BTS Dynamite: The Story of the Superstars of K-pop

by Carolyn McHugh

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member South Korean boy band composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Originally a hip hop group, their musical style has evolved to include a wide range of genres. Their lyrics, often focused on personal and social commentary, touch on the themes of mental health, troubles of school-age youth, loss, the journey towards loving oneself, and individualism. After debuting in 2013 with their single album 2 Cool 4 Skool , BTS released their first Korean-language studio album, Dark & Wild , and Japanese- language studio album, Wake Up , in 2014. The group’s second Korean studio album, Wings (2016), was their first to sell one million copies in South Korea. By 2017, BTS crossed into the global music market, leading the Korean Wave into the United States and breaking numerous sales records. BTS became the fastest group since the Beatles to earn four No 1 US Albums, doing so in less than four years. By 2020 they had become the biggest selling band on the planet.

112 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

Carolyn McHugh is an editor and writer specialising in popular music, fashion, and culture. From the birth of rock and roll in the mid-1950s through to modern artists of the 21st century, she has written about everyone from legends such as Elvis Presley, Elton John, and George Michael, to the young stars of K-pop and country, and new fan favourites Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.

Reviews

[Zoë Salemi]

If you’re gonna publish a book about a group, at least get the members right

[Paloma]

Good Afternoon, Ms. McHugh
I’d first like to start of by expressing how excited I was to grab this book and read it of course yet something in particular caught my eye which led to me returning the book back on the shelf. THE COVER PHOTO which shows 6 of the members not all 7. First of all it looks all clumped together and photoshopped and second of all if you’re going to publish a book on a huge Kpop group try to at least double check everything is factual and correct.

Sincerely, a yoongi and bts fan.

[Mallory · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is written like a 6th grade class assignment - double quotations on the same page, anachronisms, misplaced illustrations, passages that don’t even connect with the “chapter,” and a whole section in fashion that shows… no fashion? The same terrible picture on THE FRONT COVER is used twice more inside, all without SUGA. It’s wild from beginning to end if you enjoy cringe, this is premium grade.

[ShedowCat8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a refined version most likely, because there were no errors with switching members up, but I have to say, if I'd be choosing which book to buy about BTS, this wouldn't be the first one.
This is an okay book, but not like superduper good.
I'm happy that it's on my self, but it is still not the best book to buy. :) So only buy this if you are really interested to read everything that has been published about BTS. (Which I am :D)

[Tanya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Do not buy!

If you want to have a gander at the sh*t show that is this book, I suggest seeing if your local library has a copy. I'm pretty sure that all the pictures and information was just copy and pasted from google searches. As well as having two V's and zero Suga's on the front cover, I can't believe this manage to make it into production.

[Shann · Rating 1 out of 5]

?????? 😭 Would it kill people to do actual research this was so painful to read not only because of spelling errors but the colours made it so difficult as well as the photos too I could take better screenshots what went wrong here