Stories from every country

A couple of years ago I set out to read a book from every country in the world. From that, a friend and I started compiling the queer stories we'd read or been recommended. This Pride month, I wanted to share what we've built to showcase them.

I've only personally read books from around 30 countries so far, so I have a long way to go. But the books I have read have genuinely changed the way I relate to experiences distinct from my own. Through the queer lens especially, it's been really meaningful to see how different our experiences can be across countries and cultures, but also how similar the emotions underlying them often are.

When I started Ponder AI, I set out to use technology to help people connect with the ideas, stories, and context that matter to them. This map is a small extension of that.

I hope it helps more people find queer stories from places they may not have otherwise had exposure to. Reading books like these has made the difference of a lifetime to me personally, and I hope it can for a few other people too.