We all love K-pop for what they are, but few of us actually know the whole truth behind it! Since the early '90s, K-pop has slowly grown. In the mid-2000s more appealing and international bands came to life as a result of the Korean Hallyu Wave. Boybands like Super Junior followed by girl groups like Girls Generation. Now with the bigger groups like BTS and Black Pink more than 15 years later the game has changed and the competition for each new idol is harsh. Today there a many groups, idols and musicians in South Korea willing to do life-changing risks in order to become the next big hit. Young boys and girls are believed to live the dreams that we all see on the internet, YouTube and TV. With this glamorous lifestyle comes a price. A dark side we hoped never existed. With overwork, strict diets and evil contracts. Inside this book, you'll learn more about K-pop history. How Kpop idols are today, what challenges and lifestyles and sacrifices they are forced to take in order to remain their image and to continue growing the popularity and fame in South Korea and worldwide.
-How to pass k-pop audition -Tips & Advices for k-pop audition participants -How to become a k-pop idol -Stories behind k-pop stars' trainee life and debut -Written by an experienced k-pop journalist Do you want to become a k-pop idol? Do you want to become a k-pop trainee to realize your dream? Well, the most common way to start off on a long journey to become a k-pop idol is to take part in various k-pop agencies’ auditions. K-pop agencies usually have year-round audition schedules, and they always pay attention to find talented would be singers. You can take part in k-pop auditions either online or offline. If you apply for an online audition, you can put in an application by e-mail and attach a video that shows yourself singing and dancing. If you apply for an offline audition, you should attend the audition and sing in front of the judges. And if you pass the audition, yeah, you can become a k-pop trainee. It doesn’t guarantee your debut, though. Becoming a k-pop singer requires years of training, and you should compete with the other talented trainees too. As a k-pop trainee, you will take a variety of lessons such as singing lessons, dancing lessons and personality educations, while you will have a test periodically. And you will also have to go on a diet to improve your figure. It’s never easy to become a k-pop idol, huh? By the way, the question here is how you can pass your audition and become a k-pop trainee. You may be able to search for various information about k-pop auditions on the Internet, but you know, there is no one who tells you about the actual way how you can pass your audition and become a k-pop trainee. So, here’s what you’ve been waiting for. Kpop Audition Bible: How to become a k-pop idol includes all the stories about k-pop audition. The author, who has been working as a k-pop journalist since 2010 gives you answers to questions such as “What is the evaluation standard of k-pop audition?”, “I’m fat and ugly. Can I become a k-pop trainee?” and “I’m a foreigner. Can I become a k-pop trainee?”. And the book also contains tips & advices for k-pop audition participants and a variety of stories behind k-pop idols’ trainee life and debut. If you want to become a k-pop idol and you want to become a k-pop trainee to realize your dream, Kpop Audition Bible: How to become a k-pop idol must be a very useful guide for you. We dedicate this book to all the potential k-pop idols all over the world. Go for it, guys!
