In this era's 'tranquilizer', Yoo Si-min unfolds an old map once again. "This book is a reimagining of the map I carried when I was young." In times of turmoil, Yoo Si-min, an intellectual of our age, has provided clear insights and served as a 'tranquilizer'. Having gone through a passionate and intense youth, he revisits the books that guided him at crossroads and obstacles in his life. He has added his thoughts, philosophy, concerns, emotions, questions, and realizations to create a new map. The books he discovered in his father's study as a child, such as 'Crime and Punishment', which he secretly read under a dim lamp, 'The Communist Manifesto', which evokes memories of former President Roh Moo-hyun's heartbreaking end, 'The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum', which opened his eyes to history, and 'On Liberty', which reminded him of the value of freedom in the face of martial law in the 21st century, are the sources that shaped young Yoo Si-min. 'Reading in Youth' discusses the world through 15 great classics. "A book I am personally most attached to" 'Reading in Youth', one of Yoo Si-min's representative works, was first published in 2009 and has been loved for a long time. This time, it meets readers in a special expanded edition. A new story about John Stuart Mill's classic 'On Liberty' has been added to the existing 14 stories, along with a new preface for the special edition. The sentences have also been revised overall. As one of the best-selling authors in the country, he has written many books, including 'A Reverse Reading of World History', which has sold over a million copies since its publication at the age of twenty-nine, 'My Modern Korean History', 'The History of History', 'What is a Nation?', and 'Deferred Democracy'. Among the many books he has written, he considers 'Reading in Youth' to be the one he is most attached to. Unlike books written with a specific theme in mind, this book reveals his true self. "I wrote to express my feelings and thoughts about life, humanity, the world, and history that I gained from reading books." Therefore, the questions he fiercely pondered and contemplated in his youth, as well as the process of changing perspectives on humanity, history, and society over time, are captured throughout the book. In that sense, it is also Yoo Si-min's life story. Before being a writer, politician, and administrator, you will encounter the passionate young Yoo Si-min. "Is the world progressing?", "What is democracy?", "Are humans inherently selfish?", "How are facts and truths distorted?" and "How should we live in the future?" These are the questions that young Yoo Si-min sought answers to through classics. Today's youth undoubtedly share similar concerns. If so, could the books he has unfolded once again provide meaningful answers to today's youth? "Whenever I was afraid of the world, I asked them for directions" The great classics that became a milestone for young Yoo Si-min This book began with Yoo Si-min's thought, "What if I reread the classics I read in my youth? Times have changed, and I have aged, so wouldn't it be different?" As he revisited the well-worn books, they approached him in a way that was distinctly different from before. Aspects he had not noticed or had overlooked in the past resonated strongly with him. Although he reread the same books, they were never the same books. In Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment', the character Dunya, who had not left a strong impression during his first reading, catches his attention. He realizes that the actions of ordinary people collectively support and change society. The section dealing with 'Mencius' also clearly shows the difference between the perspective of 'young Yoo Si-min' and 'today's Yoo Si-min'. When he read it as a university student, he was strongly impressed by Mencius, who placed the people above all values as a 'revolutionary thinker', but upon rereading, he discovers the virtues that a 'true conservative' should possess in Mencius's emphasis on filial piety and community. The section on Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' is also intriguing. It feels as if young Yoo Si-min is asking questions and today's Yoo Si-min is answering them. The author confesses that he did not read Darwin in his youth. Although he thought he knew about evolution, he felt discomfort with the fact that evolution became the theoretical foundation of eugenics. This was essentially evidence that he "knew very little about Darwin." After gaining experience, he reflects on his past misunderstandings and ignorance while reading this book, stating that humans possess selfish instincts but must also recognize that they are altruistic beings. The 15th chapter includes a new addition on 'On Liberty' The preciousness of freedom felt again during the 'night of martial law' In this special expanded edition, a new chapter has been added along with the preface. It recounts the story of rereading John Stuart Mill's masterpiece 'On Liberty'. Why 'On Liberty'? Yoo Si-min, who has quoted 'On Liberty' several times on air, answers, "I chose it because I thought it would help us digest the national and political turmoil we all experienced after the declaration of martial law on December 3rd." The time after the 'night of martial law' was a realization that what had been taken for granted was, in fact, not guaranteed. The proclamation banning political activities, publishing, media activities, and gatherings posed a serious threat to freedom. Mill emphasized freedom of expression, freedom to enjoy preferences, and freedom of assembly, stating, "If these three freedoms are not fundamentally respected, no matter what form of government exists, it cannot be called a free society." The author felt comforted and encouraged by Mill. Mill valued the 'ability to correct wrongs' in human capability, stating that this is why 'rational opinions and actions generally prevail' in our human society. Our country's history illustrates this well. Despite the devastation of the entire nation through Japanese colonial rule, division of North and South, and the Korean War, we achieved industrialization and democratization. Even amidst countless failures and wrong choices, ordinary people have come together to correct problems. The author returns the comfort and encouragement he received from Mill to the people of Korea living today. Mill, in his book written in 1859, comforted and encouraged us. To those who endured and overcame the anger, pain, and absurdities after electing a foolish president, to the citizens who stood against the martial law troops in the National Assembly during the night of martial law, to the young people who created the miracle of Namtaeryeong, to the men and women who spent the night in front of the Constitutional Court in a snowstorm, I want to convey my infinite gratitude. If philosopher John Stuart Mill were to see us today, he would say, "You have shown the source of all human pride. You can be proud of yourselves. You deserve it." A list of wisdom recommended for all youth to create their own maps At the end of the book, Yoo Si-min leaves a request. He states that he has not written a balanced review of the classics, so he asks readers not to hold biases against the books and authors discussed here due to his perspective. In an interview, he also said, "Just as a writer has the right to write freely, a reader has the right to read freely." Indeed, 'reading freely' is the most appropriate attitude for reading this book 'Reading in Youth'. Once a book is published, it belongs to the reader. It is meaningful to read it from the perspective of Yoo Si-min, who has various experiences as a writer, democratization activist, politician, and administrator, and it is also meaningful to read it with the mindset of experiencing the world of classics under the guidance of 'knowledge retailer' Yoo Si-min. It is okay not to agree with the author's interpretation. "Others will hear different stories and feel different emotions from the same book." Life and reading can be seen as maps carefully crafted by those who have experienced it first. The 15 great books that have set monumental milestones in the history of civilization contain the worries and answers of those who lived before us. Following the footprints they left with 'Reading in Youth' as a map, you will have the exhilarating experience of drawing your own map at some point.