North Korea Confidential: Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors : Tudor, Daniel, Pearson, James: Amazon.com.au: Books
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North Korea Confidential: Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors Hardcover – Illustrated, 14 April 2015
by
Daniel Tudor (Author),
James Pearson (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars
635 ratingsNorth Korea is a country where everyone is thought to worship a power-crazed dictator, where disputes with neighboring South Korea frequently break out into violence, where nuclear bombs are detonated with alarming regularity, and where most people are assumed to be on the verge of starvation. But is this an accurate view of daily life in North Korea today? Read this book to find out. In seven fascinating chapters the authors explore what life is really like for ordinary North Koreans. They tap a broad variety of sources-from interviews with members of Pyongyang's ruling elite to defectors, diplomats, NGOs and cross-border traders, as well as written accounts in English, Korean and Chineseto bring together a radically different view of North Korean society today.
NORTH KOREA CONFIDENTIAL - North Korea sentences presidents and journalists at two South Korean newspapers to death .... Story is reported by The Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Reuters, Foreign Policy, Daily Beast, NK News, and many other publications.
"The North didn't directly threaten the British authors of North Korea Confidential: Private Markets, Fashion Trends, Prison Camps, Dissenters and Defectors, but said the book 'viciously defamed and distorted' the country's realities." -
New York Times (AP)"One of the most informative and contemporary books to be released on North Korea..." -Asia Society
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224 pages
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English
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Tuttle Publishing
Publication date
14 April 2015
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Review
"...it is refreshing to find a book that neither obsesses excessively over the nuclear issue nor treats the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as simply a bad joke or the world's most irrational place." --Andrei Lankov, Reason
"North Korea Confidential gives us a deeply informed close-up. Tudor, a former correspondent for The Economist, and Pearson, a Reuters reporter, have pieced together their story from North Korean insiders, defectors, diplomats and traders, and from a careful reading of texts in English, Korean and Chinese." --New York Times
"North Korea Confidential...uses extensive interviews with recent defectors and people still in the country to build a rich picture of daily life there." --Financial Times
"North Korea Confidential, by James Pearson and Daniel Tudor, says that nearly all North Koreans lead a 'double economic life, ' supplementing measly rations and puny state wages of as little as $1 a month with extra work in their spare time." --The Economist
"Dispelling the myth of a brainwashed populace is one of the main goals of the book. Despite horrific prison camps, lack of Internet, and a national fabric called "vinylon," most people still take the risk to watch a foreign film, regularly consume South Korea pop culture, party, and even argue with the police." --The Daily Beast
"In a new book that the authors say aims to document 'North Korea, the country' rather than 'North Korea, the state, ' two journalists --Daniel Tudor, former correspondent for the Economist in Seoul, and James Pearson, currently a Reuters reporter in Seoul--tap a wide range of sources to describe the lives of ordinary North Koreans. --Wall Street Journal
"North Korean society is rapidly changing, affecting everything from what people watch on TV to what they sing at karaoke. With the help of a new book charting daily life we see if you've been paying attention." --The Guardian
"The authors, both journalists in the region, do their best to beat the stereotypes that have been scraped together over the years, 'the ridiculous international media image that suggests that DPRK citizens are robots who simply live to serve their 'Dear Leader.'" --Associated Press
About the Author
Daniel Tudor is from Manchester, England, and graduated with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University. He has lived in Seoul, Korea for many years, and served as The Economist's Korea Correspondent from 2010-2013. His first book, 'Korea: The Impossible Country' received high praise and has also been translated into Korean, Chinese, Polish, and Thai. Daniel is a regular columnist for a Korean newspaper, the Joongang Ilbo, and has commented on Korea-related topics many times for the BBC, Al Jazeera, and others. He is also co-founder of The Booth, a small chain of craft beer pubs.
James Pearson is a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Seoul, where he covers politics and general news in North and South Korea. He holds a BA (hons) in Chinese and Korean from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and a Master's of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Oriental Studies from the University of Cambridge.
Product details
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing; Illustrated edition (14 April 2015)
Language : English
Hardcover : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 0804844585
ISBN-13 : 978-0804844581
Dimensions : 13.02 x 2.29 x 20.32 cmBest Sellers Rank: 814,923 in Books (
See Top 100 in Books)165 in
History of North Korea243 in
Asian-American Studies252 in
Korean War History (Books)Customer Reviews:
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars
635 ratingsAbout the authors
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Daniel TudorDaniel Tudor is The Economist's Korea Correspondent. He was born in Manchester, England, and is a graduate of Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and also holds an MBA from Manchester University. His first book, 'Korea: The Impossible Country' was released in November 2012.
