It was interesting to read a self-help book from the perspective of the Eastern world. Nothing earth shattering in the realm of self-care but certainly a different spin.

This South Korean self help book, although apparently incredibly popular, just wasn’t for me. First off, it really seems to be directed specifically toward South Koreans, and perhaps the Japanese as it makes a number of references to things applicable only in their culture. I don’t know anyone who spends anytime worrying about not making it to a chaebol (I didn’t even know what that was…if you are as ignorant as I, it’s one of about a dozen family controlled conglomerates that dominate South Korea’s economy. Look at how educational my reviews are! Now I will show you how to use the key to a 1987 Subaru to shotgun a beer!)

Second, the primary piece of advice? “Be yourself.” Um, thanks? Maybe that’s more revolutionary in South Korea, I don’t know.

Third, most of the rest of the advice is on the same level, stuff an eight grader could come up with if he or she was writing a self help term paper: don’t be so focused on materialism, don’t engage in gossip, etc. The author includes no helpful hints on how actually accomplish these worthy goals, however, so I’m still desperately lusting after $400 jeans that will make my ass look like J.Lo’s.

Oh, and there was one more story about cooking a baby than I expected, which was none.