[Book of the Week] '7 Conditions for True Happiness' and 5 More Books

◆The 7 Conditions of True Happiness = “You cannot choose the innate self you were born with, but you can choose the path to happiness.” The author, who has worked as a mental health specialist for 37 years, emphasizes that happiness is not a stroke of luck that comes by chance, but something everyone can enjoy. If you are not happy now, the author advises reflecting on whether your values and methods regarding happiness are mistaken. The author defines happiness as ‘well-being’ itself, regardless of external factors, and introduces the seven elements of happiness: ‘Acceptance,’ experiencing things as they are; ‘Change,’ aiming to be better than yesterday; ‘Connection,’ the value of living together; ‘Strengths,’ living according to one’s own personality; ‘Wisdom,’ coping with life’s problems; ‘Body,’ escaping from the mind; and ‘Spirituality,’ seeing the meaning of life beyond reality. (Written by Chae Jeong-ho · Influential)

◆Powerhouse = Various contents are pouring out through OTT (Over-The-Top online video services). Titles like “Okja” and “Squid Game” have placed Korean content on the global stage. Due to such popularity, Netflix’s investment in Korean content exceeded 500 billion won in 2021 alone. When content becomes popular, actors, directors, and writers often receive attention, but behind the scenes, the one who moves the board is the ‘EP (Executive Producer).’ From selecting the item to casting directors, writers, and actors, securing investment, marketing, and sales, the EP assembles the big puzzle so that a drama can be presented to viewers. The author shares stories of 10 ‘powerhouse’ EPs who hold great influence in the market. (Written by Kim Il-jung · Inmulgwa Sasangsa)

◆Where Have All the Butterflies Gone? = When people think of butterflies, they often recall the tiger swallowtail. The tiger swallowtail was also popular in past song lyrics. However, North Americans first think of the monarch butterfly. The orange butterfly with black stripes seen in emojis from Google or Microsoft represents the monarch butterfly of North America. It is now designated as an endangered species due to habitat destruction. It is known to migrate from Mexico, where it spends the winter, to Canada in spring, and then return to Mexico before winter. The book introduces the author’s record of traveling 16,417 km across Mexico, the United States, and Canada for 264 days following the monarch butterfly. (Written by Sara Dykman · Hyunamsa)

◆Dangerous Overmedicalization = The author is an authority on evidence-based medicine, having published over 100 papers in the top five medical journals and more than 530 research documents over 30 years, cited over 220,000 times. He points out overmedicalization as a serious problem in modern society and warns that in developed countries, physician-prescribed drugs are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. According to him, doctors tend to overtrust their prescriptions based on uncertain diagnostic results. He criticizes that prescriptions are made focusing more on test records than patient complaints, following routine patterns. His claims are somewhat radical, as he was expelled from the research institute he founded after revealing the risks of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2018. He also argues that mammography creates unnecessary breast cancer patients and that the test is unnecessary. (Written by Peter Gotzsche · Gongjon)

◆Words of Octavia Butler = This is an interview collection of Octavia Butler, who gained attention for works blending SF imagination with issues of race, gender, environment, politics, and religion. It covers her writing life. It introduces the background of works that opened new horizons in SF, such as “Kindred,” which depicts the life of a Black woman struggling to survive slavery by time traveling to before the Civil War; “Wild Seed,” set against 17th-century African slave trade, dealing with attempts to crossbreed and improve humans; and “Fable,” portraying a dystopian world reflecting discrimination and hatred arising from climate change and class society. It also shares personal stories expressing discomfort with the label ‘Black female SF writer’ attached to her. (Written by Octavia Butler · Maumsanchaek)

◆Everyday Archaeology, My Solo Trip to Namhansanseong = This is a historical travel essay to Namhansanseong, comparing Goryeo at the time of the 1019 Battle of Gwiju and Joseon at the time of the 1636 Byeongjahoran invasion. It presents a unique storytelling by overlapping Namhansanseong, the site of the humiliating Byeongjahoran, with King Hyeonjong, who led Goryeo to victory in the Goryeo-Khitan War. Through this, it examines the difference between defeated and victorious histories, reflects on why leaders are important, and considers the solutions we must choose in moments of crisis. The journey starts at Samjeondo Monument near Lotte Tower and continues to the Haenggung, South Gate, Suwojangdae, and West Gate of Namhansanseong. The process of creating the Samjeondo Monument, a symbol of humiliation, is easily explained through historical records. (Written by Hwang Yoon · Chaek Ilneun Goyangi)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.