Chinese Novel: 王者时刻
I never knew that I could learn so much about a Chinese mobile game and its professional scene just from reading a novel. (Chinese version of game: 王者荣耀, Global version of game: Honor of Kings)
The novel also taught me about some hero skills and game mechanics which helps me when I began to play it a number of years back.
However, the novel is based on the earlier seasons of the game, and the novel ended after the protagonist got drafted by the team.
Novel : The White Tiger
A book that changed your perspective: Bhagavad Gita, it gave me a deeper understanding of life, mindset and purpose.
A magazine or article that sparked a new interest: I don’t remember the exact name, but there was one article that inspired me to start solo travelling, which has now become a big part of my life.
A poem that moved you: Try Again, a high school poem that taught me the value of never giving up. Back then, I disliked it because it was tough to memorize for exams, but now its meaning feels much more powerful and relevant.
A comic book or graphic novel: Solo Leveling, an amazing story that kept me hooked and opened up my interest in graphic novels.
Song lyrics that became meaningful to you: The Nights, its words remind me to live fully, create memories, and make life meaningful.
Highly recommend people read the book Die with Zero, I found it very interesting and it changed my perspective. I particularly liked the part that talked about creating and benefiting from memory dividends.
DIE WITH ZERO
I read the original unabridged version of Les Miserables in my teens. The first chapter is kind of slow until we meet up with Jean Valjean and then it moves at warp speed. There are few novels that can move me to tears but I was sobbing by the end. A beautiful story of redemption and sacrifice, thought provoking on what it means to be considered a good person in society. This one hold a place for me since I went on to study modern languages in undergrad. Interested if anyone else mentions the classics on the thread because there are some good ones that can tie in with this month’s theme.
One highly recommended graphic novel is Sheets. It’s a haunting, sweet story on the nature of grief. Specifically, if you’ve ever lost someone it hits on what that isolation and loneliness feels like while also giving glimpses of hope without falling into tropes or feeling saccharine. This one hit hard because I was also a lonely teenager and at the end of the day it’s the little positive things that keep me going as an adult that I try to focus on now.
There is so much literature that has been inspirational to me: James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: the poems of Anna Akhmatova and Yevgeny Yevtushenko who chronicled the unspeakable horrors of Soviet Russia and the complexities of the human heart; and the quotidian chronicles of Patti Smith.
Thinking about analytics and measurement, though, storytelling is an essential part of making data and information relevant to audiences that may be unfamiliar with the information or its context.
That’s where W.E.B. DuBois’s exquisite data visualizations -- an example that I show my students in my graduate data visualization in practice course -- come in. DuBois (pronounced du-boyse) was one of the most brilliant people the US has ever produced. A trained sociologist, he was the first Black doctoral degree recipient from Harvard University, and in addition to that discipline was active in politics and even wrote science fiction.
For the 1900 Paris Exposition, drawing on funding from the Library of Congress and sponsored by Booker T. Washington, DuBois developed a series of data visualizations that showed the status of Black America 35 years after the end of the American Civil War. They are high-impact, beautifully designed, comprehensive visualizations that were done by hand by his staff. You can read more about it here: W. E. B. Du Bois’ staggering Data Visualizations are as powerful today as they were in 1900 (Part 1) | by Jason Forrest | Nightingale | Medium
I read the original unabridged version of Les Miserables in my teens. The first chapter is kind of slow until we meet up with Jean Valjean and then it moves at warp speed. There are few novels that can move me to tears but I was sobbing by the end. A beautiful story of redemption and sacrifice, thought provoking on what it means to be considered a good person in society. This one hold a place for me since I went on to study modern languages in undergrad. Interested if anyone else mentions the classics on the thread because there are some good ones that can tie in with this month’s theme.
One highly recommended graphic novel is Sheets. It’s a haunting, sweet story on the nature of grief. Specifically, if you’ve ever lost someone it hits on what that isolation and loneliness feels like while also giving glimpses of hope without falling into tropes or feeling saccharine. This one hit hard because I was also a lonely teenager and at the end of the day it’s the little positive things that keep me going as an adult that I try to focus on now.
