Conversation enders

Years ago I wanted to do a deep dive on Japanese aesthetics and I needed a list of good books to read on the subject. Rather than googling for books, I sent an email to a fellow human being and asked for recommendations.

I had to wait a few days but what I got in return was something that I could have never google myself and more importantly a new human connection was born, one I still treasure today.

It's 2023 and I could probably ask the same question to some AI-chat-thingy and it would probably spit out a very comprehensive list of books—that may or may not exist—in 20 seconds. That's fine but it's also a conversation ender.