Reviews For Discover Magazine

Excellent. The January issues which review the past Year in Science are not to be missed.

Ah ! to be able to understand every word one would have to have 4 or 5 PHD's in astronomy and all the other sciences, still a great magazine for any one interested in what's going on "outside" of earth.

I got my first issue and I read it cover to cover, it was very interesting

We've been getting Discover for about a year from someone who gave my children a subscription (but we can't recall from whom). That sub was nearly ended, so when my 13-year-old son said it's his favorite magazine, I bought him a new subscription for his 14th birthday.

This was a gift to my son-in-law, so I'm not completely familiar with the magazine. It looks to be a good source for up-to-date scientific information. It appears to present technical information in an easy to read format, and seems to contain nice illustrations to support the information presented.

Discover really keeps their stories current; and the art work inside is really well done. Not just your same-old stale illustrations, but really well corresponding images to explain the sometimes complex research.

Definitely more approachable, yet thorough, than other science mags (Nature, Scientific American, National Geographic)

The nice thing about ?Discover? magazine is that you can cover a wide swath of scientific ground quickly and easily, without needing a degree in each of the subjects to understand what you are reading. ?Discover? articles are not only informative, but they tend to be written in a light, breezy style that puts the scientific layman at ease. Add to this detailed illustrations and great photography, and you have a science magazine that is perfect for the general reader and for students high school level on down.

Case in point: the ?Research and Development? section which features timely short-shorts on new discoveries, inventions, and ongoing research. Not much more than headlines and captions, these pieces are quick, painless and easily digested, giving the general reader a good overview of what?s going on in the world of science.

Feature articles tend to be of the same ilk, written in a snappy, non-jargon style, sans all the math and analysis that often makes up the bulk of articles in ?real? scientific journals. Usually there is a cover story on some glamorous aspect of science such as space or dinosaurs, replete with any number of sidebars. Each issue also contains longer pieces on a wide variety of scientific topics in addition to the cover story.

But the very thing that is so good about ?Discover,? is also what is bad about it. Unlike journals such as ?Scientific American? (which, by the way, seems to have come down some toward the level of ?Discover?), ?Discover?s? ?McArticles tend to leave you empty, still in need of real scientific nourishment when you are finished.


Recommended:
Yes

I have been a subscriber to Discover for many years. It's one of the best "middle ground" science magazines -- I would put it right between Scientific American and Popular Science, suitable for a less technically educated readership than the former, but not as obviously aimed at relatively uneducated readers as the latter.

Like another reviewer, I was somewhat dismayed by the changes that happened when Disney bought the magazine. It became a bit more commercial and more popular. Let's say it moved just a notch in the direction of Popular Science, a magazine to which I do not subscribe, although I might occasionally pick up a copy.

Discover is a colorful magazine, with lots of well-designed illustrations. Of all the science magazines available, it may be the best for young readers and students, which may have been part of Disney's motivation in acquiring it.

There are lots of short, snappy pieces in the front of the magazine that pull in the eye and mind but don't require a huge investment of attention. They cover a tremendous range of topics, with several on a page. Perfect for today's quick gratification seekers.

One regular feature that I always read is "Vital Signs," in which a medical professional writes about a story from his or her practice. The essays are always interesting and educational, and target something we all care about a lot -- our health.

Most of the longer articles are well written, covering a wide range of topics. Every issue contains material that makes serious science accessible to nonscientists in an entertaining, interesting way. If you're looking for a great gift for a high school or college student, a subscription to Discover might be a good possibility.


Recommended:
Yes

Whether or not you have cable TV or watch PBS you know that the world of science and nature constantly changes and amazes humanity. In "Discover"
magazine you will find articles about all the different areas of science that may have an impact on your life. Learn about medicine, archeology, genetics, animals, and many other fascinating topics. In the current issue, explore the the amazing discoveries that have taken place in the past century, learn about strange discoveries that were made in the past year, and see how a mathematician can predict who will become schizophrenic by analyzing the shape of the brain. No matter what you do for a living, "Discover" will enlighten and entertain you as you explore the world.


Recommended:
Yes

Discover Magazine contains a wealth of topics for those interested in the many broad disciplines of science. Discover Magazine features articles that range from Marine Biology to Astronomy and everything in between. Each article is well written at just the right level for coverage of such a broad subject as science. Discover Magazine is written in layman's terms with just the right sprinkling of scientific terminology and insight. I rarely feel "catered to" or "talked down to" while reading Discover. Unlike other "dry" science magazines, Discover seems to have more of a personality behind the words. The authors do a good job of involving the reader both mentally and emotionally in the topics they cover. The articles tend to satiate a curiosity for science for those who find every aspect of science fascinating. I never know what to expect, or what I might learn in the next issue. If you enjoy reading Popular Science... you'll love reading Discover Magazine.

There seems to be only one drawback to Discover Magazine, occasionally I do find a topic that I would like covered more in depth and have to turn elsewhere for more detailed information.


Recommended:
Yes