A collection of writings by the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca is dominating the bookstore charts. Seneca: To You Who Are Losing Today has reached the number one spot on the overall bestseller lists at major bookstores like Kyobo Bookstore and Yes24.
As of August 22, Kyobo Bookstore and Yes24 reported that Seneca: To You Who Are Losing Today has maintained its position as the top overall bestseller for two consecutive weeks at Yes24 and three weeks at Kyobo Bookstore.
According to Yes24, sales from August 1 to 19 surged approximately sevenfold (668%) compared to the same period last month. Buyers in their 40s accounted for 35.9% of sales, while those in their 50s made up 37.4%, indicating strong interest from the 4050 demographic. The author, known for the YouTube channel 'Hawaii Mansion,' has garnered over one million subscribers, contributing to the book's rising popularity through online buzz and word of mouth.
The release of the film The Odyssey has also sparked a renewed interest in classic literature. Yes24 has ranked Park Moon-jae's translation of The Odyssey at number two on its overall bestseller list. Meanwhile, Kyobo Bookstore has placed The Odyssey at number five, and another version, Odyssey, has climbed 51 spots to secure the 15th position.
A representative from Kyobo Bookstore noted, "With various publishers releasing related titles, readers' choices have diversified, leading to a noticeable rise in the bestseller rankings for humanities, history, and culture books. This interest has also extended to Greek and Roman mythology as a whole."
In the children's comic book sector, the demand for e-books has increased as readers seek out Hong Eun-young's Greek and Roman Mythology, which is currently out of print.
The trend of classics and steady sellers continues. Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha is ranked fifth on Yes24's overall list, while Yang Gyu-ja's Contradiction is in sixth place. Both titles have shown a sales increase compared to the previous month for four consecutive months from May to August. Sales from August 1 to 19 also rose by 14.4% and 55.6%, respectively, compared to the same period last month.
Kim Ae-ran's essay collection I Wrote That, released after a seven-year hiatus, reached number 12 on Yes24's overall list and number two in the essay category within just nine days of its release. The majority of buyers were women in their 40s (36.9%) and 50s (32.6%), confirming support from the existing readership.
At Kyobo Bookstore, The Vocabulary of the Heart surged 69 spots to reach number nine overall. The book aims to help readers express their emotions effectively and take care of their mental well-being, benefiting from pre-release funding and social media buzz. Female readers in their 30s led the purchasing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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