In this issue
February 06, 2012 / Fortune Asia / Volume 165

36 The Secrets Apple Keeps
Undercover meetings! Stealth product developments! In his new book, Fortune
senior editor-at-large ADAM LASHINSKY finds out what it's really like to work
at Apple and how its secretive behavior pays off.

46 THE 100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR
Larry Page: The Fortune Interview
In an exclusive Q&A, Google's co-founder and CEO explains how he built a No.1
workplacend why it matters.
BY ADAM LASHINSKY

48 Salesforce's Happy Workforce
Marc Benioff has the mind of a fox and the body of a bear. He's also a super salesman
who's built a Bay Area giant that employees love for being prosperous and good.
BY DAVID A. KAPLAN

57 The 2012 List
For the 15th year, Fortune names the top workplaces in corporate America. The
Best Companies plan to fill more than 70,000 jobs this year.
BY MILTON MOSKOWITZ AND ROBERT LEVERING

66 The Solo Economy
A record number of Americans now live by themselvesnd they spend $1.9 trillion
per year. Businesses are beginning to take notice.
BY ERIC KLINENBERG

6 FIRST
By the Numbers

Southern Co. builds the first U.S. nuclear plant in 30 years.
BY ANNE VANDERMEY

9 FIRST
The Briefing
The super PACs behind the GOP, boosting employee brainpower, and more.

10 FIRST
Closer Look
Corn ethanol and the food-fuel dilemma.
BY SCOTT CENDROWSKI

11 FIRST
The Best Advice I Ever Got
Bob Rodriguez of First Pacific Advisors.
INTERVIEW BY ELLEN FLORIAN

14 FIRST
World's Most Admired Companies
Limited Brands (parent of Victoria's Secret) is rockin'.
BY SCOTT CENDROWSKI AND ANNE VANDERMEY

16 VENTURE
David vs. Goliath
How three small firms grew in the land of the giants.
BY ELAINE POFELDT

17 CAREER
The Real Way to Build a Network
LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman explains how to do it right, in an excerpt from
his new book, The Start-Up of You.

22 CAREER
Game Changers
Reid Hoffman has taken social networking to a new level, professionally and
personally.
BY JESSI HEMPEL

23 TECH
Brainstorm
Tiny polling site Wayin hopes to get a lift from presidential campaignsnd
co-founder Scott McNealy.
BY MIGUEL HELFT

25 INVEST
Why You Shouldn't Blame ETFs
Critics say the popular funds are causing stocks to swing wildly together. Is
there proof?
BY SCOTT CENDROWSKI

27 INVEST
Three Ways to Find Yield
ETFs offer a wealth of smart options in the hunt for healthy dividends.
BY AMY FELDMAN

28 INVEST
Wealth Adviser
Becoming your kid's mortgage lender.
BY JANICE REVELL

72 Bing!
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The gold photographed for the cover and inside articles of Fortune's Investor's
Guide 2012 (Dec. 26) was generously provided by Manfra Tordella & Brookes.

OPINION
29 Allan Sloan
One way to stimulate the economy: Have Wall Street bail out Main Street.

31 Geoff Colvin
Today's headlines reflect a world in chaos. That may be good news.

32 Sheila Bair
Why it's time to break up the "too big to fail" banks.

33 John Cassidy
Can "Super Mario" save Europend America's economy too?

+ fortune.com

EVERYTHING WE KNOW, THE MINUTE WE KNOW IT.

ON THE COVER

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SEAN McCABE