COVER

The End of Prosperity? (Cover Story)

A noted historian looks at parallels between this financial crisis and 1929 and shows what must be done to avoid Depression 2.0

NATION

How They Failed Us (The Well / Nation)

When Washington tried to spend $700 billion to rescue Wall Street, voters revolted — then watched the markets plunge. Why the public's trust has vanished — and why it may not be coming back

Can Obama Turn Colorado Blue? (Campaign '08)

Republicans used to be able to count on Colorado. But a look at change in one blue collar county reveals why the state may go for Obama

Palin's Pipeline to Nowhere? (The Well / Campaign '08)

Sarah Palin vowed to take on Big Oil when she set out to build a gas pipeline in Alaska. But her uncompromising style has its costs

ESSAY

WORLD

Postcard From Basra (Postcard: Basra)

As violence subsides across the nation, Iraqis take tentative steps toward normality. An eye-opening tour of Iraq after the surge

BRIEFING

HEALTH & MEDICINE

The Forgotten Plague (Global Health / Tuberculosis)

Tuberculosis is an ancient killer, and emerging strains are deadlier than ever. Award-winning photographer James Nachtwey captures the crisis

Images of a Forgotten Plague

Video: Emerging strains of tuberculosis are deadlier than ever. TIME photographer James Nachtwey captures the crisis

SOCIETY

TECHNOLOGY

The Klutz's Companion (Life / User's Guide)

If you're looking for the ideal laptop, this one has many cool features — including indestructibility

BUSINESS

Need a Loan? (The Well / The Curious Capitalist)

The credit crunch is reaching Main Street. How it might affect you

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

King of the Hill (Architecture)

Italian architect Renzo Piano is changing the face of America, one inventive building at a time

SPECIAL SECTION

Roche's Rush (Global Business / Pharmaceuticals)

How the Swiss firm is redefining the R&D crapshoot in its quest to land the next pharmaceutical breakthrough

Business Books (Also In This Issue)

Failure is everywhere these days, from Wall Street to Washington. And great flops have a lot to teach us. Also: Stop multitasking and start practicing

TO OUR READERS

Shedding Light

A historian explores the global impact of the credit crisis, and a legendary war photographer exposes the toll of an awful plague

LETTERS