The Age of Microfrustration
 |
Description
Book Introduction
“How can we get through this confusing time?”
It has fiercely depicted the complex modern society.
Journalist-turned-novelist Jang Gang-myeong's Diagnosis of the Times
Author Jang Kang-myeong has diligently communicated with contemporary readers by presenting diverse issues in Korean society, sometimes in the form of exciting novels and sometimes in weighty non-fiction.
A significant characteristic of his works is that they are built on meticulous and sincere research, regardless of the field.
For example, the author meticulously investigated the National Intelligence Service's suspicions of public opinion manipulation and published "Comment Squad," thereby examining the dysfunction of online journals. He also wrote "Because I Hate Korea," based on in-depth interviews with people who studied abroad in Australia, vividly portraying the youth generation who had no choice but to leave their home country. He also wrote "Re-investigation," a social mystery novel written after visiting investigation sites and interviewing police officers and detectives, which led him to reflect on Korea's criminal justice system.
He also received much attention for his reportage, “Selection, Passing, Class,” which dissected the hidden side of cultural systems such as the Korean Literature Contest based on his own personal experiences.
Jang Kang-myeong's footsteps in publishing these books remind us of the fact that he worked as a daily newspaper reporter for 11 years before becoming a full-time writer.
As a former journalist, he has received a variety of awards, including the Journalist of the Month Award from the Korea Press Association, the Kwanhun Journalism Award, the City Korea Journalist Award, and the Dong-A Ilbo Scoop Award. Therefore, there is no description more apt than “journalist-turned-novelist.”
"The Age of Minor Frustration" is a new collection of essays by such a writer.
'Micro frustration' is a new word coined by Jang Gang-myeong.
While the government establishes long-term economic plans and businesses adopt various management methods accordingly, individual citizens constantly experience failures, both large and small, within this system.
The author calls this pervasive sense of failure “microfrustration.”
In an era where the goal of life has become survival itself, the author's diagnosis of the various ills of modern society, which shows no signs of improvement, and his awareness of the problems are faithfully contained in this book.
These ninety-odd articles, published in newspapers such as the Hankook Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, and Maeil Business Newspaper, as well as various magazines from 2016 to 2024, will provide readers with a powerful force in opening their eyes to a wide range of social, political, and cultural issues and calming their anxious minds.
I find myself saying more often, “Life never goes according to plan.”
I call this 'micro-frustration'.
You can laugh it off once or twice, but like getting wet in a drizzle, as this piles up, even the most optimistic person will eventually give in.
“Nothing seems to be going smoothly.” I feel even more helpless because I can’t pinpoint the exact cause.
(…) It is a world that is always on the brink of emergency, an era in which we must constantly adapt to unexpected and urgent situations, even if it is difficult.
To survive.
_From page 96
It has fiercely depicted the complex modern society.
Journalist-turned-novelist Jang Gang-myeong's Diagnosis of the Times
Author Jang Kang-myeong has diligently communicated with contemporary readers by presenting diverse issues in Korean society, sometimes in the form of exciting novels and sometimes in weighty non-fiction.
A significant characteristic of his works is that they are built on meticulous and sincere research, regardless of the field.
For example, the author meticulously investigated the National Intelligence Service's suspicions of public opinion manipulation and published "Comment Squad," thereby examining the dysfunction of online journals. He also wrote "Because I Hate Korea," based on in-depth interviews with people who studied abroad in Australia, vividly portraying the youth generation who had no choice but to leave their home country. He also wrote "Re-investigation," a social mystery novel written after visiting investigation sites and interviewing police officers and detectives, which led him to reflect on Korea's criminal justice system.
He also received much attention for his reportage, “Selection, Passing, Class,” which dissected the hidden side of cultural systems such as the Korean Literature Contest based on his own personal experiences.
Jang Kang-myeong's footsteps in publishing these books remind us of the fact that he worked as a daily newspaper reporter for 11 years before becoming a full-time writer.
