I usually do not limit my book choices to one genre— I read all sorts of writings from Japanese thriller novels to journal entries. So, I want to share what I have been reading lately.
1. Jane Forsey- The Aesthetics of Design
"The Aesthetics of Design" by Jane Forsey takes a look at how design and aesthetics are connected. book also explores how design fits into larger philosophical discussions on aesthetics. Forsey disagrees with the idea that aesthetics is only important in the realm of "art", and sheds light on the philosophical meanings behind designing everyday utensils. I was drawn into this book because I have never took such approach in studying design, and recently I have seen the quote of Dieter Rams that a "good design is invisible". I haven't quite understood what Rams meant until I read this book, where Forsey shows how designing is more than just functionality. As Rams suggests, when we see something well-designed, we experience its functionality and aesthetic that might be so seamless that we don't even realize it.
2. Young Ran Lee- Super Collector
"Super Collector" by Young Ran Lee is about the most successful art collectors around the world and their art collections. The book introduces 30 avid collectors, and among them are those who find joy by sharing billion dollars worth of collections, and others who rarely reveal their collection. I learnt that while some entrepreneurs make a lot of money by selling over 60 million dollars worth of masterpieces for their businesses, others collect works that move their minds regardless of public evaluation and meaningful works that awaken the times and history. Some collectors even introduce unknown artists to the world and put them on stardom; in other cases, billionaires only caring about money, success, and principles become surprisingly flexible when it comes to embracing art. Through this book, I
3. Anthony Doerr- All The Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See" is set in midst of World War II and is about the journey of Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German boy who come across each other in the town of Saint-Malo. Reading "All the Light We Cannot See" was somewhat depressing. Doerr's narrative and characters perfectly recreated an unimaginably chaotic era and allowed me to empathize with the characters' pain, hope, and happiness. This book made me contemplate the nature of the human spirit, the boundaries in our morality, and the snowball effect of small decisions.