Martin Schneider writes:

A new issue of The New Yorker comes out tomorrow. A preview of its contents, adapted from the magazine's press release:

In "Slim's Time," Lawrence Wright profiles Carlos Slim Helú, the Mexican businessman who is sometimes ranked as the richest man in the world, and who agreed to extend a two-hundred-and-fifty-million-dollar loan to the New York Times Company earlier this year.

Atul Gawande explores how to contain the rising costs of health care by looking at McAllen, Texas, one of the most expensive health-care markets in the country, and at the Mayo Clinic, one of the country's most effective, low-cost health systems.

Jill Lepore chronicles the parrot fever of 1930, a "medical mystery" that transfixed the nation with the possibility of a pandemic and set a precedent for the coverage of future outbreaks and epidemics.

On the cover, an image by Jorge Colombo, "Finger Painting," drawn entirely on his iPhone—a first for the magazine.

Jeffrey Toobin, in Comment, reflects on President Obama's and Dick Cheney's recent speeches on national security.

In the Financial Page, James Surowiecki explores how corporate boards of directors could be reformed to protect shareholder value.

In Shouts & Murmurs, Andy Borowitz demonstrates how to make the most of your "quiet time."

In a sketchbook, Roz Chast offers sea chanteys for the subway.

Calvin Tomkins examines the life and works of artist Bruce Nauman.

Peter Schjeldahl visits the Francis Bacon retrospective at the Met.

John Lanchester considers the role human nature played in the banking crisis.

John Lahr attends Wallace Shawn's first play in more than a decade, Grasses of a Thousand Colors.

Anthony Lane reviews Terminator Salvation and Jerichow.

There is a short story by Craig Raine.