Books That Inspired BTS Music – 10 BTS Book Recommendations

Kafka On The Shore By Haruki Murakami

This book is also recommended by RM ( Kim Namjoon)
There’s a reference to this book in the lyrics of the “Butterfly” song which is:

“I don’t know if this is reality or a dream,
my Kafka on the shore,
don’t go to those woods over there.”

Kim NamJoon aka RM likes this author’s other work as he has also mentioned his other books.

This book is about a boy named Kafka who runs away from his home to escape his ill fate. This story is about letting things go, and self-discovery.
If you see the lyrics and the meaning of Butterfly song you’ll understand the reference.

Murakami’s books are magical realism. He is a very popular author and a favorite of so many people.

The One Who Walks Away From Omelas By Ursula K. Le Guin

You can see the “Omelas” sign on a motel in the “Spring Day” music video.

The story is about Omelas, a beautiful town filled with joyful people. But for these people to have this happy life one child has to suffer.
Some people stay there even after knowing this child’s suffering and, some leave, but no one knows where they go.

This story talks about their dilemma of what is happiness and right.
It talks about the biggest problem in our society. That is we are too focused on individual gain and not enough on the happiness and well-being of everyone.
This is a very short story around 20 pages; even less than that.

There are rumors that Jungkook is shown as that child in some parts of MV. This is just a theory by fans which is up to you to believe it or not.

Demian By Herman Hesse

This is a book you should definitely read if you’re an ARMY and also if you loved the Wings album; its concept and its songs.

The Wings album’s concept is highly inspired by this book.
RM has also mentioned and recommended this book.

This is a German book that has been translated into many languages.
It is a classic coming-of-age story. It explores good and evil, morality, and self-discovery.

It follows a boy Sinclair and how he encounters two worlds one is light another is dark, or illusion, or evil. How he met the boy named Demian who provoked his search for self-discovery and about life.

There are many references in the BS&T music video in the shape of quotes and scenes about realms, and temptation. You can hear RM saying some lines from this book, and some lines written in German, and pictures of a bird. Not just this MV but all the short films or videos of this album have lines from this book that are spoken by RM.

Also, Jin who is playing the role of Sinclair in the MV is standing between the two gates; one is light and the other is dark. Why Jin kisses the statue that you should read in the book as it’s a very important part of it.

When I saw this MV for the first time I found it aesthetically pleasing and artistic which it is. But I didn’t think this MV had this deep meaning even after watching the explanation video of this MV.
But all the stories are not from the book. They have their own original BTS universe story it’s just they used this book’s concept to show their story.

I would say this is one of the best masterpiece albums of BTS according to me. Artistically speaking.

The book is around 200 pages and this book is worth your time.

The Little Prince By Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

This a French novella that has inspired Jimin’s solo song Serendipity’s music video.
It is also recommended by Jungkook. The scenes in the MV show the setting of this story, especially space.

The Little Prince visits different planets and each is meant to critique an element of society. It addresses themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss.

Despite having the style of a children’s book many adults also love this book and re-read this.

The Little Prince also has a love for a Rose but he doesn’t know how to show that love to her. Just like Jimin is singing for his Rose in the song.

Also, there’s a poem that inspires this song

The Flower By Kim Chunsu

This is the poem that inspired the lyrics of the song.

The flower references:-

The poem –
“When I called their name, they came to me and became a flower.”
“I, too, long to come to them and become their flower.”

The Serendipity lyrics –
“When you called me
I became your flower”

I love seeing all this related stuff. I always loved the lyrics of “Serendipity” of course RM is the songwriter in this so it has to be best.

Into The Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart By James R. Doty

This book has inspired the song “Magic Shop” by BTS.

The author also shared a tweet regarding this. Thanking BTS.

This is a non-fiction memoir of James(Jim) Doty. He goes into a magic shop where he meets a woman named Ruth, who taught him exercises to open his heart and mind. And also inspired him to share this technique with others.

The “Magic Shop” by BTS also encourages listeners to open their hearts when they are hurt and that they are not alone. This is really a special song for so many people.

The book shows us how we can fundamentally change our lives by first changing our brains and our hearts.

Jung’s Map Of The Soul: An Introduction” By Dr. Murray Stein

Being inspired by this book BTS has an album “Map Of The Soul” whose name is directly derived from the book’s title.

This is a psychological book that describes the basic principles of Jung, who theorized and gave ideas about the human psyche and its various elements.

The song and music video of “Intro-Persona” highlight the psyche components throughout the lyrics and the visuals are inspired by the book.

The book also has parts that include “Shadow” and “Ego” which are again song names in the album Map Of The Soul.

Some people find this book hard to read and some find it easy. So as this is a psychological book make sure you give this book some time when you read it.

1Q84 By Haruki Murakami

Another book by Haruki Murakami that inspired a BTS song.
The Hidden Track of ‘Love Yourself: Her.’ ‘Sea,’ is inspired by this book.

A woman enters a parallel existence and she calls it 1Q84 – Q is for ‘question mark.’ A world that bears a question.
It’s a love story, dystopian, fantasy, mystery novel of self-discovery.

The lyrics of the song “Sea” have these lyrics which describe the places of the novel:

“I see ocean, I see desert
I see the world
Everything, same thing
different name.”

This line comes straight out of the book:
“Wherever there’s hope, there’s a trial.

This song is beautiful and RM says that this is a hidden track because whenever someone needs this song in their life they will come across it. That’s how I got to know about the song when I needed it. I got to know about this song after being a fan for 2 years and I was like wow the idea is as amazing as the song. I don’t listen to this song often I just listen to it whenever it just shows up.

Haruki Murakami is an amazing author and you should try his books.

The Pied Piper

It’s a German folklore. In which the villagers take the help of a Pied Piper to remove all the rats from their village. The Pied Piper calls villager’s children through his music when the villagers refuse to pay him. There are different types of ending for this story as it’s folklore.

BTS has a song with the same name “Pied Piper”. This captures Pied Piper’s character, that they can make people follow them through their music. This song is dedicated to the fans (ARMY) who are already following BTS’s music.
It’s interesting how BTS & team find and use all this stuff to make something new.

Anpanman By Takashi Yanase

This is a famous superhero comic book that is turned into an anime.
BTS has a song with the same name “Anpanman”. The lyrics, music, and dance of the song are very uplifting and happy. Just like what we expect from our childhood superhero.