Good afternoon and thank you for hosting me today. I am Dr. Atticus Papadopoulos.  I’m a professor and doctor of astrobiology; my major area of interest is extraterrestrial technology. I’m a member of a fascinating book club that journeys into cozy mystery books that are part of a massive collection held in an enchanted library. I am often sharing a bit of knowledge with our book club group about the various places to which we travel. 

In this particular book journey, Puzzles and Premieres, jigsaw puzzles take center stage as they provide the clues to solving the murder mystery.

Assembling jigsaw puzzles is a very popular pastime. One study found that over 70% of adults in the United States enjoy puzzles. There are very few hobbies that have such a high percentage of interest.

In addition to providing relaxing entertainment, assembling a puzzle is an outstanding way to develop connections between the dendrites in your brain cells. It challenges your mind to recognize subtle differences in colors, patterns, and shapes. Its effects are so powerful that incorporating a puzzle routine into your life can even increase your IQ by a few points and stave off memory loss in your senior years.

Puzzles are also known to increase the production of dopamine, a chemical that regulates mood, memory, and concentration, giving you a jolt of that powerful chemical with every successful piece placed on the board.

Puzzles are far more than a game, they are an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle, and they were an outstanding supplement to this murder mystery story.