When encountering difficult and challenging moments in life, The author sought refuge in "learning."
She reads books, took exams, and studied anything she could to learn and progress.
Despite experiencing setbacks and failures, she escaped into the solace provided by the notion of "being someone who is learning."

However, one day, the betrayal of learning began.

Taeju overcame every problem encountered in life through learning.
Yet, she suddenly finds herself facing a moment when everything she had studied and learned becomes futile.

She never imagined that she would lose my way and wander for so long "because of learning," when she believed that "thanks to learning," she would succeed. She thought approaching every aspect of life with a learning attitude was the key to living well.

However, that belief turned out to be a colossal misconception. In that moment when the "learning" she had trusted turned its back on Taeju, she finally begins to vaguely grasp what she truly needs to know and learn.

Review by Atnoonbooks

Taeju, who had been a model student since childhood, navigated through all the hardships of life with "learning." While others packed their bags and searched for tourist attractions in anticipation of their trip to France, she attended French language classes. And when they arrived at the destination, while her friends went shopping or searched for good restaurants, she signed up for one-day classes to learn about the local culture.

"Whenever a problem arises, I break through it with studying and learning." That had been my long-standing habit. I believed that by studying and learning, I could find the "correct answer." Just like solving a problem set or facing an exam question, I thought that by eliminating each wrong answer, I would eventually find the right one. While life may not have definitive answers, I thought that by erasing the wrong choices, I could get closer to the right one.

To Taehju, "learning" was the driving force and solution in life. Through "learning," she had overcome numerous challenges. However, one day, she faced a moment when everything she had diligently studied and learned became futile.

Why did I become so disillusioned with "learning"? Was it because I was a natural self-directed learner? Or perhaps I wanted to become a protagonist in a heroic tale? Not at all. I simply didn't know how to be loved or recognized. Consequently, I never had the opportunity to deeply contemplate what truly mattered in life. No, I pretended to ponder deeply, thinking about it over and over, but I never arrived at a proper answer, wasting a significant amount of time. During that time, I repeatedly ran into walls.

That's when the "betrayal of learning" began.

Afterward, Taeju reflects on the path of learning she had built up until then, contemplating what she truly needs to know and learn in the remaining days of her life. Through this process, she reevaluates the meaning of learning, not just as acquiring knowledge or accumulating experiences, but as a way to fully experience life.

I hope that readers of this book, through her story, will have an opportunity to reflect on the necessary learning in their own lives and the value it brings.

Who am I, and where are we all coming from and going to?
The curious child grew up to become an adult who couldn't properly answer anything.
Becoming such an adult who couldn't answer properly,
I wanted to find the answers, so I learned anything and everything and documented those experiences in writing.
That's how this book was born.
I still don't know who I am and how I should live, which feels distant and unknown.
Nevertheless, I've included words I want to convey to those who have managed to survive another day and to all the lives that are still alive.
Though it may be a mess, and though I get discouraged every day, I hope that we will live together until the end.
And thus, may all the people in the world eventually reach themselves on their respective paths.
With such hope, I will continue writing throughout the days I am alive.

Taeju Um

Dreaming of a society where no one is discriminated against in education, I entered the Department of Education at Korea University. While studying educational sociology in graduate school, I joined an NGO organization and worked as a full-time activist. After graduating, I worked as a researcher in an educational company and startup, assisting teenagers in exploring their career and educational paths. Subsequently, I became a freelance instructor, meeting children in school settings and contemplating together on how to find and achieve their dreams. Over the course of 15 years since graduating from university, I have gone through seven different professions, and now I find myself in my eighth occupation, as a writer.
Among the books I have written is "For every fool in the world."