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December 1983 Issue
December 1983 Cover
This magazine has been fully digitized as a part of The Atlantic's archive. Each article originally printed in this magazine is available here, complete and unedited from the historical print. Read more from this magazine, or explore the full archive.
  • Old Ally, New Competitor
    Sanford J. Ungar
  • Finland: Complicated Coexistence
    Gregory F. Treverton
  • Atonal Clarity
    William H. Youngren
  • Journey to Other Sites
    Irving Howe
  • Making the List
    James Atlas
  • Not Just a Gigolo
    Elliott Sirkin

Making the List

How some books get on the best-seller list—and how some don’t

By James Atlas
December 1983 Issue

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