Carlson’s finale is titled “Looking at 12 Years Between the Covers”. In it he chronicles the magazines that came and went, and a few trends that hit the business during his 12-year tenure: the Maxim-ization of U.S. mens’ magazines, the onslaught of “me” magazine also-rans that followed in the wake of the very successful launch of O: The Oprah Magazine, and the comforting constancy of the sex tips that run month in and month out in women’s glossies like Cosmopolitan and Glamour.

Carlson, who chronicled the ups and downs, start ups and demises of American magazines, is taking the Post’s early retirement buyout and “heading off to pursue other interests, such as sloth and gin,” he writes in the article.