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26 Comments

  1. Suchita Agarwal
    July 3, 2024 @ 1:01 pm

    Your review of the book reminded me of this thread I read on Twitter on how minimalism has badly affected architecture and design of public places. This just reinforces my growing need to actually delete social media from my phone and see how I’m able to survive it.

    Reply

  2. ambica gulati
    July 7, 2024 @ 8:04 am

    Sounds like a good read. Too much digital, too little real, it does get on your nerves. I have taken a few days off social media and site too, it does get too suckish. Algorithms will continue their work, we must use our brain more than our temptations.

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  3. Harjeet Kaur
    July 8, 2024 @ 12:34 pm

    Your book review shows the big, bad picture again, but how will it help us? The Social Dilemma was a shocker but a wake-up call. Can we escape the algorithm? I don’t think so. I fear how this algorithm is controlling our minds. I have tried to break free by stopping cable TV completely during covid. News I believe is the worst of all evils more than social media. We can stop watching reels, but if you are watching the news, you are bombarded with all negative news of accidents, and deaths, all day. Agreed, that we humans are prone to watch gory details more and the news channels are cashing on the TRP. But, some governing body should put a stop to it.

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  4. Kaveri Chhetri
    July 10, 2024 @ 8:22 pm

    I think you have pretty much summed it up Ritu. I don’t think I will read the book. However the topic of discussion does interest me, The convenience of algorithms aside( customized content, suggestions, choices, filters etc), this big data thingy is scary as it intrudes our privacy. Sometimes even when we speak something, it shows up on google. I feel our phones are always listening n so is that Ok Google. I don’t want to be scared more so I won’t read it.😛

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  5. Manali
    July 10, 2024 @ 10:10 pm

    What irony that you picked the book which takes a hard look at the algorithm thanks to an algorithm.
    That one line ‘tends to get repetitive’ is my main problem with such non-fiction books so I guess this one isn’t for me

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    • Chandrika R Krishnan
      July 12, 2024 @ 3:29 pm

      Your review both fascinated me and worried me. To think that technology dogs our footsteps and also makes us its slaves.

      Reply

  6. Ratna
    July 11, 2024 @ 8:16 am

    I liked the fact that the very algorithm that is “condemned” or at least given a fair warning about is what led you to the book! So, like you rightly say, is it really the big bad wolf? I don’t know but I’m scared. Most importantly, think I’m too ordinarily common to even begin to comment or judge it.

    Evolution and movement are the two pillars of life, and this is the stage we are in right now becuase of the movement made by our ancestors. What we do will impact the next generation. And yet, what kind of control do we have over all this? I suppose we are all herding sheeping, moving where the mass moves!

    What I can do is minimize social media in my life or at the very least, cut it down and include a lot more human interaction. And that is what I am trying to do in the last couple of years!

    I don’t think I’ll pick up the book despite your highly engaging review, especially since you say it only scratched the surface and didn’t delve deep enough.

    Reply

  7. Docdivatraveller
    July 12, 2024 @ 6:54 am

    This is a very practical topic to discuss upon. I have always believed that algorithm kills originality. When blogging, thinking about SEO kills creativity. This is an interesting book.

    Reply

  8. Samata
    July 12, 2024 @ 11:06 am

    I will not deny the fact that this book is the one which can shed light on multiple things that we as blogger need to learn and understand. I would also like to add that still date I depend on my husband on these practicality and this technical aspects dont attarct me and so I dont like to dig deep into it. But this book for the first time I doing it … will recommend to my husband to read as I know this Techie man in my life will love to read it and enjoy.

    Reply

  9. Janaki
    July 12, 2024 @ 2:48 pm

    I too remember watching Social Dilemma on Netflix and getting baffled. Also, sometimes, Ive shocked and wonder if my phone eavesdropped on my conversation. Technology has taken huge strides and impacts our lives like never before transforming us into machines. Wonder what the future will look like, Thanks for the book review and recommendation. I’m sure after writing this, it will show up on my feed too 🙂

    Reply

  10. Madhu Bindra
    July 12, 2024 @ 6:05 pm

    I remember you talking about this book when you were reading it. It is scary that machines control everything about us. Sometimes we don’t realize it also.

    Reply

  11. Jeannine
    July 13, 2024 @ 9:02 am

    Now I have another show and book to keep myself busy with. I love how you’ve written this book review and would be looking out for this book. It’s informative without giving too much for the readers to be excited to read the book themselves.

