such a quiet and kept-to-himself kind of person,” the anonymous classmate told CNN.

“I will say he was definitely nerdy, for sure, but he never gave off that he was creepy,” classmate Mark Sigafoos told CBS. “He seemed like he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

But Julianna Grooms, who graduated a year after Crooks, told the Wall Street Journal that Crooks stood out for his awkwardness. “If someone would say something to his face, he would just kind of stare at them,” she said. “People would say he was the student who would shoot up high school.”

—Koh Ewe contributed reporting.

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I pushed for press freedom in Hong Kong. The Wall Street Journal fired me.

After 2019, as China tightened its grip on Hong Kong and mass protests gripped the city, police raided the Apple Daily and Stand News newsrooms and prosecuted their top editors with national security crimes. Several smaller media outlets shut down rather than risk similar treatment.

It was the beginning of a chill for journalists.

First as a local news reporter, and later at the Wall Street Journal , I witnessed the trials and sentencing of almost twenty journalists, citizen reporters, editors, and commentators.

Daily life for the remaining reporters fell into a new rhythm. Slow. Careful. Some reporters and editors from shuttered newsrooms started new media ventures, YouTube channels, and podcasts. Many steered clear of the city’s politics and focused instead on pop culture or lifestyle reporting.

Even at news publications, there were vastly fewer revelatory stories on sensitive political issues and investigations on abuses of public power. Journalists shifted uncomfortably in their seats when they heard story ideas they felt could touch a nerve in the government. I saw editors press for extra-solid sourcing in anticipation of government condemnation.

When Taiwan held a presidential election—a sensitive event in China, which covets the island—reporters murmured about how to handle sound bites and footage differently depending on whether Beijing’s preferred candidate won. (They didn’t.)

The Hong Kong Journalists Association became an important defense against the erosion of an effective press—and a frequent target for the ire of the Chinese government.

The association advocates the rights and interests of journalists—it issues a widely read annual index on the state of press freedom and works against legislation that would further erode it. It financially supports journalists who are in legal trouble. It is fifty-six years old, which makes it older than the government it so often critiques (which was formed in 1997 when the governance of Hong Kong was passed from Britain to China).

Despite the fact that members of press associations had been expelled from the country previously, the Journal wanted its reporters in Hong Kong to sign up for the HKJA—so they could be protected, and to have press cards that could help mitigate highly charged moments with police. During 2019, as other outlets followed suit, HKJA’s membership swelled.

I had been on its board for three years when, in May, I decided to run for its chair. I wanted to show reporters in the city that they could continue to report because someone was still willing to defend their rights.

Three weeks ago, my editor at the Wall Street Journal found out about my candidacy and immediately directed me to withdraw from the election. She said that the role would be incompatible with my job as a Journal reporter.

The Journal , she said, continues to report on incidents related to press freedom in the city, such as trials against the press, so having its employees advocating for press freedom publicly would create a conflict. The Journal , my supervisor said, did not want its reporters seen calling for greater freedoms—because, unlike in Western nations, it is not an established principle in Hong Kong.

Because I was the only candidate running for chair, my withdrawal would have meant that union operations were paralyzed. So when I won, I stayed on. For three weeks I existed in a kind of limbo. And then, on July 17, I was fired. The Journal told me it was restructuring. When two previous rounds of layoffs affected more than a dozen journalists and editors, I had been told my position was secure. But this round there was one layoff: me.

The Global Times , controlled by the Chinese state, said that the Journal ’s decision was intended to distance it from our union, because we “wantonly defame[d]” the government.

My situation was not unique. I had fielded resignations from other board members who faced similar pressure from their employers. Journalists and employers who sought support from us are now understandably wary of potential backlash by association.

And I am without a job. A striking contrast sprang to mind. Over the past year the Journal rallied its entire staff to a campaign for the release of Evan Gershkovich, who was handed a sixteen-year sentence by a Russian court Friday, after a sham three-day trial and unlawful detention for more than a year.

The Journal ’s staff in Hong Kong, myself included, participated in a “Run for Evan” event along Hong Kong’s harbor, which was initiated and organized by the company. The Journal also called for solidarity with Evan at the Society of Publishers in Asia Awards, held in Hong Kong.

If press groups like HKJA cease to exist, as the Chinese government—and perhaps foreign news outlets—would find convenient, there will be fewer protections for reporters doing the same job as Evan, in similar circumstances, here in Hong Kong.

Not to mention fewer communities for weary correspondents to recharge with a drink, find solace among peers, and regain the strength to keep on reporting against odds that only seem to grow steeper.

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Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, the Trump rally shooter?

The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the man who shot at Donald Trump.
Crooks was a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
Crooks was a registered Republican. His motivation for shooting at Trump remains unclear.

The FBI has identified the man who shot at former President Donald Trump as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents after he fired from "an elevated position" at Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Trump said he was hit in the upper part of his ear with a bullet, but his campaign said the president was "fine." A bystander at the rally was killed in the attempted assassination.

