gift: books or subscriptions for Smithsonian fan?

December 12, 2023 11:03 AM

Looking for holiday gifts for a friend in his 90s with increasing issues with attention span and eyestrain. He loves Smithsonian magazine and classical music (especially opera).

He also loves sudoku but, after working up to the quite challenging ones, is finding both the eyestrain and concentration have made them less of an option.

He doesn't have a smartphone and I don't think physical media (CDs or DVDs) are a great fit for him.

I'm hoping for something like:
* other magazines with the same great content as Smithsonian
* books with similar content but maybe 1-2 page chapters? and maybe large print?
* any other ideas for things that would be enjoyable for a smart, science-and-engineering oriented older person with an engaged mind but visual and concentration difficulties

Thanks!

posted by kristi to Shopping (8 answers total)

I also love Smithsonian, and another magazine I enjoy is the quarterly Audubon mag that I get as part of my annual membership. So if he has any interest in birds, you could gift him an Audubon membership. If birds aren't his things there are lots of science magazine options (NatGeo, Discover, Science Illustrated), but I don't get them myself and can't speak to their quality these days. Good luck with the gift hunt!
posted by blueskies at 11:44 AM on December 12, 2023

Maybe Orion Magazine?
posted by hessie at 11:54 AM on December 12, 2023

Nautilus Magazine print edition is lovely and has similar topics to the Smithsonian Magazine.
posted by ichimunki at 12:15 PM on December 12, 2023

If he does desk top computers or tablets and it is appropariate for his abilities, Metropolitan Opera has an on-demand service that can be either monthly or annual and includes select operas and stories about them. Or perhaps their membership with its regular magazines or other gift item might fit?
posted by beaning at 12:45 PM on December 12, 2023

not sure if it's within your budget but maybe a grace digital radio that you take the time to pre-program with 5-10 classical/opera stations?
posted by wowenthusiast at 1:43 PM on December 12, 2023

Atlas Obscura. The book.
posted by ixipkcams at 9:38 PM on December 12, 2023

My step-dad is 86 and enjoys his lifetime library of Scientific Americans still. It's pretty technical and doesn't come in large print but they have digital subscriptions if he uses a tablet or computer.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:40 PM on December 12, 2023

If he uses a computer, it’s worth looking into accessible features that make enlargement and reducing eye strain the default settings, especially if he has a decent sized monitor/screen.

For opera, he might enjoy exploring the Aria podcast.

We have a local independent movie theater (Charles in Baltimore) that has Met Opera screenings on some Saturday afternoons, tickets are $24 for Nabucco on 1/6, Carmen on 1/2, etc., perhaps this might be happening at a theater somewhere near your friend that can morph into a gift idea?
posted by childofTethys at 1:59 AM on December 13, 2023