Recent Books

In Too Deep: BP and the Drilling Race That Took It Down

Stanley Reed and Alison Fitzgerald; Wiley/Bloomberg Press: 248 pp., $24.95

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico starting April 20 last year might be recorded as one of the worst man-made disasters in history. This book says, however, that the incident was predictable but inevitable.

Written by investigative reporter Alison Fitzgerald and Stanley Reed, a journalist who has covered BP for over a decade, the book explores how the tragedy happened and the behind-the-scenes management of the company.

The authors point out the important factors behind the incident such as BP’s corporate culture — risk-taking and cost-cutting — that made the accident almost inevitable. Last year’s disaster was only the latest of a series of BP accidents that should have been seen as warning signs to company executives and regulators.

The book also says that former CEO John Browne whose father worked for BP’s predecessor and who himself worked for BP his entire career made the company a powerhouse through ventures of drilling oil in difficult places. However, he failed to notice the potential dangers of drilling and refining and never put safety as a top priority. The book details why BP suffered this disaster along with the past, present and future of the oil giant.

— CHUNG AH-YOUNG

Delicious World History

Joo Young-ha; Sowadang: 167 pp., 13,000 won

From Mesopotamia to Eurasia and the United States, the history of a country is clear in one area: the kitchen table. Joo Young-ha looks into the pasts of a variety of foods, finding new insight in the universality of eating, through the one element that has no borders.

While bread was first created more than 10,000 years ago, cheese was the strength of the Roman army, sausages carried the tears of peasant farmers in the Middle Ages, and candy the Crusader’s War. While each of these foods had a starting point, they soon grew to travel the world, introducing new culture to new lands.

Sausages are best-known in Europe, but they were first created in Central Asia. And, it was of course the Americans that put them on a bun for hot dogs. Curry is the combined work of India, England and Japan.

Joo offers an informative and entertaining text, providing a range of practical information, including cooking methods.

— INES MIN

Sorrow Dances (L’enigme du retour)

Dany Laferriere; Translated by Kim Da-eun; Thinking Tree Publishing Co.: 392 pp., 14,000 won

The French-speaking Haitian and Canadian Dany Laferriere published his 11th novel in Korea, the winner of the 2009 Prix Medicis. “L’enigme du retour” follows the author as he returns to Haiti for the first time in 33 years, after receiving news in New York of his father’s death.

The writer’s works have been well-received in a variety of settings, with many being turned into screenplays and films. “L’enigme” managed to arrive in Korea ahead of even an English release, and the captivating style of the work serves as sufficient reason.

From the first, sparse and poetic text detailing the arrival of the tragic news, to the complex prose that grows interspersed throughout the novel, the work tells a humane, yet exalted story of realism.

Laferriere returns to his native country and experiences the sights of the people, the land and the circumstances of it all.

Dream High-"Special Making Book"

Editorial staff; Seed Paper: 300 pp., 18,000 won

Fans of the hit KBS drama “Dream High” can take a look at the inside story of Kirin Art School, an academy nurturing future entertainers.

The drama, gaining popularity from its music and dance sequences directed by Park Jin-young of JYP, is known for the high-quality performances of the actors.

The book reviews the process of production from scratch, such as the thoughts of creative producer Bae Yong-joon and music and dance director Park.

The six students of Kirin Art School — Kim Soo-hyun, Taecyeon and Wooyoung from 2PM, Suzy from Miss A, Eun-jung from T-ara and singer IU — reveal their student records and their teachers’ comments.

Photo spreads of the students’ performances such as the Kirin Art School showcase are included. Behind-the-scenes photos and analysis on the fashion of the six students are also available in the book.

—KWON MEE-YOO