Here's the latest on what we know about Crooks:

July 19, 7 p.m.: Crook's flew a drone over the rally site before it started, report says

Searches of Crooks devices showed he had looked up Trump, President Joe Biden, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and someone in the British royal family, two officials told The New York Times .

He had also looked up the date of the Democratic National Convention and Trump's appearances, two sources on conference calls with FBI officials told the Times. Crooks also searched for "major depressive disorder."

The Wall Street Journal , citing law enforcement officials, said Crooks flew a drone of the rally cite earlier in the day before it took place.

July 17, 10:59 a.m.: FBI finds no motive after going through Crooks' cellphone

FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers on Wednesday that investigators still haven't found a motive for the shooting after interviewing over 200 people, reviewing more than 14,000 images, and going through Crooks' cellphone, two sources familiar with the briefing told NBC News .

An FBI spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

July 16, 2:10 a.m.: Crooks' family owned more than 20 guns

Crooks' family owned more than 20 guns which were stored in their family home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, CNN reported .

Citing a law enforcement official close to the investigation, the outlet said that the guns were all legally purchased by members of the shooter's family.

The AR-style 5.56 rifle used to shoot at Trump was legally registered under Crooks' father's name.

July 15, 8 a.m.: Crooks bought ammunition just before the shooting

Crooks bought 50 rounds of ammunition from a local gun store hours before the attempted assassination, CNN reported .

July 14, 8:27 p.m.: Crooks belonged to a local gun club

CBS News first reported that Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsmen's Club, a club with multiple pistol and rifle ranges in Clairton, Pennsylvania.

"Obviously, the Club fully admonishes the senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday," Bill Sellitto, the president of the club told CBS. "The Club also offers its sincerest condolences to the Comperatore family and extends prayers to all of those injured including the former President."

CBS also reported, citing a law enforcement source, that Crooks had at the time of the shooting been wearing a t-shirt that read "DemolitionRanch," an apparent reference to a gun-related YouTube channel with over 11 million subscribers.

July 14, 3:47 p.m.: FBI confirms details about gunman's weapons

In a call with reporters, FBI Pittsburgh Office Director Kevin Rojek said Crooks used an "AR-style 5.56 rifle" that was legally purchased to shoot Trump and the bystander.

July 14, 3:37 p.m.: Crooks likely acted alone, had no mental health issues, FBI says

Rojek said the FBI's initial investigation indicates that Crooks acted alone, and authorities have not yet "identified an ideology" related to the shooting.

"At this time, we have no indication of mental health issues," Rojek said. "Our primary focus is on the phone. We are working to get access to the phone."

Robert Wells, the assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division, said the FBI's top priority is identifying a motive and assessing whether there were co-conspirators, though there are currently no indicators of other people involved.

"We are investigating this as an assassination attempt but also looking at it as a potential domestic terrorism act. So our counterterrorism division and our criminal divisions are working, working jointly together to determine the motive," Wells said.

Officials are combing Crooks's social media accounts and monitoring accounts from people pretending to be the gunman, Rojek said.

July 14, 3:07 p.m.: Crooks worked at a nursing center

Crooks was a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the center said in a statement obtained by The Hill on Sunday.

"We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement as Thomas Matthew Crooks performed his job without concern and his background check was clean," a spokesperson for the center said in the statement. "We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials at this time. Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further on any specifics. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Former President Trump and the victims impacted by this terrible tragedy. We condemn all acts of violence."

The center did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

July 14, 2:12 p.m.: Biden cautions not to assume motive

During a brief press conference from the White House, President Joe Biden said investigators had not yet determined Crooks' motive.

"I urge everyone, please: don't make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations," Biden said. "Let the FBI do their job."

Biden said he has ordered investigations into the shooting be "thorough and swift."

The president said he would speak more during a primetime address on Sunday night.

July 14, 12 p.m.: Explosives found: reports

The Wall Street Journal cited anonymous people briefed on the case that authorities later found explosive devices in Crooks' car, which he had driven to the rally and parked up nearby.

Police received reports of suspicious packages in the area surrounding the shooter, and bomb technicians were dispatched to the scene, per The Journal.

Law enforcement also found materials to make a bomb at Crooks' home, according to The Associated Press .

The FBI told Business Insider that the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing. Investigators haven't determined Crooks' motive as of Sunday morning.

July 14, 10 a.m.: AR-style rifle was reportedly used in the shooting

Law enforcement found an AR-15-type semiautomatic rifle near Crooks' body, according to The New York Times.

Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that investigators believed the weapon to have been bought by Crooks' father.

Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks?

Voting records showed Crooks was registered as a Republican.

Crooks doesn't appear to have a criminal record before the shooting, according to online Pennsylvania court records.

Federal Election Commission records revealed that someone matching Crooks' name and address made a $15 donation in January 2021 to the Progressive Turnout Project via ActBlue, a platform that raises funds for political candidates.

The upcoming election in November would have been the first time Crooks would have been old enough to vote in a presidential race.

It is not yet clear what his motivation was for shooting at the former president.

The Bethel Park School District in Pennsylvania confirmed in a statement seen by local media that Crooks had graduated from Bethel Park High in 2022.

