The stories behind their books

“My mom bought it for me.”

“I came across the author’s book Why Are We Like This? at a bookstore. Through that book, I discovered the author, learned about love, and received a lot of comfort.”

“Financial security creates creative freedom.”

““They say that there are five languages of love: ‘words of affirmation,’ ‘quality time,’ ‘gifts,’ ‘acts of service,’ and ‘physical touch.’””

“Three years ago, I was given a book called *Anything Can Be Inspiration* as a gift. It’s also an essay, but it inspires you in a really impactful way. We work in a profession where we need to find inspiration, you know. So it helped me a lot, and it’s for people who are marketers.”

““The Temperature of Language” is a book I always keep close and read whenever I’m having a hard time. The title itself felt warm and drew me in. So I read it whenever I have a moment. It gives me a sense of stability whenever I feel worn out.”

“The scenes where Tsuchida, a bookstore clerk, delivers monologues about impressions he has formed while watching customers, family members, and others are striking.”

“I keep reaching for this book.”

“Seongju speaks English so naturally. It’s not as if he learned it; it’s more like he’s always been good at it. And the fact that he kindly shares all his secrets like this—there’s no reason not to try following his example!”

“#Coloring”

“I became a fan after reading The Fruit of My Woman.”

“You know, I was like that too. It made me reflect on whether I might have been that way, and in that respect it gave me some confidence that I’m still young.”

“Even the small, uneventful days without any big events must be one of countless foreshadowings in the movie of life.”

“🐶 It's a book called A Good Day Will Surely Come! I read it really quickly... I've read two books this year... That's a first 🐶 But!! It's kind of!! a positive book?!? 🐶 When I read it, I feel like my personality and way of thinking are similar to mine, so I relate to it so much that I stop reading 😄😄”

“What I would recommend to you is The Catcher in the Rye.”

““Finally😭 finished reading””

“I also ordered Chinese House, the previous work by Quiet Malgan, right away, and am reading it now.”

“I used to read a lot. If I become interested in a movie, I look for the original work. The one I remember most is Pride and Prejudice. To be honest, the story was a little difficult, but I found the process of understanding it interesting.”

“It’s a book called My Pinky Son. I wrote a recommendation for it because of my longstanding connection with Hong Won-gi, who has the rare disease progeria.”

“카뮈의 <이방인>을 재미있게 읽었어요.”

“As I read this book and worked through the problems, I don’t think “really good” is enough to describe it.”

“Of course, you need to have practiced enough, and you also need to be fully prepared in terms of how you look onstage. But what matters most is believing in yourself and enjoying the stage.”

“I didn't start writing because of any particular occasion. I gathered the things I had jotted down—fleeting thoughts, like entries in a diary—and they came to be a book.”

“This dog-food book is, of course, also a book I wrote to repay dogs for the happiness I’ve received as a dog owner. I think it’s especially a book for people who have lots of dogs, but actually, I wrote it in a fairly conventional format.”

“Something you absolutely must not miss”

“When I feel that my heart is short on kindling, the many thoughts and experiences that came to mind while reading this book rekindle a fire in my heart. A mysterious, time-machine-like book that took me back to happy, passionate moments.”

“I have read the manga since I was little, so its characters have influenced me.”

“I went to a bookstore, bought the book, and read it. It was written by an 89-year-old, and says not to put too much emphasis on whether someone is old or young.”

“Wouldn’t it be good to do something like “So What”? With something like this, it doesn’t have to be about this subject; it could be about something else too.”

“I bought those three books by myself.”

“This is a mystery novel I read recently.”

“Managing your mood means managing your life.”

““I have lived in Korea for four years and have read many Korean literary works in English. Each time, I felt, ‘Ah, this is a translation.’ But I was surprised that the two works released this time were written in such excellent English. I think the level is higher than the English I use. (Laughs.)””

“I had never taken photos wearing lingerie before. Since this is my first time trying it, I hope everyone will pay close attention to the photos of me wearing lingerie.”

“I remember being captivated by Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea when I read it as a kid.”

“Tongue Fu! is a book I've read several times.”

“Perhaps it means that you shouldn’t worry so much about other people’s opinions and should live at ease. I think they want me to know that even if I live according to my own opinions, the world won’t change all that much.”

“The Three Kingdoms story seen from Cao Cao’s perspective—that’s what’s unusual about it, and it’s interesting.”

“Because I never even imagined that I would publish a book, I feel more fulfilled than I did when releasing an album.”

“It’ll be a happy ending anyway”

“A book that gave me a lot of courage.”

“It’s kind of giving me chills, but when I read this first sentence, I realized I’m the one who became Spencer as Holfield grew up.”

