New Books: From Genghis Khan to Timur and More

From Genghis Khan to Timur

Peter Jackson, published by Chaekgwahamkke

Peter Jackson, emeritus professor at Keele University in the UK and a world-renowned authority on medieval Eurasian history, analyzes the causes behind the collapse of the Mongol Empire after Genghis Khan's death and traces how Timur established his empire amid the ensuing chaos. Timur was the conqueror who seized hegemony by claiming to restore the Genghisid order during the power vacuum following Genghis Khan's death. Through rigorous analysis of historical sources and critical examination, the author reconstructs a multidimensional portrait of Timur, who had been known primarily as a brutal conqueror. The book also sheds new light on how Timur highlighted similarities between himself and Genghis Khan while integrating Islamic traditions as a Muslim. 58,000 won.

The Winner's Curse

Richard Thaler and Alex Imas, published by Leaders Book

"The Winner's Curse," the landmark work by Richard Thaler that announced the birth of behavioral economics and overturned the premises of modern economics, returns in a fully revised edition 33 years after its original publication. Thaler, a towering figure in behavioral economics, and Alex Imas, a leading next-generation researcher, compile over 30 years of data to connect the past, present, and future of behavioral economics. The revised edition incorporates developments from the past three decades, including the NFL draft where hundreds of billions of won change hands, biases among traders and homeowners, TSMC's stock price discrepancies, and the frenzy of meme stocks. 25,000 won.

Beyond Orbit

Camilla Pang, published by Pureunsoop

The author is a scientist with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. She guides readers through the scientific mindset that can help navigate an unpredictable world. The book introduces some of the most actively explored fields, including neuroscience, nuclear physics, and artificial intelligence. Through this, she reveals the scientific research process—hypothesis, proof, observation, and bias—explaining that a scientist's approach to understanding the unknown is no different from the approach to facing life itself. 19,800 won.

The Ideology of Park Chung-hee

Hwang Byung-joo, published by Dolbegae

Park Chung-hee is an unavoidable subject in South Korea. The book illuminates the 62 years from 1917 to 1979, capturing both the personal life of Park Chung-hee and crucial moments in 20th-century Korean history. It examines Park Chung-hee and his era—laden with multiple connotations from "great leader" to "ruthless dictator"—while sharply dissecting the regime's governance and ideology. Through the signifier of "Park Chung-hee," the author interprets Korean modern history, encompassing not only the Park era but also the post-Park Chung-hee period. 30,000 won.