Recent books
Hot Trend 2011
Korea Trend Research Institute and PFIN; Leaders Book: 230 pp., 15,000 won
Trend watchers have been on the rise in the past decade, with innovators and investors looking to surf the next wave of creativity in the modern world. The Korea Trend Research Institute, the country’s first organization to focus on trends, collaborates with the Profashion Information Network (PFIN), a creative strategy group, to prepare and release the latest book on what will be big in 2011. And the keyword for the next year? “Coevolution.”
Coevolution, or the process of mutual growth and cooperation, and the seven major categories of 2011 mark themselves with convenience, efficiency and greater networking: Easy Oblige, SMART-ing, Simple-Life-Action Play, The Union of Socialians, E-Teens, Breathe in the City and Mixed-blood Sense.
The book suggests the world prepare for the second age of digital technology (in a series of example “cases”), where advancements will grow in conjunction with the development of society, and coevolution will become the norm.
— INES MIN
Traveler’s Literature
Lee Heui-in; Book Nomad: 363 pp., 13,800 won
Literature often provides a sort of escapism, and takes the reader to distant times and exotic places. The author of this book takes two enriching passions, literature and travel, and combines them into one, taking readers across Asia, Latin America and the Mediterranean, and introducing the perfect book to read along the way.
The choices are obvious and dictated by geography — from Swarup’s “Q & A” (which inspired the film “Slumdog Millionaire”) in India to Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” in Russia and Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner” in Jordan/Syria/Lebanon.
Naturally, unlike most travel books, this one adopts an intimate tone, allowing one to read about reading an atmospheric piece of literature in the places that inspired the work. The author shares insights on the books and the people and events he encountered during his 10 years of globetrotting.
The book is thus more an essay in which the avid traveler shares his observations about the human condition, with jewel-like quotes from the books.
— LEE HYO-WON
Just Stories
Kolleen Park; Dal: 336 pp., 12,000 won
Many may know musical director Kolleen Park as the teacher from the entertainment show “Qualifications of a Man,” but for a bit more information about the charismatic 43-year-old, read her new book “Just Stories.”
The book is an autobiographical essay and it offers delightful, heartwarming and comical stories and incidents involving Park and her interesting life. While the press and news programs have dealt with her professional career and achievements, her new book delves into the real Park, not only as a musical director, but as a loving daughter, the passionate owner of two dogs and endearingly a humorous friend.
As the title clearly states, the book is indeed just stories about her, but it tugs at the reader’s heartstrings in many ways: her passion for music and musicals, love and affection for her friends, family and now fans and also the struggles she had to overcome to fulfill her dreams in her home country.
The book is indeed an inspiration, ideal for both children and adults, and offers the chance to step a little closer to the director and learn how she managed to captivate so many with her passion, professionalism and humor.
— HAN SANG-HEE
Architecture, Tale of a Millennium
Kim Dong-hoon and Park Young-ran; Samyang Media: 415 pp., 18,000 won
The author, an associate professor in architecture at Hongik University and a copywriter, introduces 44 world heritage sites that boast unique architectural elements in this photograph-heavy book.
A piece of architecture reflects more than just engineering know-how, but also the aesthetic and philosophical values of a given culture and time. The book thus explores how architectural structures reflect the religious and political influences of the times.
Interestingly, the authors care to show a given work in its entirety, in order to describe how it was built in relation to its natural surroundings. It then takes readers inside the building to bring specific aspects of the architecture to attention.
The book sets off to explain historical events such as Constantine the Great converting to Christianity, conflicts between church and state, as well as the Italian Renaissance that serve to enrich one’s appreciation of the basilica, a long-standing specimen from the time.