The Best Business Writing 2012

An anthology Malcolm Gladwell has called "riveting and indispensable," The Best Business Writing is a far-ranging survey of business's dynamic relationship with politics, culture, and life. This year's selections include John Markoff ( New York Times ) on innovations in robot technology and the decline of the factory worker; Evgeny Morozov ( New Republic ) on the questionable value of the popular TED conference series and the idea industry behind it; Paul Kiel ( ProPublica ) on the ripple effects of the ongoing foreclosure crisis; and the infamous op-ed by Greg Smith, published in the New York Times, announcing his break with Goldman Sachs over its trading practices and corrupt corporate ethos.

Jessica Pressler ( New York ) delves into the personal and professional rivalry between former spouses and fashion competitors Tory and Christopher Burch. Peter Whoriskey ( Washington Post ) exposes the human cost of promoting pharmaceuticals for off-label uses. Charles Duhigg and David Barboza ( New York Times ) investigate Apple's unethical labor practices in China. Max Abelson ( Bloomberg ) reports on Wall Street's amusing reaction to the diminishing annual bonus. Mina Kimes ( Fortune ) recounts the grisly story of a company's illegal testing—and misuse—of a medical device for profit, and Jeff Tietz ( Rolling Stone ) composes one of the most poignant and comprehensive portraits of the financial crisis's dissolution of the American middle class.