[Book of the Week] "A House Where Money Accumulates, A House Where Money Leaks" and More

A House Where Money Accumulates, A House Where Money Leaks

The author, who transitioned from asset management at an investment firm to a professional organizing consultant, analyzed over 1,000 households over ten years and discovered that "the state of a home is a direct reflection of a family's financial health." This book shows that the dividing line between a house where money leaks and one where money accumulates is not the size or income, but the attitude toward space. It identifies the invisible thieves that eat away at time, space, and effort, and proposes organizing not as a way to save consumption, but as a standard for life choices, offering practical methods to build both wealth and peace of mind. (Written by Shimomura Shihomi | Bookie)

A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0

This popular science book, beloved since its initial publication in 2003, has been newly revised after 20 years. Covering nearly the entire history of the universe and the world-from the Big Bang to the formation of Earth, the evolution of life, and the emergence of humanity-it explains how science has been discovered and accumulated through fascinating anecdotes and humor, without complex formulas or charts. Including updates on Pluto's status, ancient human research, and the latest achievements in climate and life sciences, it serves as both an introduction and a cultural guide for new and existing readers alike. (Written by Bill Bryson | Kachi)

Quantum Stake

This is an investment guide that provides an in-depth analysis of the quantum computing market, which is expected to generate value of up to 1 trillion dollars in the future. It explains the principles and industrial structure of quantum computing, a core technology expected to surpass the limits of artificial intelligence (AI), in an accessible way. The book covers leading companies such as IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave, as well as major players like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Nvidia. Through the "Quantum Investment Matrix," which examines technology roadmaps and risk-reward structures, it offers insights for identifying winners amid uncertainty. (Written by Ahn Yooseok | First Books)

Buy Starbucks Stock in January

This practical investment book explains why individual investors achieve different results in the same market, offering "event investing" as the solution. Drawing on personal experience of starting with 3 million won and succeeding as a full-time investor, the author highlights recurring market patterns that favor individuals rather than institutions. By utilizing strategies based on shareholder benefit programs and seasonal or event-driven trends, the book provides practical investment insights for both beginners and experienced investors. (Written by Yunagi | Yeouido Bookstore)

Network: The Five Connections That Move the World

This book interprets the "first principles thinking" advocated by Elon Musk through the methodology of physics, viewing matter, computers, life, the brain, and society as interconnected networks. The author, a KAIST physics Ph.D. and former semiconductor researcher, presents frameworks for understanding and predicting the complex world through "core variables," "connection principles," and "evolutionary principles." Offering tools for thinking that span from Newtonian mechanics to social systems, it guides readers in statistically reading the future of technology, economics, and human behavior, which often seem unpredictable. (Written by Kim Ilryong | East Asia)

Innovative Dignified Society

Planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, this book diagnoses "Korea after success" and seeks directions for social transformation to move forward. It analyzes low growth, low birth rates and aging, widening gaps, and political conflict as structural issues of a "winner-takes-all fractured society," highlighting the limitations of the traditional growth and competition-centric model. As an alternative, the "innovative dignified society" model is proposed-a new paradigm for social management that pursues innovation alongside trust, integration, and sustainability, offering a practical roadmap encompassing politics, the economy, and society. (Written by Choi Byungil and seven others | Cloud Nine)

The Age of AI: The Rise of the Empowered Individual

This book explores how individuals can survive and grow during the AI transition. The author, who has long studied humans and technology in the digital era, introduces the concept of the "empowered individual," explaining that the ability to utilize AI tools is becoming a new source of power. Emphasizing the importance of "unlearning" outdated perspectives instead of simply accumulating knowledge, and the ability to evaluate and select AI outputs, the book presents practical ways to use AI not as an object of dependence but as a tool to amplify personal growth and achievement. (Written by Koo Bonkwon | Gimmyoungsa)

War Without Humans

As the "killer robots" of science fiction enter real battlefields, this book soberly investigates how AI is changing warfare. It examines the processes of target selection and attack carried out by drones, edge AI, and digital kill chains in the Ukraine and Middle East battlefields, highlighting the ethical dilemmas as automation increases and responsibility becomes blurred. With a balanced perspective-neither technological optimism nor apocalypse-it questions not what machines can do, but what they should not do, and proposes the need for safety principles such as control, transparency, and kill switches, as well as civic oversight. (Written by Choi Jaeun | Book Trigger)