"Our school district will cooperate fully with the active law enforcement investigation surrounding this case," the statement read.

According to local media outlet Triblive, Crooks had received a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.

Crooks made a brief appearance in a 30-second BlackRock ad from 2022.

The money manager said on Sunday that it had removed the ad, which was focused on an AP Economics teacher from Bethel Park High School. Crooks graduated high school in 2022.

"In 2022, we ran an ad featuring a teacher from Bethel Park High School, in which several unpaid students briefly appeared in the background, including Thomas Matthew Crooks," BlackRock said in a statement to Reuters . "The assassination attempt on former President Trump is abhorrent."

An ex-elementary and high school classmate of Crooks', Jameson Myers, told ABC News that Crooks didn't make the cut for the high school rifle team because of his poor marksmanship .

"He didn't just not make the team, he was asked not to come back because how bad of a shot he was, it was considered like, dangerous," Myers said.

When approached for comment, Crooks' school district told ABC News that he had "never appeared on a roster" and that there was "no record" of him trying out.

According to reports from USA Today, dozens of law enforcement vehicles were stationed outside the address listed on Crooks' voter registration record as of Sunday morning. Roads leading to the house were shut down.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene, according to the outlet. A bomb squad was also in attendance.

Crooks' residence is about an hour's drive south of Butler.

Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, 53, told CNN that he was trying to figure out "what the hell is going on" and would wait until he spoke to law enforcement before speaking about his son.

Watch: Former classmate says Trump rally shooter was 'a little off' in school

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The 'Wall Street Journal' Drops Its Bestseller Lists

The Wall Street Journal has stopped running its weekly bestseller lists. The final lists were carried in the past weekend's editions. The paper ran a total of six fiction and nonfiction lists, as well as a hardcover business list. All were powered by Circana BookScan.

The fiction and nonfiction categories were both divided into hardcover, e-book, and combined lists. In something of a unique feature, the lists combined adult and children’s titles on one list. Thus, last week’s top-selling hardcover fiction book was Jeff Kinney’s No Brainer, while The Woman in Me by Britney Spears was number one in all three nonfiction categories, including the e-book/print combined list.

Paul Gigot, editorial page editor at the WSJ, said that the company’s contract with Circana expired, “and we are not renewing it.” He added that all other aspects of the paper’s book coverage will “continue as usual.”

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News | Opinion

We draw a clear line between news and opinion. the separation between these two independent departments helps ensure impartiality in our news reporting and freedom of perspective in our opinion pieces., video title go here.

Our newsroom serves as the definitive source of news and information through the lens of business, finance, economics and money—global forces that shape the world and are key to understanding it. We provide facts, data and information—not assertions or opinions—and strive to be a model for ethical, factual and ambitious news reporting. In operating independently, the news department's editor in chief reports into Almar Latour, chief executive officer of Dow Jones & Co. and publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The news department is led by WSJ Editor in Chief Matt Murray:

Sound news reporting is based in facts, impartially gathered and fearlessly presented. It relies on objective, baseline truths that are knowable. Great reporters are curious, skeptical, challenging, open, empathetic and genuinely impartial—and go where the facts lead.

The Opinion pages include editorials by The Wall Street Journal's editorial board, columns from regular contributors, op-eds from outside experts, and letters from readers. We cover the major news of the day, often with original reporting, but we also offer a point of view. In operating independently, the editorial page editor reports into Almar Latour, chief executive officer of Dow Jones & Co. and publisher of The Wall Street Journal. The Opinion pages are led by WSJ Editorial Page Editor Paul Gigot:

Wall Street Journal readers want information, but they also want to make their own judgments about what they are learning. Our commentary is intended to inform on the issues of the day, with the added purpose of stirring debate and helping readers decide for themselves what they think.

How do you distinguish between News and Opinion ?

The wall street journal is committed to clear labeling so that readers can differentiate between a news article and an opinion piece. explore our tips for navigating the differences on wsj.com..

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Check byline: Opinion bylines include an image of the author and are positioned above the centerpiece photo.

Check the bottom of the article: Some opinion pieces feature an “About this article” section at the bottom to provide details about the column and author.

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The Best Wall Street Books

Wall Street represents the strength and power of New York’s Finance District . Housing some of the world’s top firms and investment banks, Wall Street is a fascinating topic of discussion.

From secrets to controversies, many people are drawn to learning about Wall Street for its intense history. And, for those interested in business or finance, learning about Wall Street can be an inspiration for future investment decisions.

The Best Wall Street Books:
A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing by Burton G. Malkiel - Get this book
Understanding Wall Street, 5th Edition by Jeffrey B. Little - Get this book
One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market by Peter Lynch - Get this book
The Buy Side: A Wall Street Trader’s Tale of Spectacular Excess by Turney Duff - Get this book
Black Edge: Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street by Sheelah Kolhatkar - Get this book
Bite the Ass Off a Bear: Getting In and Standing Out on a Hedge Fund Trading Floor by Garth Friesen - Get this book
The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investing Guidebook by Dave Kansas - Get this book
When the Wolves Bite: Two Billionaires, One Company, and an Epic Wall Street Battle by Scott Wapner - Get this book
What Works on Wall Street, 4th Edition: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Strategies of All Time by James P. O’Shaughnessy - Get this book
White Shoe: How a New Breed of Wall Street Lawyers Changed Big Business and the American Century by John Oller - Get this book

What Makes a Wall Street Book Great

Our top books about wall street.

