Ben Bernanke The 2009 TIME Person of the Year (Ben Bernanke)
The story of the year was a weak economy that could have been much, much weaker. How the mild-mannered man who runs the Federal Reserve prevented an economic catastrophe.

'Too big to fail is one of the biggest problems we face in this country.' (Ben Bernanke)
The Fed chairman sat down with TIME on Dec. 8 for a conversation about everything from the state of the economy to the contents of his wallet

Photos: How the Fed Works (Ben Bernanke)
U.S. monetary policy is guided by an independent government agency that can trace its roots to the administration of George Washington

Photos: The Chairman's Office (Ben Bernanke)
From one of the most rarefied rooms in Washington, Bernanke has overseen a rescue of the world financial system

# 2 General Stanley McChrystal (The Short List)
Soft-spoken and intense, the top U.S. soldier in Afghanistan successfully lobbied the President for a surge in troops. Now all he has to do is salvage a faltering war

#3 The Chinese Worker (Person Of The Year / THE SHORT LIST)
At an LED factory in Shenzhen, TIME meets some of the young men and women — all of them migrants — who are fueling China's booming economic growth

#4 Nancy Pelosi (The Short List)
The highest-ranking woman in U.S. history (except for Oprah), she wields her power more effectively than any other House Speaker in modern times

#5 Usain Bolt (THE SHORT LIST)
The world's fastest man tests the limits of human performance and carries a nation in his wake

Fond Farewells
The lives and legacies of those who died this year

Persons of the Year (Also In This Issue)
Leaders, activists and icons look back on what the selection meant to them

People Who Mattered (Person Of The Year)
TIME picks 25 people who influenced 2009 for better or worse

To Our Readers: The Good Banker
The recession was the story of the year. Without Ben Bernanke, TIME's 2009 Person of the Year, it would have been a lot worse


The Teddy Awards for Political Courage (Commentary)
A President, a Senator and the people of Iran are among those who deserve kudos for courage in 2009

And the Decade Goes To ... (Commentary)
Anyone can pick a Person of the Year. It takes a great historian to define the decade


Technology Pioneers Who Will Change Your Life (Global Business)
Meet some of the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers — and the innovations they are bringing to market


Best Business Books of 2009
Sagas of Bernie and Ayn. A theory gone wrong. How the mighty fell into Wall Street hell


The Moment (Briefing / Special 2009 Edition)
The many Moments that defined 2009

Essential Top 10 Lists (The Year In Briefing)
The best biz deals, spiciest feuds, coolest gadgets, oddest news, nastiest breakups and more

Verbatim
Quotes and buzzwords of the year

Pop Chart (Briefing / The Year in Briefing)
2009 Edition

A Brief History of Naming the 2000s (Briefing / The Year in Briefing)
Naming the 2000s

The World (Briefing / The Year in Briefing)
10 ESSENTIAL STORIES OF 2009


Inbox (Inbox)
Letters of the Year