Resilient Seeker Coaching | Ross Raymond Nunamaker

The question “who are the five writers who made you?” was asked on Bluesky. As an avid reader, I played along.

There were quite a few author’s whose work stuck with me and whittling the list down to five was no easy task. I tried to consider the stage of my life and which had the longest lasting impact on me.

Here are my five:

• JRR Tolkien
• John Barth
• Martin Cruz Smith
• Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Ernest Hemingway

On a whim, because I’ve been playing with AI tools (Google Gemini, Chat GPT, and Claude), I submitted to Gemini, “What impression would you get if a person said the five authors who made them were JRR Tolkien, John Barth, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Martin Cruz Smith, and Ernest Hemingway.”

The response I got was interesting, and I have to admit it was pretty accurate. Here it is in whole:

That’s a fascinating and eclectic mix of authors! Here’s the impression I’d get:

• A person with wide-ranging tastes: This list spans fantasy, postmodernism, psychological realism, thriller/crime, and classic American literature. It indicates someone who isn’t confined to a single genre or style.
• A deep thinker: Dostoevsky and Barth, in particular, suggest an interest in exploring complex philosophical and existential themes.
• A person who appreciates strong storytelling: Tolkien, Smith, and Hemingway are all known for their compelling narratives and ability to create vivid worlds and characters.
• Someone who values diverse perspectives: The authors represent different cultures and historical periods, implying an open-minded and curious reader.
• A person with a potentially complex or perhaps even conflicted inner life: The contrasting styles of these authors, from Tolkien’s escapism to Dostoevsky’s intense introspection, could suggest a person grappling with varied aspects of the human condition.
• A person who perhaps has a strong appreciation for the power of language: All of these authors are known for their distinct and powerful writing styles.
• A person with a potential for a somewhat dark view of humanity: Between Dostoevsky’s exploration of the darker sides of humanity, and the often grim realities portrayed in Martin Cruz Smith’s work, the individual might lean towards a more realistic, and perhaps cynical view of the world.

Gemini concluded with, in short, I’d perceive this person as:

• Intellectually curious
• Open to diverse literary experiences
• Capable of appreciating both grand, imaginative worlds and gritty, realistic portrayals of life.
• Someone with a potential for a deep and complex inner life.

Conclusions

As noted, I’m a novice to AI. My initial thoughts are that it does attempt to build a rapport with you and answer in as ‘human’ like a manner as possible, including some flattery.

It would appear that the key is being able to ask the right questions and drill down into the question to extract answers one may not have initially considered, or it can be used to validate a line of thinking.

My one issue is source material. Where has AI gotten the information used in its responses? Is it from popular content, peer-reviewed content, or some other source altogether? Consequently, so far I’ve used it out of curiosity and to see how close its answers are to what I would assume them to be.

As for my authors, I do believe in this instance it was pretty accurate in describing me, particularly the internal ‘contradictions’ or ‘conflicts’ as I do often find myself in that place, which is really the joy of thinking: it keeps you doing it.

Did you try this? What were your results? How well do you think they match who you are?