On Reading Newsletters, The Queen's Gambit, Blog Analytics and StoryGraph

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The StoryGraph

I am floored by the analytics and insights they have worked to provide. It is clear they have used AI and ML techniques for annotating the various moods associated with the books, from audiences around the world – like a manual crowd annotation of sorts. This is great since it is manual effort yet, labelling of the dataset, but the people on the platform are many, and I can only see the platform grow. Goodreads is really old, 2000s. In 2020s we need StoryGraph.

I want to do certain recommendation system, like this website does with respect to emotional moods, but a bit different. Catering to Reading Challenges prompts. Like, you get book suggestions for prompts like ‘a lady of the cover’, ‘deals with Jewish traditions’ or ‘won JCB Price in last 10 years’. So, that is the idea. May be I’ll make it, hopefully I can, and leave a website for you to try.

The Enneagram Type

The Enneagram Personality Type – this is the recently trending personality system, a pointer of sorts for people to cater to their emotional needs and mental well-being. It “aims to reveal how emotions drive our lives and how we engage with others in an effort to get what we want and need.” With a total of nine personality types, it defines strengths, weaknesses and opportunity for personal growth. It reveals what motivates us at a deeper level.

I gave the six step questionnaire and the results were good. I mean, I could relate to it. I’m Type Four. 98% Two – The Giver – they want to be liked and find ways that they can be helpful to others so that they can be loved and belong. 98% Four – The Individualist – they want to be unique and to live life authentically, and are highly attuned to their emotional experience. Kind of Bang on!

I am advised to keep a gratitude journal. I do, already. It is such a pleasure.

On Gratitude

Magic by Rhonda Byrne. Presently App. Using it apart from the regular bullet journal. Liking so far.


The Queen's Gambit
The Queen's Gambit


Newsletter

I am loving my recent weekly subscription of Resh Susan’s newsletter. She shared book recommendations and so much more.

I watched The Queen's Gambit – the Netflix mini series recently released and trending, after reading what she wrote about it, and I loved the 7-episode drama. I was awed by the writing, the cast, the story, the narration, everything on screen. I didn’t know Chess could be so thrilling. It was an entire world in itself- with Kings, Queens, Bishops, Knights. I had no idea the game had a beginning, a middle and an end. Or that the openings are strategies with names- numerous strategies- like theorems, hypothesis, very much like Mathematics and Probability. And that the squares have names.

The actress was fabulous in her portrayal of child genius Beth Harmon – competitive, fierce, edgy and addicted who later grew to exude power in the world of chess, class and calm confidence. She was indeed the master of her game. Loved the character trajectory, from the orphanage to Kentucky to Moscow. Every character is so memorable, from the Janitor of the orphanage in the basement whom she owed 10 dollars, for her very first introduction to the world of competitive chess, to her kind foster mother and numerous competitor friends she makes on her way up the ladder. I would recommend this web series to everyone, even if you have no idea about chess. It is not just about the game. It’s much more.

 

Analytics and Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing:

Blogchatter has provided so personalized insightful analytics from our blogs. The following is a snapshot of the top topics I like to talk about in my blogs. It’s my niche. It is very accurate – I like talking about recent reads and watch lists, emotional musings, share personal anecdotes. I want to do similar analytics myself, on which are the top niches, that the audience has most viewed and interacted on. May be I’ll try and be able to do and provide a link to it, so that you can check yours too.

 



 

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundhati Katju
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