As a former journalist, he has received a variety of awards, including the Journalist of the Month Award from the Korea Press Association, the Kwanhun Journalism Award, the City Korea Journalist Award, and the Dong-A Ilbo Scoop Award. Therefore, there is no description more apt than “journalist-turned-novelist.”
"The Age of Minor Frustration" is a new collection of essays by such a writer.
'Micro frustration' is a new word coined by Jang Gang-myeong.
While the government establishes long-term economic plans and businesses adopt various management methods accordingly, individual citizens constantly experience failures, both large and small, within this system.
The author calls this pervasive sense of failure “microfrustration.”
In an era where the goal of life has become survival itself, the author's diagnosis of the various ills of modern society, which shows no signs of improvement, and his awareness of the problems are faithfully contained in this book.
These ninety-odd articles, published in newspapers such as the Hankook Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, and Maeil Business Newspaper, as well as various magazines from 2016 to 2024, will provide readers with a powerful force in opening their eyes to a wide range of social, political, and cultural issues and calming their anxious minds.
I find myself saying more often, “Life never goes according to plan.”
I call this 'micro-frustration'.
You can laugh it off once or twice, but like getting wet in a drizzle, as this piles up, even the most optimistic person will eventually give in.
“Nothing seems to be going smoothly.” I feel even more helpless because I can’t pinpoint the exact cause.
(…) It is a world that is always on the brink of emergency, an era in which we must constantly adapt to unexpected and urgent situations, even if it is difficult.
To survive.
_From page 96
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
Preview
index
Author's Note: On Generalization - 5
Part 1: A Time of Confusion
If I Became the Minister of Loneliness - 17
The Machine of Modern Civilization - 21
Free Labor of Urban Workers - 25
Rainy Day Delivery Food - 29
Self-Esteem, Control, and Self-Narrative - 33
The Word Conscience - 37
Telephonophobia and the Hyperconnected Era - 41
The End of the Newspaper and Beyond - 45
Potato Chips and Internet Memes - 50
Sensitivity and Consistency in a New Era - 54
On the Age of Confusion - 58
Otaku, Fandom, and Tribalism - 62
When Discomfort Becomes the Basis of Morality - 66
The Age of Social Media and Ridicule - 71
Independent Bookstores, Traditional Markets, and Capitalism - 75
Why Teach Science - 79
Norms about Norms - 84
The Price of Things, the Price of Virtue - 89
The Age of 'Micro-Frustration' - 93
The Era of Disappearing Mild Flavors - 97
Is Generation MZ Waiting for Analysis? - 101
Sick Developed Countries and Illness Agnosia - 105
Fifty Shades of Fairness - 109
Part 2: What kind of country do you dream of?
Is Anger Essential to Progress? - 115
Why I'm a Conservative - 119
Profound and Empty - 123
Regional and Generational Conflicts - 128
Generation X Debt - 133
To Live Sane - 138
South Korea's Mainstream Transformation and Two Bankruptcies - 142
The World of Fandom - 146
Testimony, Curses, and the Cult of Personality - 150
Living on the Korean Peninsula - 155
Living Next to North Korea - 159
Beyond Low Birth Rate Measures - 163
Patient A's Movements and the New Virus - 168
Questions About K-Quarantine - 172
Shopping and Politics - 176
The Good and Pure Us and the Evil Them - 180
Feeling like I'm fighting - 184
An Election Without a Grand Narrative - 188
What is New Politics? - 192
Tools for Collaboration - 196
Skill is in the details - 200
Vision Expected from the President, Part 2 - 204
The Dignity of Conservatism - 208
What facial expression should I make? - 212
Peaceful Resignation or Fearful Anger - 216
Part 3: Should We Affirm Life as a Whole?
