Summary
Highlights
Jack Edwards, a literature graduate, embarks on a highly requested challenge: reading every book recommended by Namjoon (RM) from BTS. He expresses his excitement for the diverse selection of books and his admiration for BTS, hoping to become an 'Army'.
The video is sponsored by YesStyle, an online store for Asian fashion and K-skincare. Jack showcases several outfits he picked from their website and offers a 10% discount code, 'JACK10', for viewers.
Jack reads 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', a sci-fi comedy he'd long intended to read. He praises its unpredictable and ridiculous nature, subtle wit, and the author's embrace of life's illogicality. He also reveals his BTS bias is Namjoon.
Jack discusses 'The Stranger', an absurd novella known for its striking opening line: 'Mother died today, or maybe yesterday, I can't be sure.' He explains how the book explores existentialism and 'the nakedness of man faced with the absurd,' finding it interesting but not a personal recommendation.
Jack analyzes 'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,' a short story about a utopian city whose happiness relies on one child's suffering. He interprets it as an allegory for societal inequality, where one group's prosperity comes at the expense of another's suffering. He then connects this to BTS's 'Spring Day' music video, highlighting its references to Omelas, Snowpiercer, and the Sewol Ferry incident, praising BTS's artistry and anti-oppression message.
Jack discusses 'Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982,' a book detailing the female experience and misogyny in South Korea. He describes Kim Jiyoung as an 'every-woman' representing typical female experiences globally and commends RM for recommending such an important book.
Jack reviews 'Me Before You,' a romantic comedy that is also a tearjerker. He praises Jojo Moyes' witty writing and its quintessentially British feel. He highlights the book's strong feminist message and its handling of difficult issues like sexual assault, which was omitted from the film adaptation, further appreciating RM's diverse recommendations.
Jack talks about 'The Metamorphosis,' a classic he had previously read. He describes it as one of the weirdest books, centered on a man who wakes up as a giant bug. He notes its bizarre and absurd nature, detailing the protagonist's struggle to navigate his new life. Although slow, he acknowledges it's a thought-provoking read found on many 'must-read' lists.
Jack gives his thoughts on 'Demian,' admitting it was a challenging read but picks up towards the end. He suggests 'Siddhartha' as a more enjoyable Hesse novel. He explains 'Demian' explores loss of innocence, self-discovery, and the breakdown of good and evil binaries. He connects this to BTS's 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' music video, where Jin represents the main character Sinclair, grappling with good and evil.
Jack discusses '1984,' a personal favorite that influenced his literature studies. He highlights its depiction of a dystopian, totalitarian regime with mass surveillance and censorship, noting why a global musician like RM might find it interesting. He emphasizes its cultural impact, coining terms like 'Big Brother' and 'thought-police,' and recommends it as a must-read.
Jack expresses his disappointment with 'Nature' by Emerson, finding its ideas largely common knowledge today, despite being groundbreaking in its time. He identifies it as a manifesto for transcendentalism, suggesting that while it contains beautiful quotes, reading the entire book isn't necessary. He respects RM for reading it but personally wouldn't recommend it.
Jack reviews 'Kafka on the Shore,' calling it a masterpiece by Haruki Murakami, master of 'verisimilitude' (realistic writing). He describes it as enchanting and dreamlike, filled with surreal elements like fish falling from the sky and talking cats, as well as mythological references. He praises its hypnotic dual narrative but notes the questionable portrayal of female characters through the male gaze.
Jack concludes that RM has 'taste with a capital T' and categorizes his recommendations into three groups: philosophy and morality (Nature, Demian, Omelas), social and political books (1984, Kim Jiyoung), and absurd/surrealist books (Metamorphosis, Hitchhiker's Guide, Kafka on the Shore, The Stranger). He expresses gratitude for the opportunity to read them and reaffirms his commitment to following BTS. He thanks YesStyle again for the sponsorship.