The book "Spirit of Hope" on how to act when the future frightens and how to counter fear has been published in Belarusian

How to maintain the ability to think, act, and imagine a better future when fear becomes part of everyday life? This is the subject of the first book by Korean-German philosopher Byung-Chul Han translated into Belarusian. For translator Aliaksandra Lohvinava, its appearance is the result of two years of work and an answer to a question particularly important for the Belarusian community.

Lohvinau Publishing House has released the book "Spirit of Hope: Against the Society of Fear." It was translated from German by Aliaksandra Lohvinava, and the editor was philosopher Tatsiana Shchytsova.

Lohvinava shared on Facebook that the book helped her formulate her own assumptions and feelings. That's why she wanted to make it available in Belarusian.

"Two years from this idea to the book, which can now be held (and is very pleasant) in your hands!" the translator wrote.

She met Han by chance: she was looking for something to read on vacation and found his "Crisis of Narrativity" in a bookstore. She didn't know about the author's popularity at the time. Now she is glad about it: loud descriptions could have prevented her from calmly reading and appreciating his texts.

Han writes about how digital technologies and the cult of productivity influence human life, connections, and the sense of meaning. But, according to Lohvinava, he is also distinguished by his form: short essays, aphoristic sentences, concentrated thoughts instead of cumbersome terminology.

"So why read this book? Because in the current climate, it's very difficult to imagine the possibility of change, and in general, why care about anything at all. And when the world looks like nothing good awaits us, hope begins to seem either naive or a luxury we cannot afford. "Spirit of Hope" is a good antidote to such thinking. Han doesn't urge us to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses and doesn't promise that everything will be fine. On the contrary, he proposes to reflect on why hope is a condition for not resigning oneself to the current state of affairs and maintaining the ability to act," writes Lohvinava.

For Belarusian readers, this book may be particularly relevant. Fear and uncertainty complicate not only future plans but also faith in the possibility of change itself. This is a conversation about how people can imagine and create the future together.

The Belarusian perspective is developed in Tatsiana Shchytsova's afterword. Lohvinava specifically advises paying attention to it: the philosopher examines Han primarily from a Belarusian point of view.

There is another distinguishing feature: according to the translator, the book has not yet been published in Russian.

"So this time, the Belarusian version didn't follow the Russian one, as usually happens, but itself came first. And, you'll agree, that's pleasant," she noted.

On the "Lohvinau" website, the book costs 8 euros.

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0