Recent Books
Sweet Belgium
Baek Seung-seon & Byun Hye-jung; Gachichangjo: 384 pp., 13,500 won
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Belgium? Chocolate, beer and waffles might be associated with the country, but Belgium has more to offer than we know. Belgium welcomes about one million tourists from around the world every year who come to explore its rich history and culture. The country is also home to ``The Smurfs'' and ``A Dog of Flanders.''
The book features its representative cities ― Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent ― and each chapter features the best five spots to visit. The colorful photographs are stronger than words, showing the picturesque landscapes around the nation from the Grand Place and Maison du Roi to the Belgian Comic Strip Center.
The cities are full of artists and artwork entertaining tourists and locals alike. The artist Rubens' house and atelier is one of the tourist attractions in Antwerp where about 10 of his paintings are on display. Also, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts houses some 23 paintings from Rubens and 1,500 other masterpieces from the medieval and contemporary eras.
This book also introduces famous shopping centers, and chocolate and waffle shops which are more of the nation's assets.
-Chung Ah-young
Post-Crisis Risk Management: Bracing for the Next Perfect Storm
Tsuyoshi Oyama; John Wiley & Sons: 240 pp., $80
This book examines what caused the global financial crisis, shedding new light on risk management in its aftermath. The book's argument; policies dealing with crises are inappropriate in the new world.
Based on the author's experience as a regulator who was deeply involved in international bank regulation until recently, the book introduces topics that need to be addressed.
It outlines the critical macro-prudential and micro-regulatory policies that will help forestall such financial disasters in the future, and emphasizes the importance of ``Asian'' initiatives in founding a new global standard in banking regulations.
The author remarks, ``This crisis has thrown up various policy challenges that we must now overcome. These challenges are neither limited to the area of macro-prudential policy, nor to how we should deal with a financial bubble. They also include risk management issues for individual banks. In addition, the crisis has forced us to ponder over the design of regulatory systems to ensure the proper supervision of all financial institutions, including non-banks.''
The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life
Pam Grout; Translated from English to Korean by Kim Ji-young; Booknomad: 339 pp., 13,800 won
The idea of a vacation has evolved to mean more than just relaxing on a sunny beach. People are getting a taste of the road not taken, or dream jobs they never had a chance to pursue, through ``vocation vacations.''
Through travel, people visit distant places, experience exotic things and meet unique people, including their alter ego.
Avid traveler and bestselling author Pam Grout wrote columns for the National Geographic magazine introducing North American destinations that would leave a deep imprint in one's mind, and they are now available in Korean.
Grout recommends uncanny trips: become crazy about movies at the New York Film Academy, become Audrey Hepburn in ``My Fair Lady'' at the Brigham Young University dance camp, teach Mexican children English, travel to the far corner of the globe on a cruise or master yoga at a ranch in Montana.
The 100 vacation ideas are categorized under four themes: artistic vacations, volunteer vacations, soul-searching vacations and healthy vacations. Each destination features an inspirational quote and brief information on interesting sites to visit nearby.
-Lee Hyo-won
Shin Kyung-min's Closing
Shin Kyung-min; Oak Tree Publishing: 304 pp., 14,000 won
MBC reporter and news anchor Shin Kyung-min has gone through both criticism and praise for the closing remarks he made at the end of the news program ``MBC News Desk.'' The 57-year-old reporter left the post last year, but he's willing to share his side of the story through his new book ``Shin Kyung-min's Closing.''
The book focuses on some of Shin's famous comments and thoughts, as well as how and why he chose to end shows the way he did.
Starting in March 2008, Shin guided viewers through numerous events, including candlelit vigils and the presidential election before stepping down in April 2009. In his book, he manages to calmly explain what was actually happening behind the cameras, along with his views on various subjects as a professional journalist.
Shin also leads readers to the world of news anchors: their daily schedule, how they prepare when emergencies occur, along with his critical comments on Korean journalism in the 21st century.
Going back and forth to critical moments in history, the book is compelling; not only for those who are dreaming to become reporters or anchors, but also for those who want to learn more than what just meets the eye.
-Han Sang-hee