The Biggest Failure of My Life - 223
Talking about money, talking about dreams - 227
A Friend Called Dream - 231
The Right to Pursue Happiness - 235
When Can I Get a Dog? - 240
Mindfulness, Stomach Care - 244
Wife's Room - 248
Eating a convenience store lunch box - 252
Money, Wisdom, and the Wisdom Money Gives - 256
Quality of Time - 260
What is a Good Life? - 264
The time I learned to play the saxophone - 268
Tips for Dealing with Self-Loathing - 272
A Self-Exploitative Society and Discernment - 276
Dissatisfied with Korean - 280
I want to wear a bodysuit and eat mochi rice cake - 285
Eating Other Life - 289
Driverless Cars and Modern Farmers - 293
A Purpose-Leading Life - 297
The word "old fart" - 301
Training to Become a Certified Public Accountant - 305
On Faithfulness - 309
The Word Dignity - 313
Christmas Morning Thoughts - 317
The desire to be someone else - 321
Part 4: If you don't want your life to become shallow
Rereading "Nansogong" - 327
The Tongue That Knows Joy - 331
Watching [Baek Jong-won's Food Truck] - 335
Nuruk Media and the National Museum of Korean Literature - 340
Support but don't interfere - 345
Ethics of the Idol Industry - 350
Farewell to the Perennial Supporting Actor - 354
Is the era of romantic comedies over? - 358
5 Movie Lines to Remember When You're Having a Hard Time - List of 363
How to Become an Interesting Middle-Aged Person - 370
The Lottery, Omelas, and Quo Vadis - 374
I'd appreciate it if you could come late - 378
Part 1: A Time of Confusion
If I Became the Minister of Loneliness - 17
The Machine of Modern Civilization - 21
Free Labor of Urban Workers - 25
Rainy Day Delivery Food - 29
Self-Esteem, Control, and Self-Narrative - 33
The Word Conscience - 37
Telephonophobia and the Hyperconnected Era - 41
The End of the Newspaper and Beyond - 45
Potato Chips and Internet Memes - 50
Sensitivity and Consistency in a New Era - 54
On the Age of Confusion - 58
Otaku, Fandom, and Tribalism - 62
When Discomfort Becomes the Basis of Morality - 66
The Age of Social Media and Ridicule - 71
Independent Bookstores, Traditional Markets, and Capitalism - 75
Why Teach Science - 79
Norms about Norms - 84
The Price of Things, the Price of Virtue - 89
The Age of 'Micro-Frustration' - 93
The Era of Disappearing Mild Flavors - 97
Is Generation MZ Waiting for Analysis? - 101
Sick Developed Countries and Illness Agnosia - 105
Fifty Shades of Fairness - 109
Part 2: What kind of country do you dream of?
Is Anger Essential to Progress? - 115
Why I'm a Conservative - 119
Profound and Empty - 123
Regional and Generational Conflicts - 128
Generation X Debt - 133
To Live Sane - 138
South Korea's Mainstream Transformation and Two Bankruptcies - 142
The World of Fandom - 146
Testimony, Curses, and the Cult of Personality - 150
Living on the Korean Peninsula - 155
Living Next to North Korea - 159
Beyond Low Birth Rate Measures - 163
Patient A's Movements and the New Virus - 168
Questions About K-Quarantine - 172
Shopping and Politics - 176
The Good and Pure Us and the Evil Them - 180
Feeling like I'm fighting - 184
An Election Without a Grand Narrative - 188
What is New Politics? - 192
Tools for Collaboration - 196
Skill is in the details - 200
Vision Expected from the President, Part 2 - 204
The Dignity of Conservatism - 208
What facial expression should I make? - 212
Peaceful Resignation or Fearful Anger - 216
Part 3: Should We Affirm Life as a Whole?
