I Decided to Live as Me

The million-copy Korean bestseller read by BTS's Jungkook on Bon Voyage, the hit reality TV show following K-pop sensation BTS!

Don’t be kind to those who aren’t kind to you.
Remember that no one lives a perfect life.
Don’t be swayed by what others say.
Don’t try too hard to get along with everyone.

As soon as Kim Suhyun graduated into the adult world, she faced a harsh reality. Everywhere she looked people stepped on each other to get ahead, obsessed over money, and judged others based on the unrealistic standards they saw on social media. It seemed impossible not to compare herself to others and feel that she was ever good enough.

With words of comfort and charming illustrations throughout, Kim Suhyun will inspire you on your own journey of self-love, self-acceptance and self-compassion. Blending self-help and memoir, I Decided to Live as Me will help you free yourself from the pressures of living up to other people’s expectations and focus on what truly matters: living not for anyone else, but for yourself.

Review

We live in a highly anxious world and I can personally attest that this book has helped me in dealing with stress, social anxiety and existential dread – it is comforting, invigorating and liberating, all at the same time. -- Anton Hur, translator of I Decided to Live as Me

This motivational book is a favourite of BTS's Jin ... [Its] messages align with BTS's consistent encouragement for fans to love themselves and pursue their unique journeys. -- Times Now

The importance of being true to oneself has been emphasised by thinkers across cultures and time. . . So why are modern readers yearning to be reminded of this centuries-old lesson? . . . Unlike the words of ancient philosophers, [Kim Suhyun's] are rooted in everyday life, making them especially powerful to modern readers. . . . The insights the book conveys beneath its lighthearted surface seemingly resonate with people from different backgrounds. -- South China Morning Post

I Decided to Live as Me really tries to help – and succeeds. . . . The author's honesty holds your attention. Kim's charming and simple illustrations have a way of sticking with you. . . . I feel I learned something, and it encouraged me to learn more and live better. -- Arlo Matisz, The Korea Times

About the Author

Kim Suhyun (Author)
Kim Suhyun is a writer and illustrator based in Seoul, South Korea. Her books have sold more than 2 million copies in Korea, and I Decided to Live as Me is being published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Anton Hur (Translator)
Anton Hur was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He is the translator of the runaway Korean bestseller, I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, he won a PEN Translates award for Kang Kyeong-ae's The Underground Village, and his translation of Bora Chung's Cursed Bunny was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. He lives in Seoul, South Korea.