Person of the Year 2009: Ben Bernanke
The story of the year was a weak economy that could have been much, much weaker. Thank the man who runs the Federal Reserve, our mild-mannered economic overlord

Runners-Up
General Stanley McChrystal, The Chinese Worker, Nancy Pelosi and Usain Bolt

Fond Farewells
Paying homage to the achievers who left us

To Our Readers: The Good Banker
Why we chose Ben Bernanke


Inbox

Five Reasons to Visit Okinawa (TIME Traveler)
It's Japan, only a lot more chilled out

Spa Food, But Not As We Know It (Amuse-Bouche)
Treat yourself to an extravagant and irresistible afternoon tea at the Dorchester Hotel's spa in London

Young Turk (Check In)
An Istanbul landmark gets a slick revamp

A Rum Time (Grapevine)
Artisan producers from Antigua to Venezuela are persuading sophisticated drinkers to sip their rum neat