The National Library of Korea analyzed the number of loaned out books in the science category by 660 public libraries over an approximate three year period, and it found “The Selfish Gene” was checked out 24,064 times. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 10 (Korea Bizwire) — English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins’ influential book “The Selfish Gene” is the most borrowed scientific literature from South Korean public libraries, with “Sapiens” by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari ranking third.
South Korean KAIST professor Chung Jae-seung’s edited and re-released edition of “Science Concert” was the second most sought after text in the top three most popular science books.
The National Library of Korea analyzed the number of loaned out books in the science category by 660 public libraries over an approximate three year period, and it found “The Selfish Gene” was checked out 24,064 times. “Sapiens” was borrowed 20,659 times.
A spokesperson from the National Library of Korea said, “Going by subject category, mathematics, liberal arts and biology were the most popular in that order. Works by English-speaking authors featured prominently in the most popular list of science novels.”
“Sapiens” author Yuval Noah Harari speaks at a gathering in Seoul two years ago (Image: Yonhap)
Rounding out the top five most borrowed list of science books was Randall Munroe’s “What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” and Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos”.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
