[This Week's Books] 'Competitive Education Is Barbarism' and More

Competitive Education is Barbaric

Professor Kim Nuri of the German Language Department at Chung-Ang University uncovers the harsh reality of Korea's competitive education system and proposes solutions to address its problems. Professor Kim argues that to save our unhappy children, the paradigm of education must shift from competition to solidarity, from ability to dignity, and from knowledge to contemplation. She emphasizes that competitive education is making our society sick, and that children must feel happiness during their school years in order to enjoy a happy life as adults and to work for the happiness of others. (Written by Kim Nuri / Haenaem)

Ducks: Two Years in the Land of Money and Oil, the Oil Sands

A graphic novel by a famous Canadian cartoonist. It captures the two years the author spent at an oil sands mining site in Alberta before gaining fame as a cartoonist. At that time, the author went to the oil sands site to repay student loans. She was the only woman among about 50 site workers. The story likens the site workers to ducks. It won the Eisner Award, known as the Academy Award of the American comics industry, for Best Graphic Memoir and Best Writer, and was selected as a book of the year by The New York Times, Time, and The New Yorker. (Written by Kate Beaton / Translated by Kim Heejin / Gimyeongsa)

Advertising the World

Written by a copywriter who worked in the domestic advertising industry for 33 years. The author especially worked at the independent advertising agency Wellcom for 16 years, serving as its CEO. He was uncomfortable with the notion that advertising is merely a brief flash that hooks consumers or exaggerates products, and instead strove to compete with messages that leave a lasting impression rather than momentary fascination. The book contains stories about the life of a copywriter who constantly races against time in a grueling lifestyle. It also discusses the people he met while working as a copywriter and the poetry, literature, films, and music that inspired him. (Written by Yoo Jesang / Gipeunsaem)

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