Recent books

Nonetheless, Be Happy

Park Wan-seo et al; Book Ocean: 240 pp., 13,000 won

When the 21st century opened, a new paradigm driven by modern information technology seemed to dominate the world and accelerate materialistic pursuits. Such expectations brought start-up companies and new riches. However, as time passed, people began seeking more spiritual happiness rather than material affluence.

This book is intended to satisfy people’s quest for happiness through 20 mentors’ inspiring essays and writings. The late author Park Wan-seo wrote that she would not swap her small happiness of writing under a gentle lamplight at night while listening to her husband snore for anything in her essay “Listening to My Husband Snoring.” Celebrated poet Seo Jeong-yoon also wrote that happiness comes from small things in everyday life.

Television personality Hwang Su-kwan took an example of a race horse which can never plow a field because it doesn’t know how to. “We don’t have to do all of the things every time. We should each play our individual role that we can do the best,” he said.

The essay collection epitomizes what is happiness and how we can find it in our lives through positive thinking.

—CHUNG AH-YOUNG