[This Week's Books] "In the Age of Women, Men Wear Makeup" and More

In the Age of Women, Men Wear Makeup

This is a revised edition of a book originally published in 2003 by Choi Jaecheon, a distinguished professor at Ewha Womans University. The only change in the title is a single particle, from "Men Also" to "Men." Twenty years ago, this book sharply criticized the male-dominated ideology of Korean society, arguing that such a system is neither natural nor scientific. It also influenced the abolition of the family-head system (Hojuje), which was discontinued on January 1, 2008, following a revision of the Civil Act in March 2005. The new edition includes a special roundtable discussion featuring women's studies scholar Jung Heejin, anthropologist Park Hansun, and economist Lee Chulhee. (Written by Choi Jaecheon / Ieum)

Hilton Speaks

This is a chronicle of the Hilton Hotel located on Namsan in Seoul. The Hilton Hotel opened in 1983 and ceased operations on December 31, 2022, accompanying Korea through four decades of turbulent modern history. Until 1980, many luxury hotels in Seoul were designed by Japanese architects. The Hilton, however, broke away from this trend, as it was designed by Kim Jongseong, one of the first-generation Korean architects. During the financial crisis in 1999, Daewoo Group sold the Hilton Hotel to Singapore-based CDL Hotels. In 2021, domestic real estate investment firm IGIS Asset Management acquired the property and is currently pursuing a large-scale redevelopment project in the surrounding area. It is expected that only the lobby floor and pillars of the Hilton Hotel will remain. (Written by Kim Jongseong et al. / Lamp Books)

The Secret of Things That Make You Want to Buy

The author has studied consumer psychology for over 30 years, with a particular focus on the connection between the biological trait of "love" and consumption. He explains that the process by which consumers form emotional attachments to objects-the "principle" that moves the consumer's heart-can be understood through the concept of a "relationship hearth." This "relationship hearth" is characterized by anthropomorphism, connecting people, and a sense of self, which together help explain how consumers come to love products. (Written by Aaron Ahuvia / Translated by Park Seulla / RH Korea)

Camera and Walker

This is an early work by novelist Park Wansuh, who passed away in 2011. Publisher Changbi released it as part of the "First Encounter with Novels" series to mark the 13th anniversary of her passing. The story follows an aunt who is determined to raise her nephew Hooni, left behind by her brother who died during the Korean War (6·25 War). The aunt wishes for Hooni to live an ordinary life, untouched by ideology. The novel poignantly depicts the suffering of lives tormented by ideology. Illustrator Lee Ina adds to the enjoyment of reading with richly expressive character illustrations. (Written by Park Wansuh / Changbi)

Faith

This is the latest work by Murata Sayaka, who won Japan's most prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 2016 for "Convenience Store Woman." The collection features six short stories and two essays. The title story, "Faith," explores the tendency to ridicule and mock the act of believing, questioning this social trend and examining the fate of modern people who have lost the ability to believe in anything. The book asks whether faith sustains and strengthens us, and what faith means for contemporary people living in a society full of distrust. (Written by Murata Sayaka / Translated by Kim Jaewon / Eunhaengnamu)

Scenes from Lessons in Caracas

This book captures what the author saw, heard, and felt while living in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The author is particularly interested in events that occur at the intersection of different cultures. Having lived in Greece, Venezuela, and Norway, the author currently resides in Muscat, Oman. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 reflects on the chaotic situation in Venezuela after the death of Hugo Chavez and the author’s own unfamiliar impressions of Caracas. Part 2 presents a more nuanced view of Caracas as the author becomes accustomed to the city, capturing various aspects such as food culture, music, and art with a delicate perspective. (Written by Seo Jung / Nanda)

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