Thanks for sharing those recs, @pamelalbeck! It’s incredible how books can make us feel and help us better understand our own experiences.
Highly recommend people read the book Die with Zero, I found it very interesting and it changed my perspective. I particularly liked the part that talked about creating and benefiting from memory dividends.
DIE WITH ZERO
Briefly checked this out and I was captivated! Thanks for sharing, Carly!
One book that really made an impact on me recently is “Atomic Habits”. It changed the way I look at personal growth and building habits.
A good takeaway for me was that small, consistent improvements each day can lead to massive results over time. We don’t need to chase big, drastic changes — just focus on getting 1% better every day.
Die With Zero taught me that true wealth isn’t just about saving money—it’s about investing in meaningful experiences that create lasting “memory dividends.” It shifted my mindset from simply working harder to living more intentionally, making the most of time, energy, and opportunities now.
I’m going back to the basics with this one, but “I Love You, Stinky Face” is one of my favorite books to read with my kids. A vividly illustrated bedtime story that shows how the unconditional love of a mother can be tested through the relentless questions of her little boy.
I love how through the silly scenarios that the little boy asks about, the mother always has the sweetest answer as to why she will always be there to help him. That’s the main message I will always want my children to hear, that I will always help and there is a solution to every problem.
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan. This book helped change my mindset on success; instead of always looking to where I want to be, I need to measure from where I’ve come, which is always leaps and bounds from where I was.
Also, the Wild Robot series - great read-aloud for you and your kids. Or truly anything by Kathrine Applegate, but be prepared to cry. Odder had me sobbing like a baby (also read this right after I had birthed a baby so that didn’t help), Crenshaw is a close second.
Also, thank you @AlonsoC, this is a great topic. I love sharing literature and getting new recommendations!! Die with Zero is waiting for me on hold at the local library!
One book that really made an impact on me recently is “Atomic Habits”. It changed the way I look at personal growth and building habits.
A good takeaway for me was that small, consistent improvements each day can lead to massive results over time. We don’t need to chase big, drastic changes — just focus on getting 1% better every day.
I’ve heard great things about that book and agree that ‘small wins’ add up over time! Any small changes you’ve recently made that have made an impact, Gaurav?
Die With Zero taught me that true wealth isn’t just about saving money—it’s about investing in meaningful experiences that create lasting “memory dividends.” It shifted my mindset from simply working harder to living more intentionally, making the most of time, energy, and opportunities now.
Die with Zero is emerging as the early community favorite!
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan. This book helped change my mindset on success; instead of always looking to where I want to be, I need to measure from where I’ve come, which is always leaps and bounds from where I was.
Also, the Wild Robot series - great read-aloud for you and your kids. Or truly anything by Kathrine Applegate, but be prepared to cry. Odder had me sobbing like a baby (also read this right after I had birthed a baby so that didn’t help), Crenshaw is a close second.
Also, thank you @AlonsoC, this is a great topic. I love sharing literature and getting new recommendations!! Die with Zero is waiting for me on hold at the local library!
Great recs, Kelli!
Also super excited to update my reading list with everyone’s recommendations!
- A book that changed your perspective : Its a HINDI novel “Deewar me ek khidki rehti thi” by Vinod Shukla ; its very good
- A poem that moved you : The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
- Song lyrics that became meaningful to you : Fix You! from Coldplay
- A children's book that your kids love : Any book that has stickers in it !! But the Picture illustrated book on Lion King is my kid’s favorite.
@AlonsoC Yes! I’ve recently started building the habit of completing 10K steps daily as a target, and so far, I’ve been able to maintain that streak.
It might seem like a small change, but it’s been great so far for my physical health.
Plus, hitting that goal every day gives me a sense of accomplishment which makes me feel motivated.