““I also read a book called ‘Moss Forest.’””

“This book is so good ❤️❤️”

“A considerate gene.”

“A little arboretum breathing in the palm of my hand”

““The first book that made me cry while reading was Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do.””

“I think I've read these three books several times: The Lighthouse Keeper, You Too Are a Sky Lily, and Yeontan-gil.”

“There was a time when writing by people whose thoughts were completely different from mine felt refreshing. But as time goes by, writing by people who think much like me—and writing that awakens in me the small feelings and reflections of everyday life that I might otherwise pass by when I'm busy—resonates with me more and more. In that sense, Kang Se-hyung's *I'm Still a Long Way from Becoming an Adult* is not just her story. It is the diary of “us,” which we failed to write down because we kept putting it off and giving in to laziness, making one excuse after another.”

““I enjoyed reading the novel Coffee Prince, 1st Shop.””

“The Courage to Be Disliked.”

“A time when I looked back on my own capacity for empathy, wondering whether I had been viewing socially disadvantaged people through a biased lens all this time.”

“After reading this book, my image of The Great Library changed a little.”

“Ah, is that it?”

““Thrillers are the best airplane reads and this one is an all-time fave when I need a little escape from reality. I am personally addicted to stories about people who will go wild lengths to get what they want.””

“I read *At the Edge, But I Haven’t Fallen Yet*! It’s divided into various topics, so I enjoyed reading it, and it warmed my heart. It’s a book that really helps you regroup. Now let’s get moving!”

“Biases block the path to healing and change. To address the root of the problem, we must begin with affirmation through prevention and education, not law and punishment.”

“I hope that through this book, readers can truly empathize with the dangers of drugs and focus on healing.”

“I am trying to convey a message of prevention and healing through music. I hope this book will also create a peaceful world where you do not doubt yourself at the end of a day, just like after a test.”

“I’ve been active for about 13 years. I’ve worked with SHINee, pursued solo activities as Taemin, and also worked on a new project with SuperM. I thought I’d like to slightly change the familiar world I’ve experienced and built up so far, and show you a new side of myself.”

“Shall I recommend Pride and Prejudice?”

“I immediately bought and read the translated original novel.”

“I like the scene where the protagonist is standing in first place among the other aliens.”

“As I was writing this book...”

“I’d read a book called *The Secret* before, too, and it was similar to the law of attraction described in it...”

“The last book I read was in middle school—Life at Nine?”

“Just as I have put into the book the hope that the fleeting emotions I felt in each moment might offer comfort and strength, even if only for a single moment, to someone who picks it up, I want to create a time when we can share empathy and communicate not as writer and reader, but as people.”

““I think writing is a journey of refining, one by one, the countless thoughts in your mind. I hope this book motivates you on your own journey, too.””

“Ah, recently, for the first time in my life, I closed a book while reading and cried. I sobbed.”

“Dad, you watched over my incredibly demanding training and supported me all along—what a thoughtful dad! I’ll keep the “empty jar theory” you told me so often engraved in my heart, and keep trying to fill it with clear water and fragrant oil. You can do it too, Dad!”

“It's called 'The Big Picture' by Douglas Kennedy.”

“I read this in middle school... or high school.”

“It's very fun and provoking.”

“I read almost every book he wrote. I like this one the most among all.”

“Before my debut, I read Han Kang’s novel The White Book and was deeply moved. In particular, the line “Even if I am sullied, I will pass on only the white things” resonated deeply with me, and I chose the stage name “Heen (HYNN)” because of it.”

“I think I read it when I was about six, starting around 11 a.m.”

“In particular, the poetry collection *Love as if You Have Never Been Hurt* left a deep impression on me.”

“I recommend “Holding Hands in Midsummer,” which is good for a light summer read.”

“You have to put down deep roots so that you can stand more firmly as you grow.”

“It’s an era for people like him.”

“Encyclopedia of Strange Diseases.”

“Paulo Coelho once said, “Travel alone or with your wife.” To me, it sounded like, “Travel alone.””

“I read *The Art of Wandering*.”

“It’s a name taken from a character in the webtoon *Tower of God*. I was so gentle-natured, so the CEO gave me the name to make me tougher.”

“I hope many musicians studying composition don’t read this book. Let me be the only one!”

“The book I always recommend to SWITH as my all-time favorite is Hector and the Search for Happiness (François Lelord).”

“I really hope you’ll read this work.”

“I also recommend <Happiness Doesn't Come Alone> and Sister Lee Hae-in’s essay book <Just Cry When Things Are Hard>.”