The Biggest Failure of My Life - 223
Talking about money, talking about dreams - 227
A Friend Called Dream - 231
The Right to Pursue Happiness - 235
When Can I Get a Dog? - 240
Mindfulness, Stomach Care - 244
Wife's Room - 248
Eating a convenience store lunch box - 252
Money, Wisdom, and the Wisdom Money Gives - 256
Quality of Time - 260
What is a Good Life? - 264
The time I learned to play the saxophone - 268
Tips for Dealing with Self-Loathing - 272
A Self-Exploitative Society and Discernment - 276
Dissatisfied with Korean - 280
I want to wear a bodysuit and eat mochi rice cake - 285
Eating Other Life - 289
Driverless Cars and Modern Farmers - 293
A Purpose-Leading Life - 297
The word "old fart" - 301
Training to Become a Certified Public Accountant - 305
On Faithfulness - 309
The Word Dignity - 313
Christmas Morning Thoughts - 317
The desire to be someone else - 321
Part 4: If you don't want your life to become shallow
Rereading "Nansogong" - 327
The Tongue That Knows Joy - 331
Watching [Baek Jong-won's Food Truck] - 335
Nuruk Media and the National Museum of Korean Literature - 340
Support but don't interfere - 345
Ethics of the Idol Industry - 350
Farewell to the Perennial Supporting Actor - 354
Is the era of romantic comedies over? - 358
5 Movie Lines to Remember When You're Having a Hard Time - List of 363
How to Become an Interesting Middle-Aged Person - 370
The Lottery, Omelas, and Quo Vadis - 374
I'd appreciate it if you could come late - 378
Into the book
Modern civilization is becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, a machine with its own operating principles.
We have chosen to live as cogs in that gray machine, at the cost of our worries about survival and safety.
I believe that this is closer to our reason than the capricious gods and the ferocious wilds.
Today, too, we stand motionless among the other parts, wondering how this expressionless machine works and whether it even has a manager.
Then I mutter to myself.
'But this machine always seems to have something wrong with it.'
--- p.23 From “The Machine Called Modern Civilization”
It is now abundantly clear that we live in confusing times.
I hope we will at least have the wisdom to filter out the agitators who deny that fact.
--- p.61 From “On the Age of Confusion”
A writer naturally becomes a public figure.
Because it makes you imagine a ‘universal reader’.
--- p.307 From “Training to Become a Public Official”
Twinkling fairy lights, sweet carols, and baby Jesus dolls have the power to lift people's spirits.
It is human power.
So, on Christmas morning, even a secularist harbors a faint hope that perhaps we can put into practice at least one verse of the Sermon on the Mount.
Treat others as you would have them treat you.
--- p.320 From "Christmas Morning Thoughts"
I didn't like the way I looked now.
I wanted to be someone other than myself.
So, rather than developing my strengths, I was trying to erase my weaknesses… … without even trying to see what potential I had.
--- p.324 From “The Desire to Become Someone Else”
We must train ourselves not to easily demonize others, and to do so, we read literature.
In that sense, I think that a revenge drama that coolly punishes a villain without a narrative is the most 'unethical' kind of fiction.
We have chosen to live as cogs in that gray machine, at the cost of our worries about survival and safety.
I believe that this is closer to our reason than the capricious gods and the ferocious wilds.
Today, too, we stand motionless among the other parts, wondering how this expressionless machine works and whether it even has a manager.
Then I mutter to myself.
'But this machine always seems to have something wrong with it.'
--- p.23 From “The Machine Called Modern Civilization”
It is now abundantly clear that we live in confusing times.
I hope we will at least have the wisdom to filter out the agitators who deny that fact.
--- p.61 From “On the Age of Confusion”
A writer naturally becomes a public figure.
Because it makes you imagine a ‘universal reader’.
--- p.307 From “Training to Become a Public Official”
Twinkling fairy lights, sweet carols, and baby Jesus dolls have the power to lift people's spirits.
It is human power.
So, on Christmas morning, even a secularist harbors a faint hope that perhaps we can put into practice at least one verse of the Sermon on the Mount.
Treat others as you would have them treat you.
--- p.320 From "Christmas Morning Thoughts"
I didn't like the way I looked now.
I wanted to be someone other than myself.
So, rather than developing my strengths, I was trying to erase my weaknesses… … without even trying to see what potential I had.
--- p.324 From “The Desire to Become Someone Else”
We must train ourselves not to easily demonize others, and to do so, we read literature.
In that sense, I think that a revenge drama that coolly punishes a villain without a narrative is the most 'unethical' kind of fiction.
--- p.424 From “Don’t Give a Story to a Villain”
Publisher's Review
Across social, political and cultural spectrum
A must-read that summarizes issues in modern society.
This collection of essays consists of four parts and an epilogue.
