You wouldn’t be reading this if you 1) didn’t have Internet access and 2) didn’t occasionally read online. When you add 1 and 2 together, what do you get?  www.issuu.com. (If you said “3,” you’re taking me too literally!)

You may have noticed that we publish our e-zine, Single! Young Christian Woman through www.issuu.com. It’s awesome for anyone who wants to offer a publication in a cool format online for little to no money. But for the reader, it’s awesomer!

OK, if you’re the type of person who has isolation issues and you really need to get out more, ignore this next piece of advice, but if you’re the type of person who really should learn to stay at home one or two nights a week and be content about it, listen up. Instead of burning fossil fuels to get to Borders or Barnes and Noble and spending $7 on a fattening coffee/muffin combo, all just so you can browse a few magazines, why don’t you put on a cup of Joe at home, whip up a batch of Reba Ray’s Wholesome Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips Cookies, and flip through the pages, online, of some really smart and sophisticated publications – all free for the perusing, right up until your own personal closing time.

At Issuu.com, click on the Publications link, and then (may I suggest?) the Religion and Philosophy category. Check out some of my favorites: New Identity and TypoMash, or how about some quality Christian publications from other countries – like Real Relationships and Outflow, both produced in Nigeria. There are literally thousands of publications, both magazines and books, to browse in 15 categories including Nonprofit & Activism, Nature & Animals, News & Politics and even Weird & Bizarre.

Another neat feature is that it Issuu recommends in the left margin other publications it thinks you might like based on what you’re reading. Disclaimer: Whereas there’s some awesome content on Issuu, just like that Barnes and Noble magazine stand, there’s some questionable content on Issuu as well. So be careful little eyes what you see!

When you find something you like, you can subscribe to the magazine, suggest it to a friend and even get to know the publisher better with Issuu’s social networking component. Next to the public library, this site is truly the best free reading room around. So grab your Joe, chai or sweet tea and cozy up to a good read on a rainy mid summer’s eve at home alone.