Compassionate Care Through Knowledge: Celebrating “Outsmart Your Brain”

Some books are written for general audiences. Others are crafted with laser focus on serving specific communities facing particular challenges. “Outsmart Your Brain” by Denise Kalos, Ginger Schechter MD, and Allison McKeany represents the latter—a collaborative effort designed specifically to support families navigating the difficult journey of Alzheimer’s disease.

A Team Approach to Complex Challenges

What makes “Outsmart Your Brain” unique is its collaborative authorship. Four professionals came together to combine their expertise and perspectives, recognizing that addressing Alzheimer’s disease requires multiple viewpoints and areas of knowledge. This team approach reflects the reality that families dealing with Alzheimer’s need comprehensive support—medical understanding, practical guidance, emotional support, and accessible information all working together.

Thoughtful Design for the Intended Audience

“Outsmart Your Brain” stands out in the Brooklyn Writers Press catalog as the only book designed in large print specifically for elderly readers. This thoughtful design choice demonstrates the authors’ deep understanding of their audience and their commitment to accessibility. The inclusion of prose color photos further enhances the book’s accessibility and appeal, creating a reading experience that serves the visual and practical needs of older readers who may be dealing with their own cognitive changes or supporting loved ones through Alzheimer’s.

Early Career Learning Experience

“Outsmart Your Brain” was published during the earlier phase of my publishing career, when I was still developing my editorial approach and learning to balance author autonomy with publisher guidance. Looking back, if I could have a re-do on this title, I would encourage the authors to dig a little deeper and put more literary meat on the bones. This kind of reflection represents the natural evolution of any publisher—learning from each project and applying those lessons to future collaborations. Every book teaches us something about the craft of publishing and the importance of pushing for the strongest possible content.

Service Over Sales

Like other early career titles, “Outsmart Your Brain” was published when I allowed authors to keep 100% of royalties, reflecting my early focus on supporting books that served important community purposes. While I don’t have sales information for this title, I imagine that given the authors’ intention to give the book to families of loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s, they got good use out of it. This approach prioritized the book’s mission over commercial considerations—a decision that reflects the authors’ genuine desire to help families rather than profit from their expertise.

Addressing a Critical Need

Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of families, creating complex challenges that require both medical understanding and practical guidance. “Outsmart Your Brain” represents an attempt to provide accessible information to families navigating this difficult journey. The authors’ decision to focus on families of Alzheimer’s patients demonstrates their understanding that the disease affects not just individuals but entire family systems that need support, information, and practical strategies.

The Value of Accessible Design

The large print format and color photos make “Outsmart Your Brain” particularly valuable for its intended audience. These design choices show that the authors understood the practical needs of elderly readers and families dealing with cognitive challenges. This attention to accessibility reflects a commitment to serving readers rather than simply creating content—a distinction that makes the difference between books that sit on shelves and books that actually help people.

Collaborative Expertise

The three-author collaboration brings together different perspectives and areas of expertise, creating a more comprehensive resource than any single author might have produced. This collaborative approach mirrors the kind of team-based care that families dealing with Alzheimer’s often need. Having Dr. Ginger Schechter as part of the team adds medical credibility to the project, while the other authors contribute their own areas of expertise to create a well-rounded resource.

Publisher Growth and Reflection

Publishing “Outsmart Your Brain” contributed to my development as a publisher, teaching me valuable lessons about editorial guidance and the importance of pushing authors to develop their ideas more fully. While the book serves its intended purpose, the experience informed my approach to future projects. This kind of learning is essential in publishing—each project teaches us something about how to better serve both authors and readers in future collaborations.

The Mission of Service

Despite any editorial limitations, “Outsmart Your Brain” represents the authors’ genuine desire to help families facing Alzheimer’s disease. Their intention to distribute the book to families dealing with this challenge shows that their motivation was service rather than profit. This kind of mission-driven publishing aligns with Brooklyn Writers Press’s commitment to supporting books that make a difference in people’s lives, even when they don’t fit traditional commercial models.

Gratitude for Compassionate Expertise

To Denise Kalos, Dr. Ginger Schechter, and Allison: Thank you for recognizing the need for accessible information about Alzheimer’s disease and for collaborating to create a resource for families facing this challenge. Your decision to focus on large print and color photos shows genuine care for your intended audience. Your intention to distribute the book to families dealing with Alzheimer’s demonstrates that your motivation was helping others rather than personal gain. While “Outsmart Your Brain” was published during the earlier phase of my career when I was still learning to balance author autonomy with editorial guidance, your book represents the kind of service-oriented publishing that Brooklyn Writers Press values most. I hope the book has served its intended purpose of supporting families navigating the difficult journey of Alzheimer’s disease. Your collaborative effort to address this critical need reflects the best intentions of authors who use their expertise to help others during challenging times.

Next in our “Celebrating Our Authors” series: We’ll continue honoring the diverse voices that make Brooklyn Writers Press a publisher committed to meaningful literature.

Discover “Outsmart Your Brain” and other helpful resources at

brooklynwriterspress.com