[Books of the Week] The Power to Win People: Human Competence and More

The Generation for Whom Marriage Is an Option

"The Generation for Whom Marriage Is an Option" traces the lives of women over the past half-century to explain why today’s younger generation has reached the point where “career is essential, marriage is optional.” The authors divide those born between 1955 and 1996 into four generations, and after analyzing interviews and data, they conclude that while career interruptions have decreased, marriage is no longer seen as the default path.

This book interprets the low birth rate not simply as a shift in values, but as the outcome of a rational decision made by young people after witnessing the lives of their parents and older generations. Accordingly, the authors argue that the solution should not focus on changing individual perceptions, but on improving the social structure so that young people can choose marriage and childbirth if they wish. They identify “time,” “income,” and “togetherness” as key conditions, and see the period around 2030 as the final golden window for reversing the demographic trend. (Written by Min Sejin and Shin Jaeun｜Saenggaguihim)

The Winner’s Curse

"The Winner’s Curse" is a classic in behavioral economics, showing how frequently people act irrationally in the marketplace. In this newly revised edition, Richard Thaler and Alex Imas revisit more than three decades of empirical research to ask whether the old insights still hold true in today’s reality. What once seemed like minor experimental errors in judgment now appear in larger and more complex forms across financial markets, platforms, investment, and everyday consumption, as the book calmly explores.

The book’s strength lies in connecting the concepts of behavioral economics to the realities of today’s markets, rather than confining them to past theories. People remain sensitive to losses, rely on familiar choices, and are easily swayed by overconfidence and herd behavior. Although markets have become more sophisticated, human judgment within them has not changed much. Ultimately, "The Winner’s Curse" not only explains how markets function, but also prompts readers to reflect on the fragile human mind that drives those markets. (Written by Richard Thaler and Alex Imas, translated by Lim Kyungeun｜Leadersbook)

The Power to Win People: Human Competence

"The Power to Win People: Human Competence" views relationships not as a matter of technique or strategy, but as a force rooted in a person’s depth and attitude. In an era where relationships can be shaken by a single word and connections have become easier but trust more elusive, author Hiroshi Tasaka argues that what ultimately changes the course of life is not efficiency, but the power to leave a lasting impact on others. The underlying question is that while one can achieve results alone, many moments in life are shaped by whom we associate with and the nature of those relationships.

The author asks why some people naturally attract others, while others, despite their abilities, end up isolated. The concept that explains this difference is "human competence." This refers not to innate charm or sociability, but to a strength cultivated through self-reflection and personal growth. Rather than listing ways to build relationships, this book quietly examines the inner qualities and attitudes that build trust. It reminds us that the force that moves not only individual lives but also organizations and communities ultimately comes from people themselves. (Written by Hiroshi Tasaka, translated by Jang Eunju｜Book Pleasure)

The Twelve Faces of Money

The numbers displayed on a smartphone screen are no longer just information. In an age when fluctuations in stock prices, changes in account balances, or even a single credit card alert can sway our emotions, money has become a force that influences not only transactions, but also feelings, relationships, and the direction of our lives. "The Twelve Faces of Money" begins at this very point. Rather than focusing on how much wealth to accumulate or how to grow it, the book first asks how we perceive money and what we rely on to trust it. Jointly authored by an economist with a long career at the Bank of Korea, a financial practitioner, and an engineer with a humanistic perspective, this inquiry encourages readers to see money not merely as paper and numbers, but as a social mechanism entangled with trust, memory, desire, and anxiety.

The book’s appeal lies in its ability to reveal the essence of money without resorting to complicated concepts. Drawing on scenes from "The Lord of the Rings" with Gollum, the tattoos from "Memento," and "The Merchant of Venice," as well as financial crises, it convincingly shows how money can both liberate and bind people, connect and sometimes ruin relationships. In the end, the lingering question is clear: Does money serve as a protective fence for my life, or has it unconsciously become the standard by which I measure my life? Rather than offering tips for financial investment, "The Twelve Faces of Money" invites readers to reflect slowly on their attitude toward money and how to live alongside it, without being dominated by numbers. (Written by Ryu Sangcheol, Park Jongho, and Jung Taegwan | Hangilsa)

I'm Back! : Silicon Valley, Washington D.C., and Texas

There may be more U.S. stock investors than ever, but it is still challenging to grasp the local atmosphere and nuances that truly inform investment decisions. Although disclosures and news abound, figures alone cannot convey the temperature of an industry, the direction of policy, or the mood onsite at companies. This book starts from that gap. Based on first-hand observations and experiences gathered by analysts from Toss Securities Research Center as they traveled across the United States in 2024 and 2025, it vividly unpacks the key trends driving the U.S. stock market. Rather than offering a desk-bound report, it is closer to a record that follows real signs of change observed on the ground, with the aim of mapping the investment landscape.

The journey traverses Silicon Valley, Washington D.C., and Texas. In Silicon Valley, the focus is on competition in AI, software, and autonomous driving technologies. In Washington D.C., the book examines how shifts in U.S.-China policy and strategy under a potential second Trump administration could impact industries. In Texas, it looks at emerging industries such as aerospace and robotics. Instead of repeating why U.S. stocks are important, the book is more intent on showing what is actually changing in America right now. For readers just beginning their investment journey, it offers insight into market trends; for those already observing the market, it provides clues that go beyond the numbers. (Written by Toss Securities Research Center | Business Books)

To Live Is Sorrow

While Park Kyungni is remembered as a writer who built grand narratives in the history of Korean literature, the collection "To Live Is Sorrow" offers a closer, more personal voice behind that name. Marking the 100th anniversary of her birth, this volume presents 47 previously unpublished poems, which reveal Park’s perspectives on the times and history, family and loss, nature and life, in a distinctly intimate and profound tone. The collection includes lines written as if she were putting her life in order, reflections on the boredom and tranquility of everyday life in Wonju, memories of passing acquaintances, and late regrets. The creative energy that propelled her epic novel "Land (Toji)" emerges in these poems in a more concentrated, bare form of language.

What stands out most is the unadorned texture of her words. Park’s distinctive use of dialect and colloquial language, along with rhythms that flow like quiet breaths, linger long after, without exaggerating life’s pain and loneliness. Poems like “Eating Alone” evoke a piercing sense of aging and solitude, while “Hometown Harbor” and “Literature” capture the trembling of both vanishing landscapes and human existence. Some handwritten manuscripts are also included, allowing readers to feel more intimately the very moment a line was born. (Written by Park Kyungni | Dasan Books)

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