Recent Books

Endgame: The Problem of Civilization

Derrick Jensen; Translated by Hwang Geon from English to Korean; Dangdae Books: 534pp./478pp., 20,000 won/19,000 won

This is a two-volume book by Derrick Jensen, who wrote a critique on civilization through examples of violence and abuse in his earlier work ``The Culture of Make Believe.''

As in Jensen's previous books, the volumes are very uncomfortable, complicated and even unpleasant to read and face ugly realities. The books articulate in detail about what he calls ``civilization'' causing violent resistance and environmental degradation.

Volume I begins with 20 presuppositions about the problems of civilization and breaks them down through detailed examples.

He talks about environmental situations such as species extinction, deteriorating air quality, shrinking icecaps, expanding deserts and vanishing forests brought about by humans.

In volume II, he points out civilization as the main culprit for killing the Earth. He says ``civilization needs to be brought down now.''

Jensen is an extremist and his conclusions might be somewhat too far for some readers.

-Chung Ah-young

Creating a World Without Poverty

Muhammad Yunus; Translated by Kim Tae-hoon from English to Korean; Mulpure; 320pp., 17000 won

Is it possible to solve the prolonged poverty and hunger in many poor countries with the free market economy? Many people are skeptical about its role, which is believed to have widened the gap between the rich and poor.

But economics professor Muhammad Yunus is at the forefront of bring this daunting task into realization, helping Bangladesh's economy revive and supporting the poorest.

It was possible through the innovative ``micro-credit'' loan system through the Grameen Bank. The bank founded by Yunus extends very small loans to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and others living in poverty, who are not considered bankable.

The Grameen Bank has helped 7 million poor people and is profitable with a 98.6 percent repayment rate.

This led to the worldwide micro-credit movement, rescuing hundreds of millions of people from extreme poverty.

For his contribution to alleviating poverty, he earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Questions for Shuntaro Tanikawa

Shuntaro Tanikawa, translated from Japanese to Korean by Yang Eok-gwan; Ire Publishing: 180 pp., 9,800 won

The author is Japan's most celebrated modern poet, respected by Nobel prize winning novelist Kenzaburo Oe. Through an online newspaper, Tanikawa answered all sorts of questions posed by four-year-old girls to 65-year-old grandfathers. This book brings together 64 of them.

This delightful, strikingly simple collection of questions and answers is at once witty and touching. The nature of questions vary, from morbid existentialist concerns to childish curiosities, but completely relatable. Tanikawa's answers them with sense, sensibility and humor.

Six-year-old Sae asks, ``Why do people die? I don't want to die.'' To this, the poet writes, ``If I were Sae's mother, I would say, `I don't want to die either'' and hug Sae tightly, weeping. Then I would drink tea together. Such big questions should be answered using not only the head but the heart and body as well.''

``Do aliens really exist?'' (Paran, 16): ``Yes. You are one of them.'' ``Why do I have to bathe everyday?'' (China, 26): ``How ever did you get to ask such questions at 26. I don't bathe everyday.'' Tanikawa continues to answer questions at www.1101.com

- Lee Hyo-won

Artholic

Jung Yoo-seok; Random House Korea: 292pp., 10,000 won

People may think artists lead a happy and beautiful life, but a psychiatrist reveals that many do not.

Doctor Jung Yoo-seok offers the psychiatric secrets of celebrated artists around the world. Jung has already published psychiatric essays that are easy to understand and fun to read. This time, he analyzes the everyday lives and works of renowned artists.

Leo Tolstoy, the author of `'War and Peace,'' lived a life of melancholia, while fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen was very weak and very concerned about his health. In fact, Anderson always had a long rope with him to use just in case something caught on fire and he had to escape quickly.

Authors who tasted success at an early age often experienced a downfall due to pressure and the burden to come up with yet another masterpiece, like Harper Lee of ``To Kill a Mocking Bird,'' who was 34 at the time.

The writer explains complex illnesses in his own words, and offers details of the artists' lives ― from their habits to personal worries.

-Han Sang-hee