Even Someone As Ordinary As Me Can Become a Building Owner

Based on real experiences of ordinary people-such as salaried workers and homemakers returning to the workforce-who became building owners with small investments, this book guides readers through the most realistic path to property investment. It provides a step-by-step breakdown of the entire process, from leveraging loans and selecting investment areas to analyzing building types, conducting site visits, and increasing value. In an era of stricter apartment regulations, it presents concrete methods and mindsets for building investment that aim for both rental income and capital gains, turning "building owner" into an achievable goal for those preparing for an uncertain retirement. (Written by Wolgeonju and one other | Maeil Business Newspaper)

The Smart Car Hegemony War

This book analyzes the structural transformation of the automotive industry triggered by software-defined vehicles (SDV) and artificial intelligence (AI). The author defines automobiles not as manufacturing products but as system industries combining electricity, software, data, and AI, dissecting the strategies of global companies like Tesla, Toyota, and BYD from the perspectives of "architecture" and "flow." It examines the rapid rise of Chinese electric vehicles and the essence of smart car competition, offering realistic choices and strategies for Korea's automotive industry to turn crisis into opportunity. (Written by Park Jungkyu | Secret House)

Building a Good Company

Going beyond stereotypes about private equity funds, this book organizes the "management principles for enhancing corporate value" accumulated by the world's leading private equity funds into practical guidelines applicable to any company. The two authors focus not on short-term profits but on fact-based decision-making, responsibility-centered execution, capital efficiency, and a performance-driven culture. Through private equity-style due diligence and execution principles, it demonstrates that only organizations that "see things through to the end," regardless of ownership structure, can become truly good companies. (Written by Orit Gadiesh and one other | Econ)

Why Do I Struggle So Much with Small Mistakes?

This book is a psychological guide for people who constantly push themselves under the compulsion that "I must be perfect." Its core message is that the solution lies not in "trying harder," but in "self-compassion." Self-compassion is not about becoming lax or giving up, but about the ability to care for oneself realistically without attacking oneself for mistakes. For those who have felt guilt over rest and failure, the book delivers the message-through concrete examples and coaching language-that "life does not fall apart if you push yourself a little less." (Written by Lee Seohyun | Whale Book)

When the Mind Loses Balance: A Guide to Mental Health

In an era where depression, burnout, and panic disorder have become commonplace, this is an introductory mental health guide that calmly examines the boundary between "problems" and "illnesses." It explores when sadness and overload cross over into conditions that require treatment, and why people perceive burnout as an illness. Covering the concepts of mental disorders according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), as well as medication, psychotherapy, and the differences between psychiatrists and therapists, it explains everything in an accessible way. The book conveys that mental balance is not about stopping, but about a process of training and recovery. (Written by Achim Haug | Eco Livre)

Howl's Table and Fried Eggs

This is a record that interprets food scenes from Studio Ghibli animations through real-life recipes and the language of emotions. The YouTuber "Movie Kitchen," beloved for film food content, recreates the warmth and stories infused in each scene through the medium of "cooking." The book comprehensively covers the dishes featured in all 24 Studio Ghibli feature films, complete with full-color illustrations and recipes, guiding readers to recreate "Ghibli's table" at home. Reviving the comfort and memories found in simple foods like fried eggs, lunchboxes, and pies, it is a warm book that soothes the heart at the end of a weary day. (Written by Movie Kitchen | Deulnyeok)

Philosophizing Writing

Starting from the fundamental question, "Why write?", this philosophical guide redefines the direction of writing. The author, who has devoted a lifetime to exploring philosophy and writing, emphasizes that what is needed before technique is "one's own writing philosophy," drawing on the writing reflections of philosophers and writers such as Nietzsche, Sartre, Foucault, and Kafka. Viewing writing not as sentence training but as an attitude toward life, the book offers those who are stuck before a blank page a starting point for thoughtful writing-writing that helps understand oneself and connect with the world. (Written by Lee Namhun | Jium Media)