Do all the cooking books in my library count? Joke aside, I’m a big graphic novel fan and one true masterpiece is MAUS. It recounts the Holocaust through the story of the author’s father, a Polish Jewish survivor. The book famously represents different groups as animals—Jews as mice, Germans as cats, Poles as pigs, and others—while also showing the author’s present-day efforts to grapple with his father’s trauma and their complicated relationship. It’s a must read for anyone who love History and graphic novels!
Song Lyrics come to mind first… For Good from Wicked.
As for a book: Eat, Pray, Love...I read this several years ago and it still sticks with me. In fact, I might just need to read it again!
Highly recommend people read the book Die with Zero, I found it very interesting and it changed my perspective. I particularly liked the part that talked about creating and benefiting from memory dividends.
DIE WITH ZERO
Briefly checked this out and I was captivated! Thanks for sharing, Carly!
@AlonsoC can we create a list of all the recommended books, keen to pop a few on my reading list.
Glad to see others in the community have also read this book, it’s brilliant.
... and the quotidian chronicles of Patti Smith.
@AdamK12 Very much enjoyed all of your recommendations, but of course Patti Smith jumped out at me. Love her writing, her music, her worldviews, her artistry...everything. She is coming through Seattle in November and I can’t wait 
If you have not already, you should find the music she did with Soundwalk Collective. Narrations and poetry over music. I very much enjoy this album which also features Anoushka Shankar, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and others 
Highly recommend people read the book Die with Zero, I found it very interesting and it changed my perspective. I particularly liked the part that talked about creating and benefiting from memory dividends.
DIE WITH ZERO
Briefly checked this out and I was captivated! Thanks for sharing, Carly!
@AlonsoC can we create a list of all the recommended books, keen to pop a few on my reading list.
Glad to see others in the community have also read this book, it’s brilliant.
This is a great idea @ccarroll -- we can definitely make this happen! 
There are so many books I could recommend here, but one I have found myself talking about a great deal lately is Orlando, by Virginia Woolf. The book brilliantly tackles themes of transformation, time, history, and so much more.
There is also an *amazing* film adaptation starring Tilda Swinton, directed by Sally Potter, from the early 90’s that still stands the test of time.
Highly recommend people read the book Die with Zero, I found it very interesting and it changed my perspective. I particularly liked the part that talked about creating and benefiting from memory dividends.
DIE WITH ZERO
Briefly checked this out and I was captivated! Thanks for sharing, Carly!
@AlonsoC can we create a list of all the recommended books, keen to pop a few on my reading list.
Glad to see others in the community have also read this book, it’s brilliant.
This is a great idea @ccarroll -- we can definitely make this happen!
Potential AI text summary use case?
There are so many… Here’s a short list from my reading diaries but I could add many more. Some had long-lasting impact, some just came in my life at the right time.
Animal Liberation - Peter Singer
Revolutionized my perspective on animal ethics.
Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Humanized war’s horrors while celebrating resilience and identity.
Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
Evoked quiet melancholy and emotional depth. A haunting portrayal of love, loss, and memory.
Je ne veux pas mourir seul - Gil Courtemanche
An emotionally raw meditation on lost love and life as death is coming.
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
On regret and dignity. A profound reflection on duty, time, and missed opportunities.
The Drunkard's Walk - Leonard Mlodinow
Opened my eyes to randomness’ role in success, failure, and decision-making.
L'Orangeraie - Larry Tremblay
Poetic tale questioning innocence and how war scars childhood.
The Life You Can Save - Peter Singer
Changed how I view global inequality. A moral call to take actionable responsibility.
Hello Everyone,
- A book that changed your perspective: Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. It is a fantastic futuristic series that has people organized by specific “colour” and they only perform the tasks that are suitable for people within that “colour”
- Song lyrics that became meaningful to you: I will cheat a bit here and use a movie quote from Avengers: Endgame but “No amount of money ever bought a second of time”
- A children's book that your kids love: The Wild Robot Series
