[Book of the Week] "White Collar" and More

White Collar

How did the white-collar class come to form the backbone of our society? The author takes an in-depth look at the formation and transformation of white-collar workers in modern society, thoroughly analyzing their social status and roles. The book examines the impact of industrialization on both individuals and society, and explores in detail how modern capitalism operates in the lives of contemporary people. The analysis of the white-collar class covers its significance in modern society, as well as the political, economic, and psychological characteristics of this phenomenon from multiple perspectives. (Written by Charles Wright Mills | Dolbegae)

White House Speech Class

Former U.S. President Barack Obama's speeches are regarded as the epitome of public speaking. His powerful opening lines and compelling narratives moved many people. This book presents the speaking strategies of Terry Szuplat, who served as a speechwriter for Obama during his eight-year presidency. It details the insights he gained through exchanges of ideas with the President. The book vividly depicts, from the perspective of a White House speechwriter, how some of Obama's most memorable speeches came to be, including the memorial address for the Connecticut school shooting and the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. (Written by Terry Szuplat | Hyundae Jiseong)

No Two Dogs Are Alike

Two scientists focus on the diversity of dogs from the perspective of multiple intelligence theory. They scientifically analyze not only external differences such as breed and appearance, but also the wide range of temperaments, personalities, and cognitive abilities within the same breed. Some dogs have strong self-control, others are highly curious, and some do not fear strangers. When do these unique traits begin to emerge? Can a dog's adult behavior be predicted from its actions as a puppy? The book provides answers to numerous questions from the perspective of cognitive science. (Written by Brian Hare and one other | Dplot)

Life Is Too Short to Live Angry

When we carefully examine the unexpected emotional pain that appears throughout life, we often find that the cause lies more in how we accept situations than in the situations themselves. Hatred toward selfish colleagues, envy of successful friends, and anxiety about an uncertain future disrupt inner peace and lead to self-destructive thoughts. The author introduces ways to manage such emotions. The book explores ten perspectives on the pains we encounter in life-anger, jealousy, desire for revenge, anxiety, fear, complaints, and more-and suggests how to maintain emotional balance. (Written by Jinwoo Lee | Chusubat)

Dear Oliver

This book introduces the last letter left by Oliver Sacks, a physician and neurologist who devoted his talents to vulnerable beings whom the world often overlooks. The recipient of the letter is Susan Barry, a neurobiologist who lived with strabismus and stereoblindness for half her life and was able to see the world clearly for the first time at the age of forty-eight. Their correspondence began when Susan wrote to Oliver about her extraordinary visual experiences, and continued until Oliver's final days. The story conveys moving messages of courage and humor, even at the threshold of death. (Written by Oliver Sacks and one other | Bookie)

A Society That Has Lost Its Sense of Shame

Hypocrisy is often considered preferable to shamelessness, as it at least acknowledges a sense of embarrassment about one's actions. In this sense, today's society faces criticism as an era of brazenness in which even hypocrisy has disappeared. Politicians who commit crimes without remorse and legal professionals who bend the law for the powerful are examples of how shame is no longer a standard for public and social responsibility. The author, a social psychologist, examines the true face of our society through the emotion of 'shame,' tracing its roots and emphasizing the need for its restoration. (Written by Chulwoo Lee | Secret House)