“I wanted to watch the movie Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight, but I didn’t get to. Then I happened to find the original novel at a bookstore and started reading it. I thought the novel was interesting too, so I’ve been reading a few books.”

“They say one person’s life becomes a landscape for someone else. To EXO-L (EXO’s official fan club), I’ll continue to show you many wonderful sides of myself. Thank you. I love you.”

“Finding this book was a great stroke of luck. It helped me understand fans a little better and made me want to become a better version of myself. I too want to hold on to the precious feeling of admiring someone.”

“I should read books diligently and live diligently!!”

“This is exactly the book I want to find. It’s about the number 88 bus.”

“If I were good at English too, I would have read it that way.”

“It contains ways for creators to express how they communicate with the public and inspire empathy, as well as methods for finding inspiration.”

“After reading that book, my worldview changed.”

“I've been really enjoying Alain de Botton's book The Sorrow That Brings Joy lately.”

“I brought a book, an iPad, and headphones with me, you know? Once I finish eating, I’m going to read a book. I’m going to read while listening to music.”

“I brought “20th Century Boys,” which I’ve really enjoyed reading recently. It’s so good. I have the complete series.”

“There are so many slim people in the broadcasting industry. It seems that being skinny has become a measure of popularity. Being surrounded by so many thin people, I find myself worrying about my weight every day.”

“I really recommend 0 to people like that.”

“So I really, really recommend reading it.”

“The book I wrote, ‘Girl Group Yoga,’ is a book that even beginners can easily follow.”

“It was a book called The Art of Success through Self-Control.”

“I thought about what would be interesting and worth watching all the way through. It’s about a girl who’s a born idol but is actually hiding a huge secret, and makes it into the underground scene…”

“A Thousand Years of Love, Father.”

“I read a memoir recently called Everything I Know About Love where the author pursues romantic love her whole life, only to realize something profound in the end: She had always been surrounded by amazing friends, and always been loved, and always gave love—that she’d been experiencing it all along, and that love had always been there by her side. When I read that, I kept thinking about the other members of the group. When I think about the future together with them, I feel like I could end up thinking something similar to the author. Being with them has made me learn to appreciate friendship even more.”

“And maybe that’s essentially what love is—learning to be kind through friendship, then practicing and showing it, like the book says.”

“The book I’m reading is There Is No Such Thing as Nothing Now. I get a lot of comfort from it, and I’m learning how to think differently.”

“A book? Ah, but I haven’t finished reading everything yet... I’m still in the midst of reading it... Guns, Germs, and Steel... It’s sort of like a history book~”

“I really, really recommend this poetry book”

““It read like a series such as Gilmore Girls.””

“The book I read recently is Kim Young-ha’s <Two People>. I love Kim Young-ha’s short stories, which let me experience rich emotions even amid the hectic pace of everyday life.”

“I was impressed by reading *Illionaire Life*, written by my senior, Dok2.”

“It felt new to imagine the personalities and ways of speaking of the characters in the book.”

“While reading that book called Tools of Titans”

“Perhaps the process of experiencing contradictions firsthand and making choices ultimately enriches a person’s life. I, too, want to live while gradually expanding the breadth of my life.”

“I've been reading Norwegian Wood lately. I've almost finished it.”

“This is my first book report! I’m a man who keeps his promises.”

““When I ask you an awkward question, you know? (Announcer Kim Ju-woo) smiles and politely turns me down.””

“A book that comes to me when I make time to read, even for just five minutes, because I want to clear my mind and feel happy.”

“I brought it because I wanted to share it with you all.”

“I love the story, too,”

“I sympathize with the fox, waiting for the Little Prince [to express his desire for friendship.] When it comes to relationships, I usually take time to observe and wait for the other person [to express their feelings] first.”

“Living in a different environment [is] like living on a different planet,”

“I have a larger heart in understanding the difference between others than I had before.”

“I liked Raymond Carver’s distinctive dry style more than the content. His writing was understated yet conveyed emotion, and never felt excessive—that approach really stood out to me. Maybe it caught my eye even more because it resembled the style I wanted to write in when I was young.”

“I ended up making an effort to get away from the media world a bit.”

“After reading this book, I thought I wanted everyone to find their own happiness and live at their own pace. We can run, but we can also walk or crawl. Everyone has a different way of living, so this book made me realize that we should respect and be considerate of one another. It's a science fiction novel, but its warm, sensitive expressions touch your heart, so anyone should be able to read it without difficulty.”

“When I come across a passage I like while reading, I take a photo of it on my phone.”

“To become better, we willingly became worse.”

“I’ll definitely finish reading Eragon!!”