Part 1, 'A Time of Confusion', mainly deals with social issues.
This book provides food for thought by sharply analyzing topics that everyone is aware of but for which it is difficult to present clear answers, such as the significance of the 'Minister for Loneliness', which was newly established by the British government and received attention from domestic and international media ("If You Become a 'Minister for Loneliness'"), the problem of delivery workers during the period of social distancing due to COVID-19 ("Food Delivery on a Rainy Day"), the craze for purchasing self-help books and the other side of building self-esteem ("Self-esteem, Control, and Self-Narrative"), the side effects of memes that are quickly copied and evaporated through the Internet and social media ("Potato Chips and Internet Memes"), the reason why we need to study science in the age of artificial intelligence ("Why Should We Teach Science"), and the darkness hidden in the social gaze toward the MZ generation ("Is the MZ Generation Waiting for Analysis").
Part 2, "What Kind of Country Do We Dream of?" examines the political landscape, particularly that of Korean society, and makes us ponder the direction in which our society should move forward.
It discusses the long-standing issues of regional and intergenerational conflicts (“Regional Conflict and Generational Conflict”), an analysis of the 1970s generation that has become the mainstream of Korean society (“Generation X’s Debt”), the true faces of the two progressive and conservative camps struggling to maintain hegemony (“Change in the Mainstream of South Korea and Two Bankruptcies”), reflections on political fandom (“A Worldview of Fandom”), the issue of the North-South Korean conflict (“Living on the Korean Peninsula”), and the electoral system that needs to be improved to dream of a new world (“Elections Without Grand Discourse”).
Part 3, 'Should we affirm life as a whole?', deals with topics more closely related to our life experiences and daily lives.
These include the author's past story of quitting his job as a newspaper reporter and becoming a full-time writer ("The Greatest Failure of My Life"), the influence of sensitivity on one's outlook on life ("The Right to Pursue Happiness Precisely"), a meditation method to escape from painful distracting thoughts ("Mindfulness, Taking Care of the Stomach"), a critique of the Korean language's characteristic of creating a hierarchy based on age differences ("Dissatisfied with the Korean Language"), and a method for properly expressing one's opinion through writing and speaking ("Training to Become a Public Official").
Finally, Part 4, "How to Keep Life from Becoming Shallow," enriches your sensibilities and cultivates a deeper perspective through the author's rich interpretations of various cultural media, including quality books and films from the classics to the present.
It contains a reinterpretation of the must-read book of our time, 『The Little Ball Launched by a Dwarf』 (「Rereading 'Nanso-gong'」), a study of the public system and arts administration of the country that supports the cultural world (「Nuruk Media and the National Museum of Korean Literature」 「Support but do not interfere」), reading that helps you age wisely and wisely (「To become an interesting middle-aged person」), and the difficulties of writing novels in the AI era (「The Future of Novels in the AI Age, in a Gloomy Version」).
Healthy doubt that breaks inertia,
With a perspective that faces the facts
A sincere exploration of the future
In the epilogue, “Reasons to Live,” Jang Gang-myeong uses Dostoevsky’s “The Demons” to explain why we must continue to live a life filled with nothing but suffering.
What can we do other than rely on God? While a clear answer is far from certain, the author suggests that the tension derived from constantly seeking the reason may be a kind of blessing in life.
This conclusion seems to stem from the author's attitude of always maintaining a healthy skepticism against the uncritical and blind belief that life has clear answers.
On the one hand, it can be felt as the sincere ambition of an author who has always been diligent in writing and renewing his world of works.
In the author's note, the author wrote that he hopes to "write hopeful stories in a more predictable world."
“The Age of Minor Frustration” is the author’s blueprint for such a “hopeful story.”
It is the new spring, a time when we yearn for change and transformation. Now is the time to unfold the "Era of Minor Frustration."
“You shouldn’t get excited or pessimistic easily.
The same goes for yourself.
(……) There is a calm hope there.” _From page 226
A must-read that summarizes issues in modern society.
This collection of essays consists of four parts and an epilogue.
Part 1, 'A Time of Confusion', mainly deals with social issues.
