[This Week's Books] 'Janghae Simin Bulbokjong' and 5 More Titles

◆Disobedience of Disabled Citizens = This book tells the story of an author who is a physically disabled person with a rare disease called syringomyelia caused by a medical accident in childhood, a human rights activist, and a minority policy researcher, who served as the policy director of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) for over 500 days. The author personally felt alienated when entering the unfamiliar world of social movements and human rights struggles but honestly shares the experiences and insights gained while working on the ground. The author has a background at Korea National University of Arts, Seoul National University, and Google Korea. However, due to poor transportation, the author had to quit school, was forced to sign a liability waiver every time boarding a plane, and faced difficulties in employment and part-time jobs, even hesitating to buy a 1,000 won meal at the student cafeteria. The book contains the process of efforts to change the world shaped by such a combination of life experiences. (Written by Byeon Jaewon · Changbi)

◆Lee O-ryeong, a Milestone in Contemporary Criticism = Dr. Lee O-ryeong, who emerged like a comet in the 1950s by sharply criticizing the established literary circles, was revered as an intellectual of his era during his lifetime. He continuously produced literary criticism that sparked public attention each time. The author, a humanities scholar, systematically examines Dr. Lee’s criticism divided into literature and culture. Through this, the book unravels his literary spirit, which is very diverse but ultimately converges on the theme of ‘Korea (Koreans).’ It also focuses on his persistent efforts to reflect reality according to changing times. The book highlights traces of his fierce struggle to overcome the harsh postwar era through literature and emphasizes the multifaceted aspects of Lee O-ryeong’s criticism. The appendix includes four previously unpublished early drafts. (Written by Hong Raeseong · Param Book)

◆The 1990s = This book meticulously reveals the cultural context and guides readers to the 1990s. The 1990s saw the end of the Cold War, an economic boom, and cultural freedom of expression. The spread of video ushered in the home theater era where people watched movies at home. The author vividly recalls memories of that era: phone books that even listed addresses of strangers, Michael Jordan’s switch from baseball back to the basketball court, Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear, and Generation X denying life ambitions, focusing on bringing the texture of that time to life. (Written by Chuck Klosterman · Onward)

◆Saviors of Investment = This book tells the story of index funds, considered an innovative invention on Wall Street that returned profits, which used to go into the pockets of fund managers and financial companies, back to investors. It is filled with vivid true stories of witnesses who changed the history of investment, such as Warren Buffett, John Bogle, and Larry Fink. The book does not merely cover the birth of index funds but also details important turning points in modern financial history. It introduces how more than ten major U.S. investment management firms were founded and grew, and describes the fierce corporate survival story involving competition, cooperation, conflicts, expulsions, and comebacks on Wall Street. (Written by Robin Wigglesworth · Hanbit Biz)

◆Biological Abundance = The book contains controversial topics about animal homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender, and non-reproductive sexual activities. The author organizes cases of animal homosexuality studied until the late 20th century, including about 190 species of mammals and birds, as well as reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects, with photos and illustrations. Based on extensive data, the author critically examines existing biological perspectives interpreting animal homosexuality. Reviewing over 200 years of research on animal homosexuality, the book exposes the ideologies implicitly accepted in the scientific community and meticulously critiques the resulting misinterpretations. (Written by Bruce Bagemihl · Hippocrates)

◆21st Century Global Economy = The author, who served as the Chief of Policy Office at the Blue House and Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission during the Moon Jae-in administration, examines the megatrends shaping the global and Korean economies. The topics include the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, climate change, G2 hegemonic competition, global value chains, and supply chain restructuring. The book focuses on the choices facing the Korean economy, which has lost ‘strategic autonomy’ while being forced to align amid great powers, covering the first inflation in 40 years, the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-China hegemonic rivalry, and supply chain restructuring in semiconductors, batteries, and rare earths. It addresses not only domestic factors but also geopolitical and geostrategic factors among neighboring Asian countries. (Written by Kim Sangjo · The Power of Thought)