New academic books tackle mad studies, plant history, Zionism critique, and AI's intelligence threat

'Invitation to Mad Studies' by Merrick Daniel Felling, translated by the Mad Studies Special Committee of the Korean Disability Studies Association, challenges the long-standing view of mental illness as solely a subject for treatment, containment, and management, rather than a matter of disability rights. The book critically analyzes exclusion, stigma, and existing psychoanalytic discourse surrounding mental distress, seeking possibilities for liberation within the experiences and knowledge of those directly affected.

'The History That Plants Changed,' authored by paleontologist Riley Black and translated by Jo Jeong-nam, offers a new perspective on natural history. While traditional narratives often focus on animal evolution, this book highlights plants as the primary driving force behind Earth's transformations. It details how plants, originating in the sea 1.2 billion years ago, have quietly reshaped the atmosphere, created soil, and formed ecosystems, paving the way for the emergence of animal life.

'Accusing Israel,' by Canadian historian of science Yaakov Rabkin, a devout Jew, exposes what the author describes as the historical and political injustices of Zionism. Rabkin argues that Zionism originated not from rabbinical teachings but from a 17th-century Protestant evangelical plan to gather Hebrews in the 'holy land.' He contends that contemporary Israel has significantly deviated from traditional Jewish values. The translation is by Kim Jae-yong, published by PB Media.

'Intelligence Bankruptcy,' by cognitive psychologist Han So-won, issues a stark warning about the potential consequences of artificial intelligence. As AI becomes increasingly commercialized, the book addresses the critical issue of its permissible scope. Han argues that humans are losing their inherent intelligence due to the dependency and addiction mechanisms designed by Big Tech, posing a threat to 'intelligence sovereignty.' The author defines intelligence broadly, encompassing not only IQ but also holistic abilities like language, interpersonal skills, and emotional understanding and regulation. Published by Bada Publishing House.

'The Origin of Geography,' by British authority on the history of maps, Jerry Brotton, translated by Park Se-yeon, posits that cardinal directions (East, West, South, North) are not inherent natural orders but human constructs. Brotton argues that these directions were established for practical and symbolic reasons throughout world history, reflecting humanity's cognitive frameworks and social hierarchies rather than fixed geographical realities on a spherical Earth. Published by RH Korea.