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Unlike many other stock market or finance books , a great Wall Street book puts you right at the center of the action. You can learn about the zeitgeist that influences the way the market changes . Gaining a broader perspective makes it easier for you to spot future trends and adapt accordingly.

These books tend to be strongly influenced by the unique perspective of the author, therefore the advice contained in these books isn’t suited for a general audience.

You should make full use of our tips and guidelines for selecting a good stock market book for you. If you’re looking to build a robust money strategy, this is a good place to start.

Reputable Author

Anyone who is lucky enough to get a taste of the Wall Street life can provide an accurate account of their experience. Some of these tell-all books are gripping and entertaining. If you’re looking for advice, you want someone with a solid track record as a fund manager, trader, or investor.

Provides History and Context

Wall Street has had its fair share of glorious moments and scandals.

Every spike and abysmal drop has its reasons. A great Wall Street book recounts the events leading up to these changes, allowing you to understand all the complexities that come with both immense riches and bankruptcy. This should help you avoid some of the pitfalls of Wall Street trading.

Reading about Wall Street provides you with a wealth of knowledge about the people, events, and actions that shape financial markets. Our selection of top Wall Street books should help you take advantage of that knowledge.

1. A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing by Burton G. Malkiel

Who’s it for? All levels
Price : On sale

This book comes from the pen of Burton G. Malkiel, a professor of economics at Princeton. It offers a hands-on guide to the best long-term investment strategies on Wall Street.

Professor Malkiel takes his own experience and distills it into a reader-friendly book about a successful investment lifecycle. The book helps you understand how to analyze returns for different investment vehicles, be they real estate, bonds, insurance, or tangible assets.

Get this book

2. Understanding Wall Street, 5th Edition by Jeffrey B. Little

The latest edition of Understanding Wall Street provides an updated reference for successful investments in today’s market. The book tells you how to utilize the internet as a tool and it outlines the connection between Wall Street and Main Street.

Understanding Wall Street is coauthored by Jeffrey B. Little and Lucien Rhodes, senior analysts and investment experts . They also offer information about the move towards exchange-traded funds, explaining the risks/rewards.

3. One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market by Peter Lynch

Who’s it for? Beginners

Written by Peter Lynch , one of the most successful money managers in the US, this book has become a go-to resource for trading tips . Lynch teaches you how to spot investment opportunities that might not be immediately obvious.

Reading this increases your chances of hitting upon a “tenbagger”, an investment that provides a tenfold return. What’s more, the book offers advice to help you distinguish between no-shot and long-shot companies.

4. The Buy Side: A Wall Street Trader’s Tale of Spectacular Excess by Turney Duff

Turney Duff, the former Galleon Group trader, writes about all the temptations that come with success on Wall Street . The book is an exciting story about a culture filled with mindboggling commissions, drugs, and sex.

In essence, The Buy Side is an adventurous journey of a young man who would have been eaten by Wall Street, if he hadn’t walked away. It serves as a great reminder of the moral and ethical challenges that come with achieving success in finance.

5. Black Edge: Inside Information, Dirty Money, and the Quest to Bring Down the Most Wanted Man on Wall Street by Sheelah Kolhatkar

Who’s it for? Intermediate investors

Sheelah Klohatkar wrote a highly-acclaimed nonfiction book that reads like a captivating legal thriller. It focuses on the events that brought down SAC Capital, a hedge fund run by a superstar trader Steven A. Cohen.

The hedge fund was under a seven-year-long investigation due to insider trading. Cohen was not charged, but SAC Capital pleaded guilty and revealed an intricate network of inside information (the black edge).

6. Bite the Ass Off a Bear: Getting In and Standing Out on a Hedge Fund Trading Floor by Garth Friesen

After 2 decades of experience as a hedge fund manager, Garth Friesen authored this book to debunk the myth of Wall Street wolves.

He explains all the necessary skills that traders need in order to make sound decisions and cope with the stress. This book teaches you about the importance of attitude and ethics when you want to succeed on Wall Street.

7. The Wall Street Journal Complete Money and Investing Guidebook by Dave Kansas

Price: On sale

The Wall Street Journal guidebook takes you through all the fundamentals of investing . You’ll find out more about the major players, the language, and the proven strategies.

It was written by Dave Kansas, who is an editor at the Wall Street Journal. He provides all the information you need to know when investing in mutual funds, stocks, or bonds . In addition, Kansas’ book teaches you how to pay attention to cues in the changing economy.

8. When the Wolves Bite: Two Billionaires, One Company, and an Epic Wall Street Battle by Scott Wapner

Bill Ackman and Carl Icahn are two Wall Street titans who got into a years-long war of egos over Herbalife . Namely, Icahn didn’t have a problem with Herbalife’s business model and Ackman disagreed.