“I got interested while reading Small Things Like These, so I finished Foster and am drinking coffee now.”

“I definitely recommend reading it as a book, too.”

“Writing a book had been one of my New Year’s plans since I was young. In 2014, I felt I had to do it.”

“After that, I started seeking out and reading Murakami’s major works, such as *Dance Dance Dance* and *Kafka on the Shore*.”

“I’ve been interested in investing lately, but I can’t afford to invest carelessly.”

“This song was inspired by Anne of Green Gables, a classic masterpiece and the core of our Craze Angel universe.”

“After finding the answer in the Bible, I became able to answer without hesitation when asked, “Why do you live?” That answer became the anchor of my life and the source of my passion. (Omitted) I earnestly hope this book can give a clear reason to live to someone who feels empty, lonely, isolated, anxious, afraid, or depressed—and, above all, to someone who is thinking of giving up on life (p. 10).”

“I was surprised by the content, which seemed to look into the joys and sorrows I experienced while promoting as a member of H.O.T.”

“Since it was a book that prominently covered stories about Italy, the birthplace of poisoning, I brought it along on my business trip to Italy and read it twice during the journey.”

““Hatrick” is actually inspired by The Great Gatsby, which I was reading while trying to improve my SD reading scores.”

“You might think that a story about losing someone precious and getting the chance to see them one last time is a familiar premise, but the stories and heartfelt longing of each character will move you. I especially want to recommend this book to anyone who misses someone, or who wants to make up with someone after a fight but is hesitating. I hope you don’t lose someone precious in a moment of impulsive emotion and regret it later.”

“Excuse me Jungkook has bought a copy of Crying in H Mart!!!!!”

“There’s a diary entry in which she talks about hope, and rereading that passage while working on this album, “Brilliant,” moved me deeply.”

“I wrote the book thinking that I hoped it might give someone strength.”

“Everyone, love one another~”

“This is documenting us, so I want to talk about everything.”

“It’s about how she became a star when she was young and what life as an actor was like; it’s a really sad story.”

“I underlined it because I really related to this description. When I have some kind of realization or feel really happy, I feel the same way: “Ah, this is what it feels like.””

“I first read it in middle school at a church student council book club, and when I picked it up again recently, I ended up sobbing all over again.”

“It’s a book I really hope you’ll make time to read.”

“When I feel powerless, I mutter a little spell .. 🪄💫”

“Actually, there were many more kinds of baby food I fed Seo-a. I recorded them in a notebook or on my phone each time. They said the book shouldn’t be too thick, so I included about 20 recipes and snacks for each stage, making a total of 131 recipes.”

“Scary Stories Are the Best!”

“I don’t know much about painting, but I found the story of solving the riddle very interesting.”

“I read a poetry collection called *Forgiveness of the Sky* on a holiday. One line I wrote down was, “Would even angels know that their wings are symmetrical?” Isn’t that so cute?”

“And “Nietzsche at Forty”—it was written in a contemporary style and includes the author's interpretation, so it was worth reading.”

““I was greatly inspired while working on the album Legend.””

““There are a few rules I dislike. (…) First, rhymes are usually grouped in sets of an even number, and one criterion is that the two words shouldn’t both be nouns. I also tend to dislike rhymes like ‘did something, would do something, did something? would do something?’ On the other hand, the rhymes I consider best follow all these criteria, while still making the content clear in your mind just from reading the rhymes. For example, there might be 16 bars of lyrics, but even reading only the rhymes should bring the content to mind. (…) (In the hook of ‘Jakdu,’) ‘Jakdu’ and ‘ssakduk’ rhyme, but one is a noun and the other is an onomatopoeic word. The rhyme works, their parts of speech are different, and the meaning makes sense. That’s what I think makes a good rhyme. _p.354””

“Two people, each with their own wounds, meet and make each other's everyday lives feel okay. To me, you're that kind of friend.”

“Another one is a book called *All the Time in the World*. These days, everything moves so fast, and it’s hard to imagine life without videos like Shorts, right? This book is about a life of slow accumulation, in connection with quantum mechanics, and offers various perspectives on letting time rest, bending it, and stretching it. It’s a good read for people who want to create some breathing room in their lives.”

“When I went to the bookstore, there was even a book titled *I Almost Lived Diligently*. Everyone's worn out, I guess.”

“the wings of kirin”

“I want to reread Norwegian Wood. I read it so long ago that I don't remember it.”

“The first Korean poetry collection I read when I was first learning Korean was *You Sometimes Think of Me, While I Sometimes Think of Something Else*.”

“An Ordinary Existence.”

“The book I recently enjoyed reading was Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.”

