[Books of the Week] "Everything About Stablecoins" and More

Everything About Stablecoins

It has been a long time since Bitcoin and Ethereum have been in the spotlight as "digital gold." However, as they are not widely used in everyday life, stablecoins have been filling the gap. Stablecoins are a new digital currency model that organically connects virtual assets and fiat currencies, as well as blockchain technology and financial policy. This book starts with the question, "What are stablecoins?" and examines why governments, corporations, and financial institutions around the world are paying attention to them. The authors argue, "Stablecoins are not just a new type of coin; they are an innovation that fundamentally changes the concept of money and the financial system." (Written by Cho Jinhyung and one other | Maeil Business Newspaper)

Crazy Growth

Toss became the first domestic fintech company to achieve unicorn status with a corporate value of about 1 trillion won in 2018. Since then, it has continued to grow, surpassing 24.8 million monthly active users (MAU) in 2024. About ten years after its launch, Toss overtook Kakao Pay to become the largest financial app in Korea. The author says the answer lies in organizational culture: building the foundation for "crazy growth," designing a culture tailored to the organization, and continuously checking the organization to maintain this explosive growth. The book introduces these concepts and practical secrets. (Written by Kim Hyungjin | Prunsoop)

The Imaginative Brain

This book, written by Adam Zeman, professor at the University of Exeter Medical School and neuroscientist, explores the light and shadow of human imagination from a neuroscientific perspective, based on more than 30 years of research into the neural mechanisms of consciousness, memory, and imagery. He traces how imagination shapes and distorts human thought and perception, from the interaction of dreams, consciousness, and imagery to creativity, hallucinations, delusions, and trauma. Furthermore, by encompassing neuroscience, philosophy, and art, he reveals in a multidimensional way that imagination is a core element that constitutes the "self." (Written by Adam Zeman | Hreum Publishing)

Scaling People

This book presents concrete answers to the question "How do you grow an organization?" by organizing recruitment, development, connection, and growth methods in the form of a manual. Drawing on more than ten years at Google and over seven years as Chief Operating Officer at Stripe, the author shares the know-how gained from operating global giant Google and Silicon Valley's payment infrastructure leader Stripe. The book offers practical solutions to real issues leaders face, including talent acquisition, performance management, decision-making, feedback, communication, and corporate culture. (Written by Claire Hughes Johnson | Sejong Books)

Does AI Dream of Being Human?

This book traces the history of how we have granted "personhood" to entities such as corporations, animals, brain-dead patients, genetically modified organisms, chimeras, embryos, and AI, and analyzes how society has set these boundaries. It then asks: "If there are beings who speak, feel, and think like humans, are they truly human? Should we grant them human rights?" Through a fascinating journey that weaves together law, philosophy, science, science fiction, ethics, and popular culture, the book explores how our future with AI might unfold. (Written by James Boyle | Miraeui Chang)

Poetry Protected Me

The film "Dead Poets Society" includes the following line: "Medicine, law, business, engineering-these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love-these are what we stay alive for." The author, a writer with a 30-year career who majored in English literature and has communicated with diverse readers through novels, columns, and film scripts, carefully selects and introduces English poems that provided comfort during difficult times. The author says, "A single poem protected me," and adds, "There is a kind of solace that can only be found through poetry, especially when you are struggling, exhausted, or lonely." (Written by Lee Jaeik | Dodo Books)