It's hard to answer why flicking through a giant book that is essentially 'what amount of paper people who are shinier than you have' is so wildly addictive. You can lose a good few hours furiously looking up how much Victoria added to the Beckham pile through her fashion business this year (£30m), or exclaiming with surprise that the latest woman to marry Paul McCartney is independently wealthy (£150m to be exact, who knew?).
In the digital age newspapers are out of date by the time they are published. This is one of the reasons why publishers are investing more in their wider media strategy, with the Evening Standard recently announcing the forthcoming launch of a television channel. One side effect has been the rise of some very successful online publications, but most blogs are volunteer run and don't have enough resources or attract a broad enough readership to compete with the established media in quality terms.
I have two in my wardrobe currently, having sent a third to a charity shop last summer. One of the two is wearable - just about - layered under a trophy jumper, with the collar peeking out. The other hangs, unworn, unloved, in my closet reproaching me for my stupidity in falling, yet again, for the illusory charm of a CWS (Crisp White Shirt).
I was flicking through the Sunday supplements the other day, when something in The Times magazine caught my eye. It was an article by Clover Stroud entitled 'Stand by Your Man' with the background image of a 1960s style woman who had the blankest expression I have ever seen.