See more on the author's pageFollow
James PearsonJames Pearson is the Reuters Bureau Chief in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was previously a correspondent with Reuters in Seoul, where he covered politics and general news in North and South Korea. Originally from the UK, Pearson studied Chinese and Korean at the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), and Oriental Studies at the University of Cambridge. He is co-author of 'North Korea Confidential' with Daniel Tudor, a former Economist correspondent.
See more on the author's page==
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635 total ratings, 78 with reviews
Translate all reviews to EnglishFrom Australia
Jan3.0 out of 5 stars Dull and disappointingReviewed in Australia on 17 August 2020
Verified PurchaseIt reads more like a report of loose facts without a narrative to make a homogeneous representation what North Korea represents. This makes for very dull reading indeed. For one somewhat familiar with North Korea through reading, this book does not offer any insights nor information that are new or revealing. There is plenty of redundant text through repetition, making it heftier than what it really is. I was very disappointed.
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Dr J.I. Deans2.0 out of 5 stars DisappointingReviewed in Australia on 18 April 2015
Verified PurchaseAlthough this came highly recommended, I was disappointed with the content and the Kindle version of the book.
The first chapter was excellent but the quality quickly declined; there was considerable repetition and the editing was sloppy. There are constant mentions of how 'everything changed after the mid-1990s famine', which makes the reader hope for an informed analysis of that event but is left unsatisfied. Instead, there are frequent digressions on South Korea which typically provide little additional understanding of the North. Some discussions are so simplistic, it reads as though the author is lecturing a small child. This all leaves a feeling that the book is padded, which is not desirable in such a short work (apparently 224 printed pages, perhaps 150 after the photos/references/etc are removed). A good editor could have easily condensed this work to <100 pages, without losing any important information. Most frustratingly, extensive footnotes are provided but many claims are unsupported. The reader is unable to discern whether a claim is based on evidence, information from defectors/insiders, or the author's own assumptions/beliefs, and it is impossible to make decisions about the content's reliability.
The Kindle version suffered from some technical errors (some sections are simply cut off, mid-sentence, with the heading for another section) and the placement of footnotes at the end of each chapter, rather than the end of the book, meant tedious scrolling through pages and the 'time left' feature was unreliable. The placement of a picture section in the middle makes sense with a physical book, where different paper must be used, but is confusing in a Kindle book, where it divides a chapter (and sentence).
Overall, I found the book overpriced (A$13) for the content and that it failed to provide an informed, insightful analysis on North Korea's marketisation.
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francois de labarre
4.0 out of 5 stars EvolutionReviewed in France on 25 August 2015
Verified PurchaseVery interesting to see that capialism is gathering speed in North Korea. Will Korea be a new China or another South Korea ?
ReportR. Tudge
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a highly readable book giving a comprehensive and ...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2015
Verified PurchaseThis is a highly readable book giving a comprehensive and at times very surprising insights into life in today's North Korea, from the fashion-following, tablet-wielding denizens of Pyongyang, to the central importance of the jangmajang markets for individuals making their own way utterly apart from the state's desperate meddling, to the horrific menace of the state security apparatus. That said, the book outlines the extent to which money has replaced and undermined the structures of loyalty and surveillance in the 20 years following the famine, and this book neatly bookends the country's development since the 1990s' famine that Demyck covers so well in Nothing To Envy.
3 people found this helpful
ReportSrinivasan Thothathri
5.0 out of 5 stars Good and simple read. But some sections are purely imaginative and lack evidence or substance. But the book is written based onReviewed in India on 29 September 2015
Verified PurchaseI will recommend this book if you are interested in now north korea is trying to change. It gives a clear reasoning of why totalitarian and oppressive dynasties finally create a totally corrupt society, like India...
ReportMarcoPolo
5.0 out of 5 stars The exciting reality behind a flat stereotypeReviewed in Germany on 9 April 2016
Verified PurchaseIt used to be Idi Amin who tessed the demonic in the world. Or Saddam Hussein the evil par excellence. Today, North Korea has become the global cipher for “the destructive itself”. Whenever people or states become the leading negative brand in the global stereotypes business, it's worth taking a closer look. (By the way, even with positive stereotypes.) In “North Korea confidential ”
Tudor & Pearson looked closely, analytically and unexcited along the reality of life in the country. The monolith of evil quickly differentiates itself into a multi-layered entity: a fragile mixture of “power deadlock” and mutual dependence between the Kim family and the OGD - the power complex of the party - forms the axis of the state system that finds enough supporters because enough benefit from it. The state's helplessness to the hunger crisis in the 1990s has driven a wedge of permanent alienation between the party and the population. The state prohibits a lot - from listening to foreign radio stations to wearing blue jeans. But those who have (bribe) can afford a lot and buy a lot. Not many, but more and more have money in the growing stratum of capitalist entrepreneurs: from well-connected privatisers of large-scale state wealth to the uncountable, who buy themselves free from their workplace every day to sell USB flash drives with Western films on the market.