This led to backroom deals, public insults, and billion dollar trades. Journalist Scott Wapner tells this story, giving you a glimpse into the ways this feud affected the market.

9. What Works on Wall Street, 4th Edition: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Strategies of All Time by James P. O’Shaughnessy

What Works on Wall Street was authored by James P. O’Shaughnessy, the CEO and chairman of O’Shaughnessy Asset Management. His guide allows you to understand the historical context of today’s stock market.

This book provides you with hard market data dating back to 1926, allowing you to make better investment decisions. It covers topics like buyback, dividend, price-to-cash flow, and more.

10. White Shoe: How a New Breed of Wall Street Lawyers Changed Big Business and the American Century by John Oller

Written by John Oller, an ex-Wall Street lawyer , this book gives you an insight into the lawyers who shaped Walls Street as we know it today.

It focuses on the stories of three lawyers who defended some of the biggest corporations from the government. Most importantly, it offers you a glimpse of how legal disputes influence the world of finance.

Final Thoughts

Wall Street books are a powerful guide for success in the world of stock trading. The books we selected all have an added perk – they are simply fun to read. You can gain the knowledge you need to stay afloat as a trader while enjoying interesting anecdotes about some of the key people in the business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What elements do you look for in an outstanding wall street book.

The best books include history, tips and excellent writing.

What are some outstanding Wall Street books?

Benzinga recommends “Understanding Wall Street,” “One Up on Wall Street” and “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.”

About Luke Jacobi

Luke Jacobi is a distinguished professional known for his role as President at Benzinga, a renowned financial media outlet. With a background in business operations and management, Luke brings valuable expertise to his position, overseeing various aspects of Benzinga’s operations. His contributions play a crucial role in the company’s success, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness across different departments. Prior to his role at Benzinga, Luke has held positions that have honed his skills in leadership and strategic decision-making. With a keen understanding of the financial industry and a commitment to driving innovation, Luke continues to make significant contributions to Benzinga’s mission of providing high-quality financial news and analysis.

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6 New Books We Recommend This Week

Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times.

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History is written by the winners, the saying goes, and if there’s a theme to this week’s recommended books it might be that a little digging often reveals more to the story. Jessica Goudeau’s “We Were Illegal” uses the scrim of her own family tree to look at Texas’ long tradition of self-mythology; Edward O’Keefe’s “The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt” pulls the curtain on America’s most famously macho president to highlight the women who advised and influenced him; and Howard Markel’s “Origin Story” complicates our understanding of Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species” and the toll it took on his well-being. Also up: a history of reality TV, a novel about an emergency room worker and a quicksilver collection of essays about reading and other pursuits by the Book Review’s poetry columnist, Elisa Gabbert. Happy reading. — Gregory Cowles

CUE THE SUN! The Invention of Reality TV Emily Nussbaum

Without sneering at its subject or its increasingly wised-up fans, this critically astute and deeply reported book describes reality TV through the eyes of the people who made it happen, offering cleareyed accounts of how exploitative and dangerous such shows could be.

“Exquisitely told. … With muscular prose and an exacting eye for detail, Nussbaum, a staff writer for The New Yorker, outlines how such shows united high and low art into a potent concoction.”

From Eric Deggans’s review

Random House | $30

ANY PERSON IS THE ONLY SELF Elisa Gabbert

In her third essay collection, which weaves thoughts about reading with a loose running meditation on the impact of the Covid pandemic, the poet and critic (and the Book Review’s poetry columnist) celebrates literature and life through a voracious engagement with the world, and the word.

“It feels like an expression of gratitude for both the act of reading in itself and for reading as a route to conversation, a means of socializing, a way to connect.”

From Lily Meyer’s review

FSG Originals | Paperback, $18

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The Wall Street Journal Review: Is It Worth It? (2024)

The bottom line.

Ease of Use
Overall Value

The Wall Street Journal digital edition is one of the biggest subscriber-based services online today. If you are looking for an excellent go-to financial resource, the digital WSJ could be precisely what you’ve been looking for in an app.

An easy-to-use app on computer, tablet, or smartphone.
It includes both hard-hitting journalism and entertaining articles.
Price is on par with other popular financial publications that do not offer as much news as the WSJ.
Subscribers can access the archives, which can be useful for research purposes.
Discounts are often available for new subscribers.
Adding the paper version to your subscription is quite affordable.
Costs are notable – even your first article each month is behind a paywall.
You may feel that the paper leans one way or the other politically.
Cancellation involves as phone call.
Try The Wall Street Journal

Looking for a detailed Wall Street Journal review? We tested this journalism service .

Because there are more places to get your business, finance, and general news than ever, you may wonder, “Is The Wall Street Journal worth it?” Even though paper options may be fewer, digital choices are abundant. Some of these are more reliable and engaging than others.

The digital version of The Wall Street Journal is one option many working professionals, investors, business owners, and others consider a go-to source for news. In addition, writers, especially nonfiction writers who are constantly researching their topics, can benefit from having access to valuable resources. When you learn more about the digital version of The Wall Street Journal, you’ll find out whether subscribing offers value for money.