    Reply

  12. Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan
    July 13, 2024 @ 4:56 pm

    Your review brings forth – how technology has narrowed our choices and dulled the culture.

    By limiting the information we provide and adjusting our preferences, we can reduce the amount of data available for algorithms to target us.

    Reply

  13. Aditi Kapur
    July 13, 2024 @ 8:42 pm

    The life of modern man revolves around algorithms and algorithms are usually unpredictable. What most people like becomes the norm of the internet., and it is not always perfect.

    Reply

  14. Felicia
    July 13, 2024 @ 11:18 pm

    This book seems like a must-read for anyone interested in digital culture and its impact. As a blogger myself, the section on Google’s algorithms and page rank resonates deeply. It’s frustrating yet crucial to understand how these systems shape our online presence.

    Reply

  15. Varsh
    July 14, 2024 @ 10:43 am

    This topic is one that needs a long discussion. If you remember, in Eat Pray Love there’s a line, “You Americans need to be told what to enjoy.” or something like that. It’s true for most of us now, thanks to social media. While content creation has to be algorithm based, I certainly like to keep my personal choices away from trends. How else can we live?

    Reply

  16. Pamela Mukherjee
    July 15, 2024 @ 10:13 pm

    I loved the way you explained each point, especially the algorithm. Being a creator is an integral part of our life and I do not deny it, and I guess that’s why we all follow the trends. But uniqueness is also important to be authentic.

    Reply

  17. Ishieta
    July 18, 2024 @ 10:23 pm

    The book definitely touches on a crucial topic and one that is alarming too… what the books suggest is highly probably as we do see the individuality go out and everyone copying everyone in a bid to go viral and be popular…this is true from everything from food, to careers to hobbies too… people have stopped exploring /experimenting as much.

    Reply

  18. Harshita Nanda
    July 24, 2024 @ 10:52 am

    I felt the irony when at the end of the post you wrote about finding this book through Instagram. This is something I have been thinking too, so many books I pick up nowadays because I have seen it on Twitter or Insta. The days of browsing and finding books in libraries and bookstores seem to be fading.
    I also liked how you critiqued the book. The fact that this book could have been more insightful with facts and figures is a little bit of a let down…but then given our attention spans I guess even the author thought keeping it light would work more.

    Reply

  19. Preeti Chauhan
    July 25, 2024 @ 6:35 pm

    This sure is a thought-provoking book, Ritu.
    It is scary how easily we can be manipulated to look at things we don’t even care about deeply or how catering to an algorithm can become a nuisance when reading a work.

    I would like to delve deeper into this issue and hopefully, the book will educate.

    Reply

  20. ninu nair
    July 30, 2024 @ 11:30 am

    Indeed a relevant book for our times. Though I understand and as you have already mentioned, there may be sections that are repetitive but I am sure the more informative bits would make up for it. Bookmarking this one!

    Reply

  21. Prasanna Raghavn
    July 30, 2024 @ 9:07 pm

    When the Blog promised to make our content escape the editor’s scalpel, we felt like we were enjoying creative freedom. But, now look at the SEO and the AI gates they need to crash against the readers’ generic tastes and interests to gain fame. The social media trends determine the destiny of creative works. But who forms this SM crowd? We. The SM trend is a creation of our mindset.
    It is always good to read books that put questions into our minds about alarming trends and related issues. I read two other books in that genre in this month’s Bookish League- this is the power of books and reading.

    Reply

  22. Kanchan Singh
    July 31, 2024 @ 9:56 am

    It really opened my eyes to how deeply algorithms shape our choices. It made me question if my tastes are truly my own or just curated for me. Chayka’s insights and suggestions for reclaiming individuality are thought-provoking.

    Reply

  23. Jaideep Khanduja
    July 31, 2024 @ 1:56 pm

    The way algorithms shape our choices and cultural experiences is indeed concerning. Your insights on how this impacts originality and individual preferences resonate deeply. It’s a timely read for anyone interested in digital culture and its broader implications. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Reply

  24. Shifali
    August 24, 2024 @ 1:59 pm

    Your post is an eye-opener for me. I try a lot to understand these algorithms but fail most of the times. I need to learn how this is impacting our work on social-media. As a blog writer, this book seems to be a must-read.

    Reply

  25. Noor Anand Chawla
    September 7, 2024 @ 4:35 pm

    How interesting. I agree the algorithm does take over most aspects of our lives but there are ways of beating it – most important of which is choosing not to engage with the algorithm’s suggestions.

    Reply

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