This new book by Barbara J Zitwer will inspire you to visit South Korea

When we first picked up The Korean Book of Happiness Hachette India we were halfwilling to give it a fair chance Selfhelp books give us the chills mdash they make us feel worse about our doubts bouts of hopelessness and need for emotional dependence And how could any lsquobook of happinessrsquo go beyond instructive personal problemsolvingWe are glad that we didnrsquot judge this book by its cover Our bounteous harvest of joy and the simplest life lessons mdash through reading it mdash inspires us to visit South Korea some day and keep a diary to record our tryst with han heung and jeongClose to where the author lived was Deoksugung Palace one of the five grand palaces built by the kings of Korearsquos Joseon dynastyWe before meThe author stresses on the three words mdash han heung and jeong mdash in both the introduction and conclusion And quite a few times through the course of her travelogue She explains han as a word that can be interpreted subjectively but its essence lies in acknowledging profound personal and collective suffering The Koreans believe that only through accepting pain can one aspire for betterment She urges her readers to reflect on the countryrsquos history of occupation war and separation and how it has still realised economic success Heung refers to the simple joys of life mdash reading a book enjoying a cup of tea soaking in nature playing with your dog and so on Jeong is ldquothe art of giving without expecting anything in returnrdquo The word celebrates community spirit and encourages people to enjoy their relationship with friends family and fellow countrymenBarbara J Zitwer Pic courtesyTwitterSoup for the soulFood is an essential route to knowing any place Zitwer generously ends every chapter with a delicious recipe that was shared with her by her Korean friends From beef dumplings and ginseng chicken soup to egg soy sauce rice and soybean paste stew the book has it all If you are on a date in Korea donrsquot be surprised if they ask you ldquoBap meogeosseoyordquo It inquires if a person has eaten As the author notes chicken soup is the elixir of life Koreans believe in sharing their meals with members of the community even if itrsquos with a pet They like to pause and have their food slow They also see food as an adventure and keep trying out new things Age is just a numberWell that adage might not be as true in South Korea Whether you are a woman or a senior citizen you canrsquot avoid the question ldquoHow old are yourdquo in the country Koreans tend to ask onersquos age to show them respect and address them accordingly It is also impolite to wave onersquos hands in a meeting or while talking Zitwer learnt it the hard way when her associate and interpreter Sue told her that a local publisher thought the agent was rude and would never advance their business with her Gifting among Koreans follows the ideal of reciprocity It should be a meaningful gift that can be afforded in return by the receiverChanguimun Gate is one of the eight gates of the fortress wall that surrounded the city during the Joseon dynasty Pics CourtesyWikimedia CommonsPut it in the closetThe author references that the Western pursuit of happiness is more focused on possessions whereas the Koreans seek a clutterfree life Although they have a refined taste for luxury goods they prefer their home interiors to have vacant floors They store their necessities in the closet to enjoy a serene atmosphere The authorrsquos preference in having an almost empty room in New York City was validated when she visited a hanok village and learnt about traditional Korean homes They also promote sitting on the floor for stronger core muscles and look forward to bringing the outside indoors by having more natural plants and flowers around If you are visiting South Korea remember that teadrinking in the country is always a ceremonyLog on to amazoninCost Rs 479LotusseekersPink blue and yellow mdash the attractive colours on the book cover depict lotus flowers and leaves The flower is an important symbol in the Korean culture for it births beauty despite its muddy surroundings In Buddhism lotus symbolises virtueA zest for lifeZitwerrsquos reccos if yoursquore looking for vitality in lifegtgt The Diary of Anne Frank It is one of the most remarkable books that illuminate an appreciation for life under unthinkably horrific circumstances Anne Frank found joy love and life while hiding from the Nazis during World War II and she was a teenager full of zest and spunk I feel reading her book is a testament to life and happiness even though it might seem to be the opposite Frank knew how to appreciate the beauty of her life no matter whatgtgt Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Itrsquos one of the greatest novels ever written A delusional old man goes on a quest with a lowly peasant This comic classic raises the characters and journey to the heights of the best of humankind Reading this book can take you on a journey of glee and of course of sorrow Butyou must have one to have the othergtgt Our Man In Havana by Graham Greene I think it is simple hilarious and fabulous