Recent Books

Humble Men Are Happy Even at the Sight of Each Other

Shin Kyong-rim; Donghwa Publishing: 236 pp. 11,000 won

Shin Kyong-rim stands tall among Korea's modern poets. One of the most influential poets in the realm of grassroots realism, he has immersed himself in the world of the working class and farmers ― Shin himself was a farmer. In the early 1970s when the country was under authoritarian rule, his first collection ``Nongmu'' (Farmers' Dance) had a profound impact on Korean literature.

At the age of 74, he now unveils a collection of autobiographical essays. In this book spruced up with some drawings, he recalls his childhood and relations he constructed with other poets and novelists.

Full of wit and hearty episodes, the book allows readers to have a rare peek into the relationships he shared with many literary figures, including the late novelist Lee Moon-koo. Just like the title of the book, Lee must have been one of the friends that made the author happy by just being together in the ``good old days.''

-CHO JAE-HYON

Public Relations in Asia Pacific

Mary M. Devereux and Anne Peirson-Smith; Wiley: 256 pp., $29.95

This is a new handbook for public relations professionals authored by two of Asia's top experts in the field ― Mary Devereux and Anne Peirson-Smith ― who have over 20 years of experience.

The book is a must-read for PR specialists and corporate executives who need a grasp of the sector in the context of Asia to manage it effectively across the region.

Based on their professional and academic experience, the writers make an authoritative and balanced analysis of the core practices of public relations in the Asia Pacific region.

Case studies and examples support the ideas of each chapter to bring the strategic and tactical practices of public relations into sharp focus. Also, the authors have sought expert insights from experienced communication professionals, who also have their views to share.

This book will be helpful for students who want to become better acquainted with the principles and practices of public relations and professionals requiring the latest insights into industry trends in the region for personal development purposes.

-Chung Ah-young

Our Country: Picturesque Travel Spots

Photos & Prose by Park Gang-seop; Culturegraphics: 336 pp., 13,800 won

The author, a journalist specializing in tourism, has produced a guide to 32 beautiful destinations around South Korea.

Having traveled to different corners of the Peninsula on a weekly basis for nearly a decade, Park introduces helpful itineraries for short, one-to-two-day trips. Unlike other travel books featuring crowded pages of facts and figures, ``Our Country'' reads like a poetic photo essay while still offering useful tips, such as timetables and not-to-miss local dishes.

The book seethes with the beauty of earth, wind and water, and the few photos featuring people emphasize, like traditional Asian paintings, the smallness of man in relation to nature.

The book is divided into four seasons and suggests optimal times and places for travel: cherry blossom-filled Hwagaecheon in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province; cobalt blue U-do in Jeju Island; fall foliage-covered Mt. Cheongryang, Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province, where the hit documentary ``Old Partner'' was filmed; and the peaceful snow-capped pine forest in Anmyeonsong, Taean, South Chungcheong Province, which retains its beauty despite having been relentlessly deforested during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45).

-Lee Hyo-won

`Know It All' Manual

Kim Yong-seok; Hongik Books: 312 pp., 12,000 won

For those who want to show off their knowledge of some of the most famous books in the world, the ```Know It All' Manual'' is a must.

Written by the head of Ddanzi Ilbo, an Internet daily, Kim Yong-seok, the book offers handy abstracts of timeless classics, from the storyline, characters and even the moral of the tales. It may seem like cheating to read such a book that can easily transform you into a book expert, but the ``Manual'' is fun and actually very useful, even for those who have already read the classics.

``Gulliver's Travels'' was once known to be a children's tale here, but it's actually a serious book for adults, which is also something to keep in mind when talking about it. The book offers a satirical view of the state of European government and the problem of corruption among men, among others, and reminds that this is what Gulliver's Travels is about, not the adventurous voyages to Lilliput and Laputa.

Of course, reading the actual book may be a better idea for some, but the ``Manual'' may keep readers interested in both long and difficult books that are still waiting to be noticed on bookshelves.

-Han Sang-hee

[출처 : 코리아타임스]