Check-out Stand Periodicals
Since retiring, much of my reading has been fiction. I still read non-fiction. Usually, the non-fiction material is found on the new books stand at my local library. But every once in a while I fall prey to the supermarket check-out stand. One can find periodicals of all kinds tempting one while waiting in line to make a purchase.
Recently, among the periodicals was Discovering the Way to a Smarter Brain. To catch my attention even further were titles of articles How the Brain Can Mend Your Mind and Body and The Myths of Male and Female Brains. So I naturally succumbed to the pressure.
BBC or Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited-Publisher?
The surprising thing about this periodical is the absence of ownership. I think the publishing company is either the BBC or an affiliate. If you input the website given below the editorial information www.sciencefocus.com the opening page clearly indicates the BBC involvement. But the magazine itself is copyrighted by Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited. Perhaps the magazine is a joint effort. Either way, it is a winner. Not all periodicals are.
Discovering the Way to a Smarter Brain has 98 pages chock full of information about this important organ. The periodical begins with a brief history of brain research. Then the articles run the gamut from the anatomy of the brain to artificial intelligence. While topics in Neuroscience comprised two thirds of the issue, articles in the categories Mental Health and Future Minds enjoyed more than just a passing mention.
Written for the Common Man
The best part of the magazine to me was the ease of reading. Many of the topics discussed were out there as far as concept, but the editors and writers did a great job with the writing. The average person gains an understanding of this complex material. The articles captured my attention and provided references to the scientific research for those wanting a deeper explanation.
The cost makes me wish my library was a subscriber, but pinpointing the company behind the issue might be a tad bit tricky. Even more difficult is the possibility that the topics of the published periodicals might be random. I might find this release fascinating yet have no interest in the next. Nonetheless, I found the money used to buy Discovering the Way to a Smarter Brain well spent.