Looking for a book to pick up and consume as voraciously as your favorite book worm? In this series, we get to know your faves much better and deeper, starting with BTS’ J-Hope and his choice, There Are No Bad People, which made me read this title in one sitting.
I grew up in a society where productivity was measured by soul-crushing rigors such as how much I have earned to date, how many books I have read, and how many views a story has over a specific period of time. So, resting over the recent long weekend felt like I was in the middle of a long exam, looking at the clock and wondering if I answered everything right.
Truth be told, I first saw the book, There Are No Bad People In The World, during J-Hope’s YouTube Livestream last February. While we are taught to not judge based on just the surface, I found the cover endearing. But there is something about most Korean books that we all know by now: Most covers look cute, but deliver a sucker punch into your mind. True enough, There are No Bad People In The World is just a gateway to the mesmerizing world of the mundane, as told in short stories, as penned by the author Jae-hoon Won.
Anticipating it to be something that will take up much time over the extended rest period, I managed to finish the J-Hope-approved book in a few hours, but these excerpts will stay with me forever. Read on to see if it resonates with you as well. Word of the wise: Chances are, it will.
The importance of community and finding the people who get you
- “There’s actually no bad people in the world. It’s just that we can’t understand them and can’t communicate with them.” – There Are No Bad People In The World, page 17
- “Reading someone’s mind is different from reading a book – the former has the power to touch hearts.” – Morning Glory, page 127
- “We always want to get away from our family but they’re like a shadow from which we can’t escape.” Wild Flower, page 134
- “Non-verbal language matters more than empty words. A good neighborhood is where people help each other with subtle yet sincere friendliness.” – Pushing the Wheelchair, page 171
- “Isn’t hell ironically the place where angels are most needed?” – It’s Not Me Who Cuddled The Baby, It’s The Baby Who Cuddled Me, page 193
Why introspection should be one’s top priority
- “The moment you do what you want, it ironically becomes something that you can no longer do. But then you start to see what really is important.” – Poppy, page 100
- “If people start to truthfully open up, they eventually discover a path on their own.” – Wish-Granting House, page 117
- “Move forward smoothly and moderately, just like a not-so-fast bicycle allowing us to enjoy the clear view of the sky.” – The Annals of Document Airing, page 172
- “Anger disappears quite sooner than we expect. It leaves as soon as we give ourselves time to think.” – Where Does Anger Come From? – page 177
- “We learn by remembering while reminiscing teaches us a lesson.” – Medidancy in the Indian Ocean, page 201
How perseverance and agility are two of the most valuable traits in life
- “Wishes come true like in dramas, depending on how earnestly you wish for them.”- Magic Lily, page 108
- “Courage is born out of hope.” – Snowflake, page 145
- “The road always opens to those who wish to live.” – How to Cross Mapo Bridge, page 152
- “We always have to bear with something to see what we want to see.” – Red Moon, page 166
- “Let the wounds stay but you must heal.” – Buddha With a Broken Arm, page 188
As an adult trying to get to know myself all over again, as one figures at different points of life, I now am in a pursuit for answers to my life’s purpose and career. You see, I grew up reading self-help books, but I wish I read these kinds of books instead. Clearly, J-Hope was right with this choice, because it just makes the most sense now. And whatever you are going through or wherever you find yourself at, this J-Hope choice is definitely a must read.
With the work week in full swing, I find myself staring at the other Apop books on my shelf from time to time. Here, I am left wondering, which book should I pick up next? J-Hope, a little help?
There Are No Bad People In The World is available on apobooks.com.
CONTINUE READING: HOW BTS IS HELPING ME COPE WITH GRIEF AND POST CONCERT DEPRESSION IN 2021
