[This Week's Books] "Middle-Class Economics" and More

Middle-Class Economics

The "middle class" is a paradoxical group: it is considered economically average, yet there are more people who aspire to join it than those who actually belong to it. This book meticulously examines the middle class from an economic perspective. The author explains that the middle class makes practical choices for itself, independent of the overall growth of the nation. After accumulating a certain level of material wealth, the middle class prioritizes the rational fulfillment of desires over further income increases. The book offers an in-depth analysis of the economics of the middle class, which navigates between the logic of capital and labor. (Written by Noh Youngwoo | Maeil Business Newspaper)

MIT Robotics Class by Genius Roboticist Daniela Rus

From jet suits that soar through the sky, to electronic inchworms climbing the Eiffel Tower, to photosynthetic robots moving along building exteriors, and vibration navigation systems for the visually impaired, this book guides readers into the fascinating world of robotics. The author, Daniela Rus, is the director of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and a robotics researcher. This is her first book for the general public. The content focuses primarily on the positive aspects of the AI revolution. The author asserts that robots will make us more capable and productive. (Written by Daniela Rus and one other | Gimmyoung Publishers)

Stranger Than You Think: Stories of Economics

"Can't we just print more money?", "Why do the top 1% keep getting richer?", "Why pay farmers who don't farm?", "Will a cashless society really arrive?" The author turns conventional economic wisdom on its head by examining these questions from fresh perspectives. The book also introduces various economic concepts?such as capitalism, inflation, inequality, international trade, and tax avoidance by multinational corporations?alongside historical examples. It presents intriguing arguments about how economics began, its fundamental mechanisms, the ways it transforms our lives, and how money connects individuals. (Written by Anne Rooney | Venus)

The Era of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Is Coming

The author worked at SK Group for 38 years, handling finance, IR, restructuring, overseas business strategy, and business development, and served as a vice president responsible for CSR and ESG. Through these experiences, the author realized that "inclusion is the attitude of actively embracing differences by acknowledging them, and true value lies in inclusion as action rather than as a character trait." This insight is reflected throughout the book. The book explores the increasingly important concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through various theories and case studies. (Written by Jung Hyuncheon | Trojan Horse)

Return to the Constitution

The national turmoil caused by the 12·3 martial law was carried out under the law. It is also being resolved by the law. At this juncture, the authors argue that we must revisit the Constitution. In this book, the authors thoroughly analyze and review the numerous critical moments and issues South Korea has faced over the past six months, using the Constitution and a total of 182 legal articles related to the martial law situation. The book also introduces cases of past power holders who abused martial law as a tool for political survival. (Written by Park Yongdae and four others | Sideway)

The Future That Arrived First

Journalist and author Jang Kangmyung meets with 30 current and former professional Go players and six Go experts to reflect on the "future that arrived first" in the Go world after AlphaGo. This reportage forecasts the changes that artificial intelligence will bring to various industries, including literature. The author warns of the dangers of AI. Even aside from the threats to human life or job replacement by machines, he warns that AI can undermine the authority and pride of experts, distort work and experience, and threaten the values we have pursued. (Written by Jang Kangmyung | Dongasia)