The Best Business Writing 2013

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 Tory and Christopher Burch, former spouses now competing to dominate the fashion world. Peter Whoriskey ( "Washington Post") exposes the human cost of promoting pharmaceuticals off-label. 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.