Recent Books
Designing My Own Restaurant
Hong Suk-chun; MBooks: 240 pp., 12,000 won
Hong Suk-chun made headlines when he came out of the closet eight years ago and readers may think a book written by him would contain his life story. However, his new book ``Designing My Own Restaurant'' does not talk about his life as a gay celebrity living in Korea, but his struggling journey as a businessman with several popular restaurants in Itaewon.
Little may know that he is, in fact, a very successful businessman, but his success did not happen overnight, but through a lonely struggle.
The book takes the readers to the start of his business, when he was left with no work due to his coming out and only a number of friends stood by him during difficult times. With the help of his friends, however, he opened his first restaurant, an Italian one called ``Our Place.''
Misunderstood as a gay bar, the outcome was miserable, but Hong didn't give up and carried on with his plans.
Hong explains how he managed to pick himself up and successfully open a series of unique and fun restaurants. Readers will find the journey quite interesting and very professional.
-Han Sang-hee
Digital Camera Cartoon
Kim Tae-jeong; Hanbit Media: 208 pp., 15,000 won
Freelance photographer Kim Tae-jeong takes photos for a living, but even for a professional, taking good pictures is always a mystery.
``The answer is learning. If you want to take good photos, you have to enjoy it, and if you want to enjoy it, you have to know what you are doing,'' Kim says in the preface of his book ``Digital Camera Cartoon.''
The book contains easy-to-follow instructions and examples of how to take the perfect photo. From shutters, lenses, light and composition, the writer explains the important tools and ways to enhance the use of the small digital cameras so many Koreans have today.
Instead of merely listing and explaining in words, ``Digital Camera Cartoon'' follows a storyline, with six funny and passionate camera-lovers guiding the way.
Following the main character Sun-hae, and the readers will find themselves taking perfectly focused and even artistic photos in no time.
The Big Switch
Nicholas Carr; Translated from English to Korean by Lim Jong-gi; Dongasia: 344pp., 15.000 won
Nicholas Carr achieved fame by asserting that ``IT doesn't Matter'' and then asking the question ``Does IT matter?'' His provocative question brought immediate responses from leading figures in the IT business including Steve Ballmer of MS and Craig Barrett of Intel. However, his arguments were nothing but a storm in a teacup in Korea.
``The Big Switch: Rewiring the World, from Edison to Google'' is Carr's latest book published this January. The book discusses the economic and social issues based on the rise of Internet-based computing, comparing it with the rise of the use of electric utilities in the early 20th century. It also presents the ethics people need in the digital era.
For example, Carr insists that surfing the Internet empties humans and makes people approach knowledge and culture in impromptu, subjective and temporary ways. In other words, the Internet reduces cognitive power of humans, making them ``pancake people.'' Richard Foreman created the word ``pancake people'' referring to humans ``being a mile wide and an inch deep.''
-Kwon Mee-yoo
The Art of Public Speaking
Dale Carnegie and J. Berg Esenwein; Translated by Chung Myung-jin from English to Korean; Boogle Books: 324 pp., 13,000 won
Dale Carnegie, the world-famous American writer and lecturer on self-improvement, collaborates with J. Berg Esenwein in this highly practical book to help those who dread public speaking.
The book has 29 chapters, each providing a certain tip such as ``how to acquire confidence before an audience,'' ``pause and power'' and ``voice charm.'' At the end of each chapter, there are even questions and exercises that give readers a chance to practice what they have just learned.
Carnegie, with his usual clearness and simplicity, touches upon all the essentials of presentation: overcoming stage fright, being better prepared, improving memory and concentration and last but not least, making a lasting impact on the audience.
For all people wanting to wow others through speech, this book will be a useful guide in teaching them the ABCs of public presentation. Everything you need to know is here. All you need is the will to put them into action.
-Kim Hyo-jin