# Please help me pick out DVD's for my elderly scientist father. Needs answers fastish **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946 "2020-10-26T15:33:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/1 "2020-10-26T15:33:15Z")
My father, an 87 year old resident of an assisted living facility, has asked me to purchase him some DVD’s to watch. He doesn’t do streaming so please don’t suggest it. I control his finances so it’s up to me to make the purchases. He has a PhD in biochemistry but is interested in most things related to science. I’ve already ordered some NOVA dvds, a couple of astronomy dvds from Brian Greene, and a few “How It’s Made” seasons. He’s always been interested in how things work or are put together. Any advice would be appreciated. Double bonus points are given to purchases that can be made on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/2 "2020-10-26T15:40:19Z")
You can sometimes find not-too-expensive used (or even new) copies of The Great Courses (Teaching Company) on DVD on Amazon. (For someone who likes “how things work or are put together,” the ones by Stephen Ressler might be good.) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/3 "2020-10-26T15:47:10Z")
Both the Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson versions of “Cosmos” are available on DVD at Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/4 "2020-10-26T15:49:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > You can sometimes find not-too-expensive used (or even new) copies of The Great Courses (Teaching Company) on DVD on Amazon. (For someone who likes “how things work or are put together,” the ones by Stephen Ressler might be good.) I’ve never heard of those but they look awesome. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/5 "2020-10-26T15:51:36Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Both the Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson versions of “Cosmos” are available on DVD at Amazon. I considered those. I loved the original when it came out but wonder if it would be dated now. I wasn’t that crazy about Tyson’s version. It might have just been because of my high expectations after the original. I’ll see what my dad thinks. Thanks for the recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/6 "2020-10-26T15:55:07Z")
If your father is interested in space exploration and/or the Apollo missions, I highly recommend “Chasing the Moon,” a six-hour documentary that PBS did as part of their _American Experience_ series. It goes into a fair amount of detail on the challenges that they faced, as well as profiling some of the key people in the program, and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s available on both Blu-ray and DVD. > **[Amazon.com: American Experience: Chasing the Moon Blu-ray : n/a, Robert Stone:...](https://www.amazon.com/American-Experience-Chasing-Moon-Blu-ray/dp/B07PK1FFT3)** > > Amazon.com: American Experience: Chasing the Moon Blu-ray : n/a, Robert Stone: Movies & TV ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/7 "2020-10-26T15:58:48Z")
There are lots of nature documentaries that would be good. BBC’s “[Planet Earth](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795176/)” is a great one. Based on his age, throw in some of the top movies from the 40’s and 50’s. A great series about WWII is “[Band of Brothers](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185906/)” You mentioned DVD, but you really should consider a Blu-ray player and discs instead of regular DVD for the higher quality. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/8 "2020-10-26T16:00:06Z")
Yes, I just used DVD as a generic term. He has a Blu-ray player. I’ll look up “Planet Earth”. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/9 "2020-10-26T16:10:00Z")
He might like [Connections](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078588/), a mini-series looking at the history of science and technology. [It is available on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Connections-1-5-Disc-Set/dp/B000NJVY3U), but maybe you can find used versions for less somewhere. At least a few of the episodes are on YouTube. If that’s not an option in general maybe you could show him episode 1 on a device to find out if he wants to see the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/10 "2020-10-26T16:11:20Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > He doesn’t do streaming so please don’t suggest it. Is it an “I’m overwhelmed by navigating through this stuff” sort of thing? If you set up a Netflix account for him (or as a user on your account), and created a watchlist, would that work? ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/11 "2020-10-26T16:14:50Z")
He has a difficult time learning new technologies. Switching inputs on the TV is about as far as he can go right now. I got him a new universal remote about a year ago but he never could figure it out so I had to find one exactly like his older one that had quit. Also, he doesn’t have a smart TV and the wifi in his room is pretty sketchy. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/12 "2020-10-26T16:20:14Z")
If you live nearby, one option would be to checkout discs from the library and rotate through stuff he may only watch a few times, like movies. It may also be worth checking to see if the facility has a video library already. Some cheap places to get movies are thrift stores, Half Priced Books, craigslist, etc. Over time you can keep an eye out for stuff that he or the other residents may enjoy. If you have to send the stuff to him, you can send it using the cheap media rate through the post office. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/13 "2020-10-26T16:25:15Z")
Unfortunately, it’s a 4 hour drive from my house to his facility. He’s not much of a Hollywood movie kind of guy but if I see any documentaries (which are fairly rare 2nd hand), I’ll pick them up. ETA. I really don’t understand the new quote text functionality. It seems like sometimes it works just like the old board and sometimes it doesn’t work at all. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/14 "2020-10-26T16:30:50Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I really don’t understand the new quote text functionality. If you quote the entire content of the last post in the thread, it won’t display it. You have to truncate it. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/15 "2020-10-26T16:33:34Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > You have to truncate it. Thanks. What a brilliant system. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/16 "2020-10-26T18:06:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > He might like [Connections](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078588/), a mini-series looking at the history of science and technology. [It is available on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Connections-1-5-Disc-Set/dp/B000NJVY3U), but maybe you can find used versions for less somewhere. I came in to recommend this. I also suggest James Burke’s other series – **The Day the Universe Changed** (also done for PBS) and the two series he did for The Learning Channel, **Connections2** and **Connections3**. I know all of these have come out on regular DVD. I don’t know if they’re on Blu-ray. If you can find it, **The Secret Life of Machines** is a hoot! I’d recommend _Clash of the Gods_ from the History Channel, but that would be self-serving. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/17 "2020-10-26T18:14:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you can find it, **The Secret Life of Machines** is a hoot! That’s also a good one. If he likes _How It’s Made_ it should appeal to him also. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/18 "2020-10-26T18:55:11Z")
> [@](#): > > **‘The Repair Shop’** is a workshop of dreams where broken or damaged cherished family heirlooms are brought back to life. Furniture restorers, horologists, metal workers, ceramicists, upholsterers and all manner of skilled craftsmen and women have been brought together in one extraordinary space to restore much loved possessions to their former glory. Many of these items have incredible stories behind them and a unique place in history: from an accordion played in the Blitz by a woman who’s now in her nineties, to a beautifully crafted clock made by a father who was completely blind. ‘The Repair Shop’ is an antidote to the throwaway culture and shines a light on the wonderful treasures to be found in homes across the country. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B5Y8SC5](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B5Y8SC5) There are a few seasons of this show. It is also available on Netflix if you want to stream it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/19 "2020-10-26T19:00:55Z")
PBS series Secrets of the Dead, American Experience are both excellent. There’s a third option, too… ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946/20 "2020-10-26T19:06:56Z")
I would also float the idea of borrowing from the library if that is an option. Save a little money, and not have to worry about them stacking up over time. If it’s not something he’s interested in, no harm, no foul. Back it goes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-pick-out-dvds-for-my-elderly-scientist-father-needs-answers-fastish/923946.md?page=2)