There are so many k-pop boy groups, while the groups are too numerous to mention one by one. However, some of them just disappear after debut, and only a very small minority of k-pop boy groups can become popular. By the way, there is a boy group who has been on the steady rise since its debut and is now considered as one of the most popular k-pop idol groups. Yeah, it’s BTS. As BTS is enjoying a huge popularity at home and abroad, many people in the k-pop world are now saying "The boy group is the future of k-pop." Actually, BTS' success is considered as being very special by people in the k-pop industry. Because BTS is in Big Hit entertainment, which is not as big k-pop agency as SM, YG, or JYP. Achieving success as an idol group of small and medium agency in the k-pop word is much harder than you could ever have imagined, and that’s why BTS deserves to be called “The k-pop pioneer”. Then, what do you think is the reason for BTS’ great success? First, the main reason for BTS' success is that the boy group differentiated itself from other boy groups by doing "real hip hop" music. The group writes its own music and sings about teenager's life, arousing empathy from young k-pop fans. Second, some of BTS fans may disagree, but the members have ordinary looks unlike other pretty k-pop idols. They’re not traditionally good-looking, and frankly speaking, I thought they are too ugly to be idols when I saw BTS for the first time. However, because of this, they could become the hottest idol group. I mean, fans could feel more comfortable and familiar with the members because they do not look like cartoon characters. Third, BTS is an idol group, but its members, Rap Monster and Suga have released their mixtapes just like underground rappers do. By doing so, they stressed the fact that they’re different from other puppet like idols. Especially, Rap Monster, who has polished his rap skills in the Korean underground hip hop scene before debut is getting the spotlight in the k-pop industry by showing off his outstanding rapping ability. He’s been active not only as an idol but also as a rapper, and he was also featured as a rapper in the album of MFBTY, comprised of Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, and Bizzy who are considered as heavyweights in the Korean hip hop scene. BTS certainly succeeded in fascinating k-pop fans and it’s mainly because of the group’s image as a skilled hip hop idol. Oh, it's not just an image. The BTS members have sufficient performing skills and always prove it on the stage. Unlike other puppet like k-pop idol groups, they enjoy the stage and show high quality live performance. Have you been to BTS’ concert? It’s really gorgeous. So, are you a big fan of BTS? Do you want to know all the stories about BTS members? < BTS: The k-pop pioneer> contains all the things about BTS. The author, who has been working as a k-pop journalist since 2010 gives you answers to all the questions about BTS such as “What are their real personality like?”, “What were they like in school?” and “How did they become k-pop idols?”. The book also includes various stories behind BTS members. So, welcome to the real world of k-pop. Enjoy your time, and love yourself!
The seven members of BTS are tired of their fame filled careers, so they decide to fly to a small town in America to live a new type of life. But as soon as they arrive, they are forced to work at McDonald's for a very strange manager, and life is far from what they expected it to be like. What kind of situations will they have to face and how will they decide to handle them? This book is based off of the author's real life experiences and is meant to be purely humorous, satirical, and slightly informational. It also contains many classic BTS jokes & references for your enjoyment.
A New York Times Bestseller "The Wild Truth is an important book on two fronts: It sets the record straight about a story that has touched thousands of readers, and it opens up a conversation about hideous domestic violence hidden behind a mask of prosperity and propriety."–NPR.org The spellbinding story of Chris McCandless, who gave away his savings, hitchhiked to Alaska, walked into the wilderness alone, and starved to death in 1992, fascinated not just New York Times bestselling author Jon Krakauer, but also the rest of the nation. Krakauer's book,Into the Wild, became an international bestseller, translated into thirty-one languages, and Sean Penn's inspirational film by the same name further skyrocketed Chris McCandless to global fame. But the real story of Chris’s life and his journey has not yet been told - until now. The missing pieces are finally revealed in The Wild Truth, written by Carine McCandless, Chris's beloved and trusted sister. Featured in both the book and film, Carine has wrestled for more than twenty years with the legacy of her brother's journey to self-discovery, and now tells her own story while filling in the blanks of his. Carine was Chris's best friend, the person with whom he had the closest bond, and who witnessed firsthand the dysfunctional and violent family dynamic that made Chris willing to embrace the harsh wilderness of Alaska. Growing up in the same troubled household, Carine speaks candidly about the deeper reality of life in the McCandless family. In the many years since the tragedy of Chris's death, Carine has searched for some kind of redemption. In this touching and deeply personal memoir, she reveals how she has learned that real redemption can only come from speaking the truth.
“Indispensable…There is much here to reflect upon.” —President Mikhail Gorbachev “As riveting, eye-opening, and thought-provoking as any history book you will ever read...Can’t recommend it highly enough.” —Glenn Greenwald, The Guardian “Finally, a book with the guts to challenge the accepted narrative of recent American history.” —Bill Maher “Kuznick and Stone’s Untold History is the most important historical narrative of this century; a carefully researched and brilliantly rendered account.” —Martin Sherwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of American Prometheus “A work of courage, wisdom, and compassion [that] will stand the test of time….A fierce critique and a passionate paean for Stone and Kuznick’s native land.” —Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, author of The Thistle and the Drone The New York Times bestselling companion to the Showtime documentary series now streaming on Netflix, updated to cover the past five years. A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE In this riveting companion to their astonishing documentary series—including a new chapter and new photos covering Obama’s second term, Trump’s first year and a half, climate change, nuclear winter, Korea, Russia, Iran, China, Lybia, ISIS, Syria, and more—Academy Award–winning director Oliver Stone and renowned historian Peter Kuznick challenge prevailing orthodoxies to reveal the dark truth about the rise and fall of American imperialism.
