Last time, I recommended books without including any Korean authors, which was regrettable. When I listed the books that impacted my life the most, it turned out many were world bestsellers.
Today, I want to introduce books by Korean authors that make me grateful I was born in Korea. These books may not have come to mind initially, but they are books I love. If I were to be born again, choosing Korea because of these books wouldn’t seem impossible.
- The Stones of Time, by Jeon Min-hee [Read 3+ times]
- My nickname “Yurika” comes from the heroine of this novel. As a child, I admired her intelligence and cheerful charm.
- While our appearances differ, I feel my personality and approach to life have become quite similar.
- It’s hard to pinpoint the exact impact, but this novel influenced me unconsciously and warmly.
- Chronicles of Taoist Exorcism, by Lee Woo-hyuk [Read 4+ times]
- Set in a world where all religions and superstitions exist.
- It’s about heroes striving to save the world while walking the “path of righteousness,” though often ending in tragic outcomes, which was profoundly saddening.
- My outlook on life, how to handle people, hardships, and adversities, was heavily influenced by this book.
- A memorable quote shared with my team: “I truly believe that the heart can change fate.”
- Vis Ta Vie & The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate, by San Kyung [Read 3+ times]
- Discovered these novels through a recommendation on an online community, years before they were adapted into dramas.
- Both are workplace/conglomerate fantasies with similar premises: the protagonists live their lives for the second time, navigating challenges with ease.
- Vis Ta Vie emphasizes work proficiency, while The Youngest Son highlights political savvy as the key difference.
- I’ve tried almost everything depicted in these novels, from assisting a chairman to arranging meetings in Middle Eastern hotels, showing that while novels are fictional, applying their principles in real life can lead to astonishing outcomes.
- Teachings of Seino, by Seino [Read 4+ times]
- Read this book in PDF form before it was officially published, recommended by a post on Community S.
- Shocked by its content, I had it printed and distributed among my team members.
- The book compresses advice often unspoken by successful individuals into a compelling narrative, essentially teaching to “live more profoundly than blood ties.”
- Dictionary of Wealth, Volumes 1 & 2, by Huh Young-man [Read 10+ times]
- Served as a guide when I knew nothing about becoming wealthy but desired it.
- Its comic book format made it incredibly accessible, allowing me to internalize its mindset over ten readings.
- It made me realize that becoming wealthy isn’t easy; otherwise, everyone would be wealthy.
Additional Recommendations
I would like to recommend the following titles as my 6th to 11th picks, but due to space and energy constraints, I will omit detailed descriptions:
- Moonlight Sculptor, by Nam Hee-sung
- Children of OXST, by Kim Min-young
- Speak in Corporate Tongues, by Kim Beom-jun
- Misaeng, by Yoon Tae-ho
- Super-Gap, by Kwon Oh-hyun
- Trials Exist, But Not Failure, by Chung Ju-yung