Whether it's business and innovation or politics and culture, The Wall Street Journal's award-winning journalism delivers insight and analysis trusted by key decision-makers worldwide.

History of The Wall Street Journal

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The Wall Street Journal is known for award-winning news coverage, business and finance information – a more in-depth look at economics than most other newspapers, and its editorial section (which has always been considered separate from the other sections). WSJ print is recognized worldwide.

Additionally, the newspaper covers many other topics as varied as science, technology, health, politics, luxury living, and more. The Wall Street Journal has won over 37 Pulitzer Prizes for its reporting.

Founded by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser, The Wall Street Journal was first published as a print newspaper in 1889. It has been published and produced continuously in Greater New York.

The Wall Street Journal grew, changed, and adapted over the years. However, none of the changes were as noticeable as those that fell in line with the invention of the internet.

Here is a quick timeline of the key events in its history:

In 1996, The Wall Street Journal launched an online paid subscription service apart from its print edition.

This was eventually available as an app-based program for mobile devices in 2004.

In 2007, News Corp, owned by Rupert Murdoch, acquired Dow Jones, publisher of the Journal, for US$5 billion. This added WSJ to the Murdoch news empire. The Rupert Murdoch news empire includes Fox News and the New York Post.
In 2015, the WSJ Pro was launched – a premium membership suite that relies on reader revenue with no advertising (similar to its rival – The New York Times).

In 2010, the consumer media group of Dow Jones, which includes WSJ, merged with the enterprise media group that includes Dow Jones Newswires.
In June 2018, newsroom veteran Matt Murray took charge as its new editor-in-chief.

Today, the WSJ remains one of the most popular subscription app services with a stable subscriber base. The Dow Jones & Company currently operates as part of News Corp.

The WSJ has had its share of controversies. Its editorial board has repeatedly denied that global warming even existed. Yet, according to the Washington Post , the WSJ’s editorial pages “may be the beating heart of climate-change skepticism.” However, advertising on WSJ to challenge the Journal editorial page’s orthodoxy on climate change is permissible, says this Washington Post article .

In Feb 2020, the administration of President Donald Trump announced that they would treat five major Chinese media outlets as extensions of the Xi Jinping led China Government. A day later, China’s foreign ministry revoked the press credentials of a few reporters over a controversial headline . The foreign ministry revocation included three WSJ journalists’ press credentials.

In another incident in Feb 2020, one of the journal reporters was arrested in Hong Kong for criticizing the policies of the Communist Party of China. As for the Wall Street Journal reporters – peep into any of their profile GlassDoor, and you’ll find complaints on issues like work-life balance (like any media company).

You will often hear reference to the fact that people who are “in the know” read The Wall Street Journal.

Although these stats are now a bit dated, in 2005, the WSJ reported that its readership profile included around 60% top management, with an average income of $191,000, and an average household net worth of approximately $2.1 million. The average age of its readership at that time was 55.

A 2018 Forbes’ survey showed that the WSJ is the most trusted news source in the US, with 57.7% of Americans trusting it.

For a writer, a business analyst, or anyone else using the WSJ app for research, knowing who reads the newspaper is useful. The journalists and reporters of WSJ write articles that are geared toward this target audience, so cross-referencing with other sources that are a bit “younger” can be important at times.

Despite this, many others benefit from the information in WSJ ― those who are looking to move upward in their field will gain extensive knowledge. If you plan to be an editor, this is a great newspaper to pick up headline writing and other editorial skills.

The paper benefits anyone looking for a different perspective of news (be it business or financial) and editorial features than what is offered by any other top national newspaper.

You will often hear reference to the fact that people who are “in the know” read The Wall Street Journal. Anyone interested in catching all breaking news story will read the WSJ. Although these stats are now a bit dated, in 2005, the WSJ reported that its readership profile included around 60% of top management, with an average income of $191,000 and an average household net worth of approximately $2.1 million. In addition, the average age of its readership at that time was 55.

A 2018 Forbes survey showed that the WSJ is the most trusted news source in the US, with 57.7% of Americans trusting it. Knowing who reads the newspaper is helpful for a writer, a business analyst, or anyone else using the WSJ app for research. The journalists and reporters of WSJ write articles geared toward this target audience, so cross-referencing with other sources that are a bit “younger” can sometimes be necessary.

Despite this, many others benefit from the information in WSJ ― those looking to move upward in their field will gain extensive knowledge. For example, if you plan to be an editor, this is a great newspaper to pick up headline writing and other editorial skills. In addition, the paper benefits anyone looking for a different perspective of news (be it business or financial) and editorial features than what is offered by any other top national newspaper.

As a writer, I’m always looking for the right “ tools ” to make my job easier. Having access to The Wall Street Journal proves helpful in my day-to-day work. For instance, I often find that the newspaper has an article that is helpful to me for research and is available at the click of a button while letting me set my privacy preferences.

