Prejudice against psychiatrists likely stems from shocking scenes in cult films or horror movies. However, I’ve come to realize that mental health clinics are common sights in local shopping districts, and many young students, not just adults, visit them for counseling and treatment. Having struggled with depression for a long time myself, I had the opportunity to meet several psychiatrists and also consulted with a few psychologists. Additionally, through YouTube lectures, I gained indirect exposure that seems to have dispelled my preconceptions about psychiatrists.

The psychiatrist and author Ha Ji-hyun, whom I encountered through her book, was a truly remarkable person. She shared her unique note-taking methods, having read an immense number of books. I was amazed to learn she meticulously summarized book contents and recorded memorable quotes using the Evernote app, then searched the internet for anything unclear, building an enormous ‘memory storage warehouse’. Watching him compile books based on such records, I resolved to read more diligently, organize my thoughts, and build up a record of my writing practice on my blog. The phrase “If it isn’t recorded, it doesn’t exist” resonated deeply. I envied his life—living in Oksoo-dong, continuing his habit of writing book reviews, and ultimately becoming both an author and a doctor—and thought it would be wonderful if I could become a ‘book-writing delivery driver’ too.

The book offers detailed guidance on everything from selecting books to reading and organizing thoughts, providing valuable insights for aspiring writers. Because it references so many books, reading just this one volume felt like reading dozens simultaneously, leaving me deeply moved. Compared to my own book reviews, which mention only one or two titles, the extensive list of cited works in this book’s appendix was truly overwhelming. The latter part of the book discusses depression. I deeply agreed with the analysis that ‘feelings of depression’ and ‘clinical depression’ are distinct, and I also resonated with the idea that reading familiar books can aid in treatment. The author mentioned giving her own books as gifts to actual patients, explaining it allows her to convey stories she couldn’t fully share during brief counseling sessions. Just as I felt I met author Ha Ji-hyun indirectly through this book, I thought it was truly wonderful to communicate with readers worldwide through writing and share positive influence.

I still dream of becoming an author someday. I believe that dream will soon come true if I don’t neglect reading and writing book reviews day by day. To become a delivery driver who writes!