COVER

The BOSS (Nation)

He's big, he's brash, and he's not afraid of picking fights with Republicans or making allies of Democrats. Can Chris Christie bring his wayward party back to the center?

COMMENTARY

Obama's Second Chance (In the Arena)

The election gave the President some leverage. Can he be creative with it?

BRIEFING

Alabama (Milestones)

Another title

How to Grow (Business)

Avoiding the fiscal cliff was nice, but it won't create jobs. Here's what will

A Quitter's Market (Economy)

Electronic-cigarette sales are up, and Big Tobacco wants in

FEATURES

Inside Man (World)

In a rare example of top-down change, Burma's leader, Thein Sein, is opening up his once pariah state and leading it toward democracy. But will the new freedoms last?

The Baby Deficit (Society)

How changing attitudes about international adoption are creating heartbreak for American families

LETTERS

THE CULTURE

Zen the Hard Way (Television)

On the dark comedy Enlightened, the road to peace has a few banana peels

American Gothic (Books)

George Saunders captures the soul of a bankrupt era

Build-a-Bot (Tech)

Lego overhauls its robotics kit for the iPhone era

Jet-Set Frenzy (Travel)

The new $65 million G650 is the hot ride for the megarich

Visit the Parents (The Awesome Column)

Mandated time spent with Mom and Dad? My lawyer and I are negotiating