Overall: April, a month of reading across genres
This month I read books across several genres: a novel, an essay collection, and the humanities and philosophy I usually read.
In the end I just barely managed to hit my goal of three books a month, and I also got to reconfirm which genres suit me.
There were plenty of days on my commute when I wanted to look at my phone instead, but Kokoro gets quite absorbing from the midpoint on, so it was nice that I could read it comfortably on the subway.
Even the relatively difficult books I managed to finish thanks to showing up regularly to my 'mogakchaek' meetup (a Korean reading group where people gather to each read their own book). Going forward, I think it'd be good to keep changing where I read depending on the genre.
In May, I plan to start with whichever of Sapiens, a second read of The Art of Loving, How I Learned to Understand the World, and Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? I'm drawn to first, though as always, that could change.
Factfulness
Subtitle: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World, and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
I dislike the words "fact-bombing", "fact assault", and "fact violence" (Korean slang for bludgeoning someone with facts).
That's because people who enjoy so-called fact-bombing are often just in a hurry to blame the other person based on outcomes.
And just because they're stating facts, they rationalize their rudeness as if they'd become a strict teacher.
I came across this book while thinking about that, and with a heavy word like Factfulness right there in the title, I expected it to be full of provocative content.
But as the subtitle suggests, what this book actually tells you is that the world is in better shape than you think and is steadily getting better.
That doesn't mean you should be unconditionally optimistic.
It clears away the problems we're needlessly afraid of or thinking about wrongly and shows which problems really deserve our attention, and in that respect I could see what factfulness is for.
I also liked that I could feel the warmth with which the author, Hans Rosling, looks at humanity as he tells the story.
As I learned to break through prejudice and look at the world based on facts and statistics, I was also able to put down the vague negative thoughts I'd been carrying.
I'd like to recommend this book to people who watch the news a lot and often feel negative, feeling that the world is getting worse.
The world is clearly getting better, and beyond that, there are many people working to move it in an even better direction.
Kokoro
I read Kokoro, Natsume Soseki's best-known work.
As you'd expect from a famous author's novel, just reading it painted the atmosphere and culture of modern-era Japan in my head.
The story itself is a little slow through the early and middle parts, and it rests on customs and views of women that feel very dated compared to today, which was uncomfortable at times.
But from the midpoint on, the story becomes gripping, and I could read it with relative immersion.
It isn't a hopeful story, so I didn't feel like recommending it to anyone.
I Decided to Live as Me
Don't let the people passing through your life hurt you
I read this book (Korean book, Naneun naro salgiro haetda) when I was young, but yesterday I pulled it out again and started reading, and the pages flew by, so I finished it quickly.
Reading it after experiencing working life definitely felt different. The good news is that my sense of who 'I' am is firmer than when I first read this book.
After finishing it, my head feels clearer and my courage to try something again feels recharged.
The most appropriate question is
not "What does that person think of me?"
but "What do I think of that person?"
Thanks to those who helped with this month's reading
- The people of the 'mogakchaek' reading group, who warmly welcome this chronic latecomer every Sunday
- My company, 'Indent', for letting me spend some quiet time on Jeju Island
- 'Myself', for pulling out a book instead of my phone
