Why I read in English 🔠

Tags: Book 📚, Thoughts 💭 - Jan 3, 2026

My reading interests span diverse fields, from neuroscience and AI to philosophy and marketing. While I explore various formats—including essays and autobiographies—I’ve always gravitated toward non-fiction. I prefer information that is presented explicitly; I often find the implicit narratives of novels more difficult to retain.

Although Korean is my native language, I choose to read primarily in English for three reasons. First, I view books as a direct medium of communication between author and reader. To truly capture an author’s specific nuances and intent, I prefer to engage with their work in its original language, which are mostly English.

Second, I prioritize English literacy as a practical tool. As the global lingua franca, English is the primary vehicle for the information I seek. While my Korean literacy is naturally maintained by my daily life in Korea, I believe intentionally sharpening my English literacy provides a greater return on investment.

Finally, I rely on ‘double curation.’ Books available in their original English in Korea have often passed through two filters: global success and local selection. By choosing from this subset, I am more likely to find high-impact, high-quality material.