This book provides food for thought by sharply analyzing topics that everyone is aware of but for which it is difficult to present clear answers, such as the significance of the 'Minister for Loneliness', which was newly established by the British government and received attention from domestic and international media ("If You Become a 'Minister for Loneliness'"), the problem of delivery workers during the period of social distancing due to COVID-19 ("Food Delivery on a Rainy Day"), the craze for purchasing self-help books and the other side of building self-esteem ("Self-esteem, Control, and Self-Narrative"), the side effects of memes that are quickly copied and evaporated through the Internet and social media ("Potato Chips and Internet Memes"), the reason why we need to study science in the age of artificial intelligence ("Why Should We Teach Science"), and the darkness hidden in the social gaze toward the MZ generation ("Is the MZ Generation Waiting for Analysis").
Part 2, "What Kind of Country Do We Dream of?" examines the political landscape, particularly that of Korean society, and makes us ponder the direction in which our society should move forward.
It discusses the long-standing issues of regional and intergenerational conflicts (“Regional Conflict and Generational Conflict”), an analysis of the 1970s generation that has become the mainstream of Korean society (“Generation X’s Debt”), the true faces of the two progressive and conservative camps struggling to maintain hegemony (“Change in the Mainstream of South Korea and Two Bankruptcies”), reflections on political fandom (“A Worldview of Fandom”), the issue of the North-South Korean conflict (“Living on the Korean Peninsula”), and the electoral system that needs to be improved to dream of a new world (“Elections Without Grand Discourse”).
Part 3, 'Should we affirm life as a whole?', deals with topics more closely related to our life experiences and daily lives.
These include the author's past story of quitting his job as a newspaper reporter and becoming a full-time writer ("The Greatest Failure of My Life"), the influence of sensitivity on one's outlook on life ("The Right to Pursue Happiness Precisely"), a meditation method to escape from painful distracting thoughts ("Mindfulness, Taking Care of the Stomach"), a critique of the Korean language's characteristic of creating a hierarchy based on age differences ("Dissatisfied with the Korean Language"), and a method for properly expressing one's opinion through writing and speaking ("Training to Become a Public Official").
Finally, Part 4, "How to Keep Life from Becoming Shallow," enriches your sensibilities and cultivates a deeper perspective through the author's rich interpretations of various cultural media, including quality books and films from the classics to the present.
It contains a reinterpretation of the must-read book of our time, 『The Little Ball Launched by a Dwarf』 (「Rereading 'Nanso-gong'」), a study of the public system and arts administration of the country that supports the cultural world (「Nuruk Media and the National Museum of Korean Literature」 「Support but do not interfere」), reading that helps you age wisely and wisely (「To become an interesting middle-aged person」), and the difficulties of writing novels in the AI era (「The Future of Novels in the AI Age, in a Gloomy Version」).
Healthy doubt that breaks inertia,
With a perspective that faces the facts
A sincere exploration of the future
In the epilogue, “Reasons to Live,” Jang Gang-myeong uses Dostoevsky’s “The Demons” to explain why we must continue to live a life filled with nothing but suffering.
What can we do other than rely on God? While a clear answer is far from certain, the author suggests that the tension derived from constantly seeking the reason may be a kind of blessing in life.
This conclusion seems to stem from the author's attitude of always maintaining a healthy skepticism against the uncritical and blind belief that life has clear answers.
On the one hand, it can be felt as the sincere ambition of an author who has always been diligent in writing and renewing his world of works.
In the author's note, the author wrote that he hopes to "write hopeful stories in a more predictable world."
“The Age of Minor Frustration” is the author’s blueprint for such a “hopeful story.”
It is the new spring, a time when we yearn for change and transformation. Now is the time to unfold the "Era of Minor Frustration."
“You shouldn’t get excited or pessimistic easily.
The same goes for yourself.
(……) There is a calm hope there.” _From page 226
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: March 15, 2024
- Page count, weight, size: 432 pages | 516g | 133*200*25mm
- ISBN13: 9788954698641
- ISBN10: 8954698646
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