[This Week's Books] 'Sapiens: Graphic History 3' and More

◆Sapiens: Graphic History 3 'Behind History' = This is the third book in the 'Sapiens: Graphic History' series, a graphic novel adaptation of the renowned book 'Sapiens' by Yuval Harari, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It explores whether there is a direction in human history and what drives that direction. Professor Yuval Harari argues that the agents changing the course of history are not heroes or events, but empires, money, and religion. Superheroes personifying empires, money, and religion appear, offering various perspectives on interpreting history. (Written by Yuval Harari / Adapted by David Vandermeulen / Published by Gimyeongsa)

◆2060 Korea Welfare Default = This book proposes how the government should change its fiscal management to overcome the crisis of welfare discontinuation in Korea. Based on government and National Assembly data, the author warns that by the 2060s, both the National Pension and Health Insurance may be discontinued. Due to severe ultra-low birth rates and extreme aging, finances will be depleted, making it impossible to sustain welfare policies. Drawing on over ten years of experience working in the National Assembly’s Budget and Accounts Special Committee reviewing budgets and settlements, the author presents alternatives. (Written by Jeon Su-gyeong / Published by Joeundang)

◆Classics Beyond the Score = This book selects ten of the most well-known symphonies to the public, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 'Heroic' and Dvo??k’s Symphony No. 9 'New World,' introducing the background of the compositions and the composers’ lives. Through this, readers can discover interesting relationships among composers, such as the rivalry between Haydn and Mozart, and Schubert carrying Beethoven’s coffin at his funeral. It also covers the turbulent world history through stories of Beethoven living in the Napoleonic era and Shostakovich experiencing the Russian Revolution. (Written by Nakagawa Yusuke / Translated by Lee Eun-jung / Published by Hyunik Publishing)

◆Is a World Without War Possible? = This book introduces the status of conflicts around the world that have occurred or are ongoing in the 21st century. It explains the historical background, process, and key issues of wars in an easy-to-understand manner. It covers the Ukraine war, Afghanistan war, Syrian civil war, Israel-Palestine conflict, South Asian Kashmir conflict, Sudan civil war, Iraq war, and more. The final chapter examines the efforts the international community has made to prevent wars and discusses what alternatives are needed going forward. (Written by Oh Aeri and Gu Jeong-eun / Published by Book Caravan)

◆The Era of Economic Bureaucrats = This book examines the lives and achievements of 13 economic bureaucrats who designed South Korea’s economic policies during the 1950s to 1980s, a period of remarkable growth. Among them are Jang Gi-young, Kim Hak-ryeol, Oh Won-cheol, Nam Deok-woo, and Shin Hyun-hwak. The 'Miracle on the Han River' period is divided into four parts: Reconstruction, Leap, Sprint, and Transition, exploring major economic issues and policies. The author argues that the role of economic bureaucrats has been overlooked or underestimated compared to the economic achievements of rapid growth. Furthermore, these bureaucrats were granted considerable autonomy to implement economic policies, leading the transformation of the Korean economy. (Written by Hong Je-hwan / Published by Neomeo Books)

◆Wearing High Heels and Pushing a Wheelchair = The author unexpectedly became pregnant at the age of nineteen while wandering without finding meaning in life. She ran away from home, and her son, born then, has severe cerebral palsy and cannot walk. More than 20 years later, the author lives with her husband, a salaryman three years older, her 23-year-old disabled son, and her 13-year-old daughter, forming an ordinary family of four. This essay was written to convey hope, just as the author found solace in reading Hirotada Ototake’s 'No One’s Perfect.' (Written by Hatakeyama Orie / Translated by Kim Yeoul / Published by The Bom)