[Book of the Week] 'The Emperor Printing Money, Yeonjun' and 5 More Titles

◆The Money-Printing Monarch, the Fed = An insider’s look into the United States central bank, the Federal Reserve (Fed). The focus is on how the Fed operates and its ripple effects on the global economy. The author reviews the financial policy processes of Fed chairmen Paul Volcker, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and Jerome Powell, presenting evidence supporting the claim that the Fed’s unprecedented large-scale quantitative easing damaged the U.S. economy. The intriguing argument that the current global inflation is not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine war but also the Fed’s responsibility is explored. It details how the Fed’s policies lead to higher mortgage interest rates and discusses the frightening future we may face because of the Fed. (Written by Christopher Leonard · Sejong Books)

◆Henry Kissinger Leadership = A leadership analysis written by Henry Kissinger, a living legend in diplomacy, based on his experience as U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. It analyzes the leadership of six historic leaders who built societies and international orders during the turbulent postwar period: Konrad Adenauer, Charles de Gaulle, Richard Nixon, Anwar Sadat, Lee Kuan Yew, and Margaret Thatcher. Anecdotes from Kissinger’s direct encounters with them during his active career are fascinating. The author highlights their shared competencies: the ability to understand the circumstances surrounding their societies, the skill to manage the present and devise strategies for the future, the talent to move society with noble goals, and the attitude to quickly compensate for shortcomings. Additionally, it offers reflections on how our society can become happier, how it can collapse, and how to inherit past legacies. (Written by Henry Kissinger · Minumsa)

◆Economic Herstory = This book reviews the achievements of female writers and economists who were not recognized by mainstream economics. It explores figures marginalized in the male-dominated field of economics simply because they were women or because they wrote about women’s economic power and labor rights, such as Rosa Luxemburg, a socialist thinker and revolutionary; Mary Wollstonecraft, a political activist and novelist advocating women’s suffrage; and Sojourner Truth, who raised her voice for the abolition of slavery and women’s rights. Through this, it examines the meaning and value of women’s education, production, distribution, consumption, and policy proposal activities, and reconsiders economics tilted by discrimination and exclusion. (Written by Edith Kuiper · Seogyeong B&B)

◆If Mathematics Disappeared from the World = While math is commonly thought of as a subject learned at school, the author sees it differently?as a part of life encountered from birth. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, transportation, and even meeting friends, there is no place without math. The author emphasizes the importance of math, drawing interest not by forcing it as a must-know but through engaging stories. Examples include why the world’s most powerful warship sank immediately after entering the water and the mysterious employee “Steve Null,” whose personal information keeps getting deleted no matter how many times it is entered into a computer, revealing math’s presence in everyday life. (Written by Matt Parker · Dasan Science)

◆Kind Organizations Survive = According to the American economic magazine Fortune, 80% of the world’s top 500 companies have adopted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as their banner. Based on consulting experience with hundreds of companies worldwide, the author insists that “diversity, equity, and inclusion actually make companies stronger.” According to the author, one company boldly pursued DEI management during a crisis when its stock value dropped by 40%, and within a few years, its stock price soared, employee turnover decreased, and it was consistently selected as a great place to work. The book deeply analyzes nine companies that experienced failures and successes in practicing DEI, categorizing them into five stages: ‘Recognition,’ ‘Compliance,’ ‘Tactics,’ ‘Integration,’ and ‘Sustainability.’ (Written by Ella F. Washington · Galmaenamu)

◆Net Positive = A management story directly revealed by Paul Polman, who led the global company Unilever, famous for Vaseline, Dove, and Lipton. During his tenure, he broke the prejudice that “good management does not make money” and doubled sales while maintaining carbon emissions. He proposes the concept of net positive, which is bigger and more challenging than ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management. In an era where consumer perception of companies is crucial, he emphasizes that to achieve results, companies must not be obsessed with immediate profits but become agents of solving climate crises and inequality from a long-term perspective. (Written by Paul Polman · Hyundai Knowledge)