Robert Gates: The Survivor (Cover)
A trusted aide to six Presidents, Robert Gates is the most powerful Defense Secretary in a generation. But what is the Republican at the head of Obama's war room fighting for?
 Robert Gates in Afghanistan
Photographer Lynsey Addario tours the war-torn country with Obama's Secretary of Defense
 Robert Gates' Career in Government
The Secretary of Defense has an impressive public service resume


The Calculator (The Well / Nation)
Douglas Elmendorf of the Congressional Budget Office is the one numbers guy in Washington everyone trusts

How to Tame The Deficit (The Well / Nation)
With our economy on the brink, Americans need to cut spending and raise taxes. Sound impossible? Here's a way to forge a grand compromise between two warring parties


Republicans Must Embrace the Vital Center (Commentary)
Moderate Republicanism has imploded. But a new wave of conservatives could bring it back

Into the Lion's Den (Commentary / In the Arena)
Obama is showing a welcome new taste for political combat. Too bad his opponents aren't serious

Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt and the Limits of Celebrity (The Awesome Column)
Heidi Montag is a star. So why did only 658 people buy her album? An investigative report


Trying to Revitalize a Dying Small Town
In a corner of Illinois with a turbulent history and a grim future, a punk-rock impresario is trying to make a difference. Bringing a town back to life, one cup of coffee at a time


11 Olympians To Watch (Sports / Sports)
On Feb. 12, the world's best skiers, boarders and skaters will descend on Vancouver for the Winter Games. A TIME guide to all the fire on ice (and snow)
 How They Train
See TIME's video series about how winter Olympians train


Inbox (Inbox)

Handicapping the Best Picture Oscar (Movies)
Everything you need to know about the 10 Oscar nominees

Patti Smith and Mapplethorpe: Bohemian Rhapsody (Books)
The rocker Patti Smith looks back on her youthful love affair with Robert Mapplethorpe

Serenity Now (Books)
In Devotion, writer Dani Shapiro chronicles her search for faith

Taste of Spring (Music)
With Teen Dream, indie-rock duo Beach House warms up

J.D. Salinger Dies: Hermit Crab of American Letters (Appreciation)
The hermit crab of American letters lived at odds with phonies and fame

Short List
TIME'S PICKS FOR THE WEEK


Divorcing While Dying (Life / Marriage)
Why some people opt to go through two awful things at once

How to Build Your Own Bedbug Detector (Life / Do-It-Yourself)
Go ahead — scientists designed this so you can try it at home

Gift Giving on Facebook Gets Real (Life / Web Watch)
The social-networking site wants your money — and your friend's mailing address

How ShelterBox Helps Haiti Earthquake Victims (Life)
ShelterBox helps people after disasters. Tom Henderson tells how the little nonprofit he started is aiding 100,000 Haitians
 ShelterBox: A Quick Fix for Home in Haiti
Video: ShelterBox, created by social entrepreneur Tom Henderson, provides temporary shelter and disaster relief for thousands of homeless earthquake survivors in Haiti


The Chill in Davos (Global Business / World Economic Forum)
TIME's Board of Economists searched the global economy for signs of life. Asia? Yes. The U.S.? Too soon to tell

Rouge in Reverse (Global Business / Small Business)
Huron Valley Steel is taking automobile deconstruction to its logical conclusion: metal and energy

Prescription for a Turnaround (Global Business / Health Care)
A new boss gets Cardinal Health refocused on the supply chain


10 Questions for Maxwell (10 Questions)
The Grammy-winning soul singer on music, hair and his eight-year hiatus. Maxwell will now take your questions


The Moment (Briefing)
1|29|10: Haiti

The World (Briefing)
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES

Getting Your Way (Briefing)
Need to crack the whip at work? Persuading people to do things differently is difficult. How to change the way you approach change

Verbatim (Briefing)

Spotlight: Toyota's Recall (Briefing)

Debunked (Briefing / Health Memo)
A pivotal paper linking vaccines and autism is retracted. Will the antivaccine movement go on?

Brief History: Gays in the Military (Briefing)

The Skimmer (Briefing)
Book Review: The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050 by Joel Kotkin