Recent Books

The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art

Donald N. Thompson; Translated from English to Korean by Kim Min-ju and Song Heui-reong; Reader’s Book: 525 pp., 20,000

Why would a smart New York investment banker cash up $12 million for a stuffed carcass of a decaying shark?

An economist brings a ``Freakonomics’’ style analysis of the often brand-driven contemporary art market, by presenting case studies and the overall economics of art. The reader gets a peek of the happenings behind-the-scenes ― how art is priced, how auctions are organized (both on and behind the scenes), how gallery shows are sold (or pre-sold), how the reputation of an artist, museum or collector is established, and most of all how all these elements are molded into a brand that sells like in any other high-end luxury product.

With ``culturenomics’’ increasingly becoming a keyword the book would certainly appeal to business and economics readers.

Art readers on the other may have mixed feelings about the book ― while aspiring curators might learn how the market functions, others may disagree with the way the writer treats art like a commodity. The latter is in fact what makes the book interesting but the author makes only a superficial attempt to contemplate the intangible, inherent subjectivity of art ― say, the aesthetic value of Damien Hirst’s aforementioned formaldehyde shark.

― Lee Hyo-won

Himalayan Coffee Road

Production crew of Himalayan Coffee Road; Gimmyoung Publishers: 334pp., 12,000 won

EBS Docu-Prime's hit documentary "Himalayan Coffee Road" is now available in book form. Originally aired in July 2010, the documentary captured the life of villagers in Aslewa Male, a tiny Nepalese town under the Himalayas.

This book offers an insight on the entire process of producing a cup of coffee, which people sip daily without giving it much thought. While the documentary is focused on coffee, the book also tells the story of the people who grow the coffee trees in the mountainous village.

There are only 11 households in the village and all of them are made up of coffee farmers. "The Beautiful Coffee," a fair trade company set up in Korea supplied 3,000 coffee trees and the villagers planted them using organic farming techniques.

Even though they have not tasted a cup of coffee, they put all their effort to produce clean, healthy coffee beans. "If I do not farm in an organic way, it might harm people's health. So I want to practice organic farming for the people who will enjoy the fruit of the coffee trees," a 14-year-old coffee farmer said in the book.

The documentary and the book were made through the talent donations of producer Kim Young-mi, scriptwriter Hwang Jeong-hyun, and various photographers.

- Kwon Mee-yoo

Seoul Beauty Travel Bible

Park Sol; Random House Korea: 396 pp., 15,800 won

There is a saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but nowadays there seems to be a certain standard to be maintained at least for many women.

This book is pertinent for those who are seeking tips on various salons and places designed to offer services to those who are slaves to vanity.

It provides some 155 sites that offer cosmetics, fashion goods, skin, hair, nail and body care selected by a beauty columnist.

The book contains interviews with 10 “beauties,” including celebrities, a hair designer and a dermatologist. The chapters are divided into categories that include face, hair, body and style.

Beauty-savvy young women might find useful tips and popular destinations suggested by beauty specialists with colorful photos.

Introductions to the beauty hot spots are provided along with information on how to exercise, take care of skin, keep your body in shape in detail, deal with stress eat healthily.

The book covers luxurious beauty salons to cheaper places dotted near university campuses.

-Chung Ah-young

My Life, My Faith

Jaerock Lee; Translated by Fernanda Dias de Almeida and Alvaro Cesar Ramirez; Editora Naos: 240 pp., $15.25

The ever controversial Dr. Jaerock Lee, senior pastor of the Manmin Central Church, has expanded his followers to Brazil, with the recent publication of his translated autobiography ``My Life, My Faith’’ in Portuguese.

Following his life from his time of medical difficulties ― seven years of incurable diseases, according to Lee ― he became a born-again Christian in 1974 following a visit to a church. From there, the story details the founding of the Manmin Central Church in 1982, its expansion to include more than 100,000 followers, and its difficulties.

Surrounded by scandal and cult accusations, Lee was excommunicated from the Church of Holiness in 1990, disassociated from Israel’s largest evangelical organization and the subject of investigative documentaries broadcast by MBC. But by 2009 he was named one of the top 10 most influential Christian leaders by the Christian Telegraph and his reach continues to spread. His story captures the ups and downs of the Manmin Church, an intriguing tale of one man versus the world.

― Ines Min