books on Korean mentality

[iDoof]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a book or resource about Korean culture and mentality? There are many travel books on a list of customs and etiquette...but I actually want to see a general analysis (doesn't have to be too deep) of the Korean psyche and why they do certain things they do, and how they view the world....something a little more philosophical in nature, does that make sense?

I appreciate your time everyone!

[trutherous]

There is not a single Korean mind or "consensus" on matters of culture -- it certainly depends on what era one is referring to, and in modern times it is a mixture of young and old, and "warm and cold" so to speak .. there have been so many national, religious, philosophical, and political influences over Korea's long history that it becomes very misleading to generalize -- I think the cheap thing to do would be to take a walk through wikki and google with a search of "Korean Culture," "Ancient Korean Culture," and "Modern Korean Culture" and that would just about touch the surface.