“He is such an ardent fan of Park Saeroyi that he read the entire Itaewon Class webtoon in just one full day.”

“Art is close to us. I sincerely respect CEO Kim Do-hoon, who takes it and creates another kind of art. I think this book, too, is a “work” made from another part of Kim Do-hoon’s blood.”

“There are times when my self-esteem hits rock bottom and my sense of self wavers. People around me say you need to have a hobby to relieve stress, but I haven't found one yet. So whenever I'm having a hard time, I read books like “Look at This Poem” and “Still, I Love You.” I don't read long texts very well, so I mainly look at books with lots of pictures and the words I want to hear.”

“Watching that, I resolved to make an album the way I wanted.”

“There’s a book called Kind People Win that I read recently. I really found it very relatable.”

““Watching people from all walks of life take on challenges with courage filled me with a sense of adventure!””

“After reading the book, it resonated with me so deeply that it hurt both my body and my heart.”

“But these days, I’ve been reading a book called An Unexpected Season.”

““The part I like best is when the man, who had kept his heart closed off, opens up to the woman and says, ‘Stay with me tonight, Clara.’ Even in the film based on the novel, that scene is the best.””

“I was impressed by that and named it Dongihon.”

“Ah, yes, yes, and then the one with three holes cut in a box, with something inside it, and things like that.”

“I bought a book, not a poetry collection. <Quiet Excitement>. It's a book about what happened during the author's three-month trip to Europe. Even the really trivial things are written down, and they're all so cute.”

“We also read it very carefully like this. Right before it came out, we were really meticulous about the parts that were wrong...”

“Lyrics are different from poetry, so it’s difficult to use words that are too unfamiliar, and one shouldn’t use expressions that are excessively obscure either. Since they need to come easily to the ear when heard, everyday words that anyone might use are the main ingredient. Lyrics that flamboyantly reveal the lyricist’s individuality and philosophy are, rather, awkward and quickly grow tiresome, making it a rather peculiar genre. Even so, some lyrics have a power that’s hard to explain: one day, you happen to hear them and burst into tears, or they only truly find their way into your heart after many years. Where does that power come from? Reading this book, I finally realize the power of ordinary words. This perspective, which pinpoints the “time lag” in discordant relationships, the aggression contained in the phrase “I don’t understand,” the subtle syllables of “radiant,” and the similar direction and differences of “anger” and “courage,” is intellectual yet kind. I think I now understand a little why the lyrics Kim Eana creates so precisely soothe the hearts of so many people. The way we use and handle words is ultimately connected to the way we live, too, and as I close the book, I find that I have come to genuinely like this sensitive and honest person.”

““The love and psychology between men and women in many different situations are captured like a movie.””

“I also read poet Kim Seung-il’s *Prometheus*. Poet Kim Seung-il’s poems were very difficult, but I was shocked in many ways.”

““My time is musical notes; I’m making notes day by day. I find myself thinking, ‘I hope that on the day the piece is complete, I’ll be able to sing it with a smile.’” Is that the kind of meaning that comes to mind?”

“I decided to publish a book to share the happiness of cooking for myself.”

“It’s called ‘Übermensch’—advice you need for living? That’s the sort of thing it is. I haven’t finished reading it yet either. It has content similar to the ‘values’ I mentioned earlier. I haven’t even read quite half, but it was such a good book that I’d like to recommend it! And it’s not thick. You know how the book Cosmos is, like, this big, hahaha. I think it’s good to carry around and read. I think it was in the car...”

“In the early hours of Friday, I finished reading A Little Life.”

“Whenever that happens, I reread it, and perhaps because my own experiences are added to it, I feel that what moves me changes with age.”

““A book Choi Ja recommended to me; it was written based on research on aging.””

“I started reading so that I could live as an ordinary person. I’m reading to find out what I want to become and what I need to do from now on.”

“He wrote poems that brought me great comfort.”

“It feels as though the pieces of Motown I already knew are falling into place.”

““Reading is the foundation of music creation.””

“I couldn't wait for the next film, so I finished reading it in the car while traveling.”

“저 절창이라는 책을 사봤는데 재밌는 거 같아요!!”

“It was in the car, so I happened to read it, and it’s a poem that really lifts your spirits! Thanks to it, my day is off to an enjoyable start. I recommended it to the members too, and everyone’s chuckling.”

“How wonderful it must have been”

“I started reading *Darkness at Noon* the day before yesterday.”

“Most recently, I read a book called Almond that a friend gave me.”

““At the time, the bestseller was The Courage to Be Disliked. I came out with a lot of courage to be disliked.””

“The Little Prince”