Recent Books

Last Night I Dreamed of Peace

Dang Thuy Tram; Translated by Ahn Kyung-hwan from Vietnamese to Korean; Erum: 288 pp., 11,000 won

Vietnamese female doctor Dang Thuy Tram, who volunteered to serve as a doctor in a National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) battlefield hospital in the Quang Ngai Province, kept a diary between 1968 and 1970. She wrote about family, friends and ordeals of the war as well as her love and frustration with her sweetheart, identified just as ``M'' and her struggles to show her loyalty to her country.

In the two-year-long diary, she vividly portrays the compassion and challenges she experienced during the helpless war situation.

The diary was discovered by an American officer after Tram was killed by American forces near where she worked, and was made public thirty-five years later. The diary was soon published in Vietnam, becoming a bestseller for its vivid and personal account that resonated with the generations who experienced the war. But she finds hope even in the dire circumstances through a universal perspective to celebrate and mourn the fragility of human life.

Born in Hanoi, Tram was a Vietnamese doctor who took care of civilians as well as Viet Cong soldiers. She died in 1970 at the age of 27.

-Chung Ah-young

Powerful Decision

Chun Chun & Shijien; Translated by Yoon Jin from Chinese to Korean; Mir Books: 224 pp.,10,000 won

The world we are living in is often likened to the wild ruled by the law of the jungle. The book allegorically begins with the story of a leopard, showing how the animal survives, in competition with a lion and a hyena.

In the first part of the book, the leopard, which is endowed with thinking power one day from an angel, and it learns to make ``decisions'' to better live and win the fierce competition for prey.

In the second part, the book suggest five rules for ``powerful decisions'' leading to success _ success comes from self-reflection; strong self-confidence; knowing people around you are all precious; concentration; and that our guardian angel is just yourself.

The book gives more details and practical examples to making powerful decisions. The story not only suggests how you can reach a turning point that can bring critical changes but also how you can become happy through mind control.

Omnivore's Dilemma

Michael Pollan, Translated by Jo Yun-jeong, DDworld: 560 pp., 25,000 won

In his best-selling book, Michael Pollan brings new meaning to the question, ``What shall we have for dinner?'' But this is far from simple to answer.

The agony of choice plagues us, with fast food chains and modern supermarkets adding mayhem to the already dizzying food landscape.

With the wit and intelligence of an investigative journalist, the author explores the ``national eating disorder'' that has seized modern society.

The book defines the main food chains that nourish us: industrial food, organic or alternative food and food we hunt, gather or grow ourselves. It explores in full what entails a simple dish on the table, taking readers from Midwestern cornfields to food-science laboratories.

It doesn't preach for you to become a vegan or such. Rather, it argues that what we choose to eat has serious political, economic, psychological and even moral implications.

In other words, our palates have reshaped our ecology, and our eating choices will continue to affect not only our own health but that of the environment as well.

As you read through this highly enlightening, and somewhat unappetizing, account, conscious consumerism will take on a new relevance ― and flavor. As the overweight comic strip cat Garfield said, ``You are what you eat.''

-Lee Hyo-won

Time Money Happiness

Alison Haynes, Translated by Chung Naria, Yong-O-Reum Publishers: 427 pp.,15,000won

If you had to choose between time, money and happiness, what would it be? Although some may have their own preferences, most of us would have to take a moment and still not be able to decide.

Written by Alison Haynes and translated by Chung Naria, the book ``Time Money Happiness'' offers the whole package: the definitions, arguments, and studies concerning the subject.

Haynes explains the historical definitions of the three words looking at their roots and ancient usages. For example, ``time'', or ``timi'' in ancient Scandinavian, meant prosperity, while the word ``happy'' initially meant ``lucky'' or ``blessed.''

The book also offers quotes from prominent figures and books, such as Helen Keller, Gandhi and even the bible.

Readers can look at how the subject is treated in different countries, such as England, New Zealand, Australia and Japan. But unlike other self-development books that continuously prescribe to readers what to do, Haynes doesn't propose any ultimate guidelines. It's up to the reader to decide which quote, lesson or phrase will work for them. Still, some may agree that the best idea would not be choosing only one, but rather choosing all three and using them wisely.

-Han Sang-hee