This unique culinary history of America offers a fascinating look at our past and uses long-forgotten recipes to explain how eight flavors changed how we eat. The United States boasts a culturally and ethnically diverse population which makes for a continually changing culinary landscape. But a young historical gastronomist named Sarah Lohman discovered that American food is united by eight flavors: black pepper, vanilla, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and Sriracha. In Eight Flavors, Lohman sets out to explore how these influential ingredients made their way to the American table. She begins in the archives, searching through economic, scientific, political, religious, and culinary records. She pores over cookbooks and manuscripts, dating back to the eighteenth century, through modern standards like How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. Lohman discovers when each of these eight flavors first appear in American kitchens—then she asks why. Eight Flavors introduces the explorers, merchants, botanists, farmers, writers, and chefs whose choices came to define the American palate. Lohman takes you on a journey through the past to tell us something about our present, and our future. We meet John Crowninshield a New England merchant who traveled to Sumatra in the 1790s in search of black pepper. And Edmond Albius, a twelve-year-old slave who lived on an island off the coast of Madagascar, who discovered the technique still used to pollinate vanilla orchids today. Weaving together original research, historical recipes, gorgeous illustrations and Lohman’s own adventures both in the kitchen and in the field, Eight Flavors is a delicious treat—ready to be devoured.
The New York Times bestselling author of The Wait and “spiritual teacher for our times” (Oprah Winfrey) frankly and openly explores why men behave the way they do and what everyone—men and women alike—need to know about it. We hear it all the time. Men cheat. Men love power. Men love sex. Men are greedy. Men are dogs. But is this really the truth about men? In this groundbreaking book, DeVon Franklin dishes the real truth by making the compelling case that men aren’t dogs but all men share the same struggle. He provides the manual for how men can change, both on a personal and a societal level by providing practical solutions for helping men learn how to resist temptation, how to practice self-control, and how to love. But The Truth About Men isn’t just for men. DeVon tells female readers everything they need to know about men. He offers women a real-time understanding of how men’s struggles affect them, insights that can help them navigate their relationships with men and information on how to heal from the damage that some misbehaving men may have inflicted. This book is a raw, informative, and accessible look at an issue that threatens to tear our society apart yet it offers a positive way forward for men and women alike.
"The world is a beautiful place. It is the people living in it that are ugly."For centuries it has been tradition for the child of a noble to receive a Noye, a slave, as their coming of age present for their 21st birthday. Although it is only Hana Acacia's 18th birthday, her father has deemed it appropriate to grant her with the one thing she dreads the most, a Noye. Hana has lived her life categorizing everything she has ever encountered into either being beautiful or hideous - but with an exceptional twist; she doesn't judge on appearance, but instead by what each individual holds within. That is why, despite his rough hair, harsh eyes, and faded scars, Sean Ambrosia is the most beautiful thing Hana has ever laid her eyes on.
Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone and historian Peter Kuznick examine the dark side of American history from the beginning of the twentieth century right up to the Obama administration. Looking at American intervention in foreign conflicts in Latin American, Asia and the Middle East, including taking part in covert operations and interfering to overthrow elected leaders in favour of right-wing dictators, they ask whether US involvement around the globe is about democratic ideals, or political and economic gain. From Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the Watergate scandal and the transformation of America into a national security state, The Concise Untold History lays bare how US presidents have ignored the constitution and international law to influence the course of world events for the interest of the few. Based on the critically acclaimed documentary series of the same name, this book compellingly unmasks the shocking and unforgettable truth behind the American Empire.