Trimming the Times: Obama on Iran; Boss's Book Review

A guide to what's in The New York Times for those worried about hitting its pay wall

Now that The New York Times pay wall is live, you only get 20 free clicks a month. For those worried about hitting their limit, we're taking a look through the paper each morning to find the stories that can make your clicks count.

The home page leads with a report on President Barack Obama's defense of the U.S. case against the Iranian terrorism suspects and his call for sanctions against Tehran. Also high on the page, a feature from India looks at the surge in Indian students studying in the United States as top universities in their home country become more and more competitive. And even if you don't care about Jill Abramson's The Puppy Diaries, the uniquely challenging task of passing judgment on the boss's work makes John Grogan's review a can't-miss.

World: After catching up on the president's strong words in support of the U.S. terrorism case against two Iranian men (and Iran's equally stiff denial), check out C.J. Chivers's latest report from Afghanistan, where U.S. forces trying to wind down their role now focus on pragmatic goals such as making sure the Afghan forces they fight with are up to snuff.

U.S.: The feature on Michele Bachmann's law studies at Oral Roberts University includes some fascinating insight into how the candidate learned of god and law simultaneously. The story of a couple that got lost in a corn maze and had to call 911 has been making the rounds, but The Times' take, more about corn mazes themselves than this particular incident, is quite amusing. And in a bit of unexpected news, a new trend in municipal money saving nationwide comes straight out of Doctor Strangelove: Halting water fluoridation.

Business: The story on a rise in loan sharks in China makes for an interesting counterpoint to the widely held narrative of a booming mega-economy there. And it may not instantly grab you, but the story on eating disorders as a new battleground among insurers does bring up some good questions about what kinds of conditions must be covered.

Sports: The baseball playoffs are getting really exciting as the Detroit Tigers managed to squeak out a win against the Texas Rangers to stay in their struggling American League series, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals to come up even in their National League series. Oh, and for those with a masochistic streak, check out the envy-inducing feature on the University of Washington's seaside football stadium and its boating fans' floating tailgate parties.

Opinion: In the lead op-ed, history professor Jeremi Suri argues that an unfocused and reactive foreign policy has overcommitted the United States around the world without a good way to extract itself.

Arts: Check out the report from Greece, where the nation's debt crisis has become a muse for some of its artists. And think about the awkward pressure a reviewer must face when taking on his boss's book, as John Grogan reviews Jill Abramson's The Puppy Diaries.

Travel: We do love the armchair vacations of 36 Hours, and this week's jaunt to under-sung Quebec City made for a particularly charming vicarious visit.