Best of 1991

Wars rage around the the globe. A vast, tragic empire collapses. The economy constricts painfully. But ordinary life -- and extraordinary life -- goes on. People still write novels and environmental treaties, design solar cells and stage sets, orchestrate symphonies and ad campaigns. They still care about tossing a salad or a baseball superbly. From science to show biz, they exert all the passion, wit, ingenuity, game playing -- and, yes, the ego, venality and damn-fool silliness -- that keep the human enterprise steaming along so entertainingly.

And at the end of the year we feel compelled to sort it all...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!