It saves me the struggle of finding a needed article locked behind a paywall. And, my access to WSJ’s search engine gives me even more search power to sniff out those hard-to-find stats to complete my articles. When writing this WSJ review, the coronavirus pandemic was a trending topic. I was drawn to an article on the front page about this significant health scare on the WSJ digital app. As I clicked through, WSJ quickly led me to archived newsroom information about the SARS epidemic from two decades ago, which was something I wanted to read about more in-depth.

Unfortunately, you can’t get The Wall Street Journal online for free. The standard monthly price for an All Access Digital subscription to The Wall Street Journal is $38.99. However, first-time subscribers can currently lock in for half-price for the first year, and there are frequent subscription deals such as $1.00 for the first month or similar offers. Those interested in also receiving a print edition can get the paper daily or just on Saturdays for a small additional charge.

Another option for interested readers is to utilize Apple News, which is $9.99 per month and gives you access to hundreds of magazines and papers. For example, the three most recent days of The Wall Street Journal are available through Apple News at any given time. This may be the cheapest way to subscribe to the Journal ― although the complete archives are not accessible like they are to someone who subscribes to the WSJ directly.

An All Access Digital subscription to The Wall Street Journal includes the complete daily edition of The Wall Street Journal as it is released (with updates added by wall street journal reporters, of course). Plus, you have access to archived articles, which can be especially useful to anyone who does any amount of research for work or school.

The digital version of WSJ is accessible on a computer and Google Play, iOS, and the Kindle app store. This means you can access the subscription to read a story from an iPhone, iPad, or nearly any standard device.

Adding the print edition will also receive the daily newspaper and the WSJ lifestyle magazine. In addition to the award-winning journalism and business and financial news readers expect from The Wall Street Journal, the paper often gives subscribers special access to discounts, events, and other perks. By subscribing, the WSJ will often send a copy link of deals and information that interest you directly to your email box.

You would think that canceling a digital service would be easy. After all, you sign up online, so canceling would mean clicking a few buttons. Unfortunately, that is not the case. One of the most unfortunate problems with a subscription to The Wall Street Journal is that canceling is more complicated than it needs to be.

You must call and speak with an account representative if you want to cancel your subscription. You will likely be offered a discount rate to remain a customer as the company will be fighting hard to keep you under a subscription plan.

While this is unusual for a digital app, it is not unheard of. However, it is something you should certainly keep in mind before you subscribe ― mainly if you are not fond of having to make phone calls.

Bloomberg News has 30 years of history behind it. Over the years, it has grown to become well-respected finance and financial news firm. However, The Wall Street Journal appears ahead for those looking for broader coverage.

The Wall Street Journal is considered by many to be much more “harder hitting” than Bloomberg when it comes to digging into financial topics and getting to the root of newsworthy items. While Bloomberg has its benefits as a news source, anyone wanting to use one paper or digital site as their primary way to stay informed will find that Bloomberg is thin in that regard. Digital content costs for the Wall Street Journal vs. Bloomberg is comparable. One benefit of Bloomberg is that casual readers can read a few articles free each month.

The Financial Times is more international in focus than The Wall Street Journal. So reading the Financial Times, at least occasionally, may be wise for someone interested in worldwide financial markets.

The Financial Times is also very “intellectual.” However, it doesn’t offer many entertainment stories or even editorials. So while the Financial Times provides information that can be pretty valuable and educational, it may not interest readers.

The cost for the Financial Times digital access package is quite similar to that of The Wall Street Journal, so that isn’t a particular determining factor for anyone deciding between Financial Times or WSJ. However, the paper offers weekly packages, so it is possible to try it out and see if the service is worthwhile.

The Wall Street Journal digital edition is one of the biggest online subscriber-based services. So if you are looking for an excellent go-to financial resource, the digital WSJ could be precisely what you’ve been looking for in an app.
The WSJ mobile app is easy-to-use and makes it simple to access the current and back issues of The Wall Street Journal from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Ask nearly anyone, “Is the Wall Street Journal reliable?” and you will get a positive response.
The WSJ is a financial publication, as well as a daily newspaper. It includes hard-hitting journalism, financial news, opinion pieces, and entertaining articles.
Price is on par with other popular financial publications that do not offer as much content as the WSJ.
You can access the archived articles, which can be helpful for research purposes.
Discounts are often available for new subscribers so that you can try them out with less investment.
Adding the print version to your subscription is quite affordable.
The Wall Street Journal costs are notable, and even your first article each month is behind a paywall.
Like any newspaper, there may be an opinion piece or some articles you disagree with, and you may feel that the paper leans one way or the other politically.
Cancellation is not easy. You will have to call to cancel if you decide that the subscription is not for you.

That brings us to the big question:

Whether or not The Wall Street Journal is worth it comes to personal preference. The subscription could be a good deal for a writer, anyone who researches extensively, or someone who wants to stay on top of news coverage and finance with one simple digital service.

While the monthly cost can seem a bit pricey, it is less expensive than most gym memberships or cable television plans. Moreover, the value of a Wall Street Journal subscription is evident when you compare it with other similar digital products. The Wall Street Journal covers a larger breadth of news and has an extensive archive.

