I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokpokki

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee is a memoir that discusses societal pressure and self-perception. The author talks about relatable themes of work, family dynamics, inner thoughts, and social relationships, and analyzes them with their therapist.

“ The only way for me to become a better person is to go my way little by little, as tedious as that can be.”

I love that this book dives into societal expectations in another country. The author, located in South Korea, talks about social anxiety, work-life balance, and substances (i.e. Medication, alcohol). It felt good to hear that people in other places in the world are grappling with the same feelings of living in today’s society, despite their differences in a cultural or national context.

At times, the writing does feel chaotic, as most of us are when talking with our therapists. It has a lot of (what I call) What if rabbit holes, where the author falls into a downward spiral of thought, self-doubt, and self analyzing that felt a little overwhelming as a reader. But sandwiched in between those instances in the book were life nuggets we all need and can relate to.

If you’re looking for a book about therapy, social constructs, and existing amongst the current pressures in the world, then I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki might be for you.