Revealing Headlines
what we can learn about ourselves from the stuff that catches our attention
The latest issue of Popular Mechanics just arrived at my house.
I don't remember ever subscribing to the magazine, but it keeps showing up every couple of months. Maybe someone gifted me a subscription.
(If that someone is you… Thanks!)
At the top of the minimal cover are three headlines describing articles I'll find if I give the issue a chance:
The Science of Making Alcohol-Free Beer (p. 10)
The Air Force Secretly Designed, Built & Flew A New Fighter Jet (p.12)
Why The First Settlers On Mars Will Die There (p. 22)
So, which headline stands out most to you? Which one(s) might get you to peek under the cover? And why did the editors of Popular Mechanics select these?
One thing is certain; they didn't do it for me. I'm already a subscriber. They got their money long ago. Not from me, of course. I didn't pay a penny. But some generous mystery person out there paid them in advance. (Thanks again!)
They chose these headlines for the person strolling the magazine aisle at the grocery store. With so many options to pick from, Popular Mechanics needs to find a way to stand out. Since sexy people don't usually grace the covers of science and technology magazines, they opt for a different kind of provocative.
The next best thing? Fear and the avoidance of death. We eat that stuff like candy!
And this whole exchange reveals something fascinating about the human condition, which can teach us a lot about ourselves.
I dive deeper into this topic on the latest episode of the Attention Collection Podcast. It's out today!
Listen with the link below (or wherever you get your podcasts).
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