The Wall Street Journal digital edition is one of the most effective online subscriber-based services. Having all the knowledge of over 100 years of The Wall Street Journal accessible from your iPhone, tablet, iPad, or computer through the WSJ app is something many people could only dream of years ago.

If you enjoy the paper version of the WSJ or are looking for an excellent go-to financial resource, the digital WSJ could be precisely what you’ve been looking for.

Interesting in reading more? Check out our Hemingway App review !

Book Reviews Aren't Dead (Just Ask The Wall Street Journal)

The newspaper's books section is excellent and exemplifies how reviewing is still a well-valued aspect of American journalism.

For those of us who rely on book reviews to feature what we write or publish, the conventional wisdom is that traditional newspaper and magazine sections have been sharply cut back. And it is true that standalone book coverage in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Globe , among other periodicals, has been folded in elsewhere in the paper and space allotted to books--measured strictly in inches--has been reduced. But the impression that books are a major casualty of a general depression in the economics of journalism is overstated. Upscale magazines such as The Atlantic, the New Yorker, Harpers, the Economist, and even Foreign Affairs consider books integral to their identity. The New York Review of Books , as I wrote recently , is a sophisticated journal combining literature, politics, and social criticism aimed at an audience, bigger now than it has ever been, accustomed to quality judgment and assessment.

The New York Times dailies and Sunday Book Review are still the standard for mass media, although five precious pages of the Sunday section are now devoted to slicing and dicing of bestseller lists by format--print books, e-books, and combinations thereof. On the Internet, with a minimum of effort, readers can find ample reviews, by linking to a variety of online critics and websites devoted to books. Social media--Twitter and Facebook, among others--comprise a bustling community of like-minded readers numbering in the millions. Public radio--particularly Fresh Air and other major shows--have strong commitments to books as mainstays for their programming. So, all in all, the presumption that book reviews are being sidelined in the digital age is exaggerated.

MORE ON BOOKS

And one of the best book sections in this new era has turned up in the Wall Street Journal. The country's largest newspaper, with a print and digital circulation of 2.1 million, launched the book section in September 2010 as part of the paper's expansion into weekends with a Saturday edition. Like the daily reviews, the book section is under the aegis of the editorial page, which is known for its forthright conservative perspective. Occasionally, that point of view seems to influence the choice of reviewer, particularly in politically oriented nonfiction. But the quality of the pieces and the breadth of the subjects is nonetheless impressive. The graphics are vivid, and for a newspaper that long limited itself to small line drawings, it is still surprising to see illustrations in color and reflecting careful selection designed to underscore the theme of the books. The six-page broadsheet is a pull-out in the Review section, which also covers, according to its front-page listings: culture, science, commerce, humor, politics, language, technology, art, and ideas. Excerpts and book-related essays in the Review have caused a stir. An adaptation of Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother a year ago sparked a lively debate about Asian versus western child-raising and lifted the book to bestseller lists. Softer subjects are in a companion section called Off-Duty, devoted to cooking, eating, style, fashion, design, decorating, adventure, travel gear, and gadgets.

Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper unit has been ensnared for months in a phone hacking scandal that led to the closing of the News of the World, multiple arrests of journalists and executives, and the resignation of Les Hinton, chief executive of Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, whose previous job was in London. Murdoch's News Corporation is a vast enterprise, with cable and broadcast television and movies the principal drivers of revenue and profit. A book section in the Wall Street Journal is a small corner of the empire, with little in the way of lucrative advertising (the only ad in the February 11-12 issue was placed by HarperCollins, another News Corporation company). Not surprisingly, perhaps, given all the furor, the Journal 's quality book coverage has received less attention than it deserves. What I especially like is the eclectic choice of books, many of which are published by respected but smaller houses and show substantial attention to the mix of subjects and reviewers.

The lead review in the recent section covered three books marking the centennial of the Girl Scouts, with particular praise for the founder, Juliette Gordon Low, known as "Daisy." The reviewer, Amy Finnerty, is an editor of World Affairs Journal. Stacy A. Cordery's biography of Law "gives us the unexpurgated life," Finnerty writes, "one that might make you want to shield the eyes of the nearest Brownie Scout but one that also lends depth and color to the American Girl Scouts founder's story." By my count, there are sixteen reviews in the weekend section, of varying length, with an overwhelming emphasis on nonfiction, but space for a round-up of children's books. Among the other books reviewed is a survey (a meditation) on Greece's contribution to European culture, a study of China's civil war (which coincided with our own), and a biography of Edward Burne-Jones, called The Last Pre-Raphaelite.

Credit for the section and the weekday reviews goes to its editors, led by Robert Messsenger, who came from the Weekly Standard and the New York Sun , which had a run of several years as a daily with a high-brow conservative cast that has many of the characteristics that show up in the weekend Journal. My preference is for the print newspaper, but the digital version includes videos and a variety of other online elements, particularly discussion groups and recommendations. Whatever format you choose, when it comes to books, the Wall Street Journal has contributed admirably to their coverage at a time when added attention is especially welcome.

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