Cliquen-governed and aggressive states such as North Korea pose challenges to the international community. Challenges that can only be tackled efficiently with a close look and understanding. This book is a competent contribution to this. And yet another one that is very exciting to read.
2 people found this helpful
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Christian
5.0 out of 5 stars Great readReviewed in the United States on 23 November 2020
Verified PurchaseVery enjoyable book that gives you great insights into North Korea without the usual clichés. You can tell the authors have lived in that region and have done extensive research for the book. A lot of things are better understood once you know about the different strays of Korean society (« songbun »). Overall highly recommended if you have any interest in the subject
ReportJuan
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesante temáticaReviewed in Spain on 21 January 2018
Verified PurchaseNarra la realidad dentro del estado más aislado del mundo. El libro de pasta dura viene bien encuadernado aunque se haya impreso en China. La temática es muy interesante.
ReportTranslate review to EnglishAniko
4.0 out of 5 stars modern approach to North Korea in a very sterile toneReviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 April 2018
Verified PurchaseThe most up-to-date book about North Korea. It is refreshing to read about the impact of USB sticks, tablets, or mobiles. However, the book is just painfully sterile. Not a single human story, it's more like a sociology study. I would have preferred to learn more about the human beings behind all this information.
ReportDozer
4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!Reviewed in Germany on 25 April 2021
Verified PurchaseVery informative and very reputable. You can learn a lot about the locked North Korea and that makes the book very worth reading. A small deduction of the fact that a lot is written about freedoms in North Korea that no longer exist now. Maybe you can make that clearer with an afterword. Nevertheless, a book that those interested in North Korea should definitely read.
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Ron L
4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic OptimismReviewed in the United States on 19 October 2017
Verified PurchaseAbout as good as you can find in the search for authoritative accounts placing North Korea’s current location on the curve of either destruction or reform. Such a search is always limited by the North Korean government’s (murderous) attempts to limit access to knowledge regarding the extent of the disaster over which they are currently presiding. The higher the rank of the source, the higher the risk, and the less chance of positive identification, so we take what we can get.
Assuming sources of even moderate honesty, this is a vivid description of a failed and further failing government, the authors being sympathetic to the population/victims, and even strangely optimistic.
The population was starved into developing survival strategies and, not surprisingly, found which talents they each had to produce something salable on the illegal market to trade for food; a bottom-up market development. Calling it a ‘free market’ is a mistake; it is grossly distorted by the actual or perceived risks of government intervention, and in some cases is simply coerced by those acting in the government’s behalf or pretending to do so. A ‘black market’ it remains at the time of writing.
How much of the market is officially accepted or tolerated is still mooted; the market does exist, people eat and most don’t go to jail. And some of it must be officially accepted: Department stores in Pyongyang sell Hersey chocolates.
As markets do, it spread, monetarizing most any commodity (‘get out of jail’ cards being one), and markets identify good currencies which does not include the North Korean won; Yuan, Yen, Euros or Dollars, please. In some cases, the government does not accept the won it prints; communism writ honestly and honestly pathetic. At the current official rate, which is and always has been a source of amusement, a won is worth .001 US penny; it takes 100 won to equal US$0.01. Officially (and laughably).
Dealing, as they are, with a failing state, Tudor/Pearson spend some pages identifying who is actually in charge, and the participants are more numerous than I had known or guessed. Anyone who has read Beckwith’s “Empires of the Silk Road” will recognize the parallels to comitatus in other monarchies (not to mention “The Hero and His Friends” mythology). Here, we are relying on the authors’ sources, but the detail and presentation are such as to be convincing.
We get a sum-up, where the authors sadly try to equate inherited wealth in the west with hereditary class structures (hint: Wealth is often lost in a generation or two), and a ‘hope’ that North Korea will become a modern country with a decent government. But no more than a hope.
Over all, a realistic look at where North Korea stood a couple of years ago in its path to wherever it might be going. And very well written, besides.
3 people found this helpful
ReportiFloh
5.0 out of 5 stars Great InsightsReviewed in Germany on 13 December 2015
Verified PurchaseThe authors draw a whole new picture of North Korea. Another example of how politics can leave the population. In democracy, you can opt out if the suffering gets too great. In other systems you have to dodge in other directions...
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Victor Amoros
5.0 out of 5 stars Indider guide to The Kingdom of North KoreaReviewed in Spain on 29 January 2016
Verified PurchaseConvincent insider information about the situación in North Korea. Free of the usual political-periodístical and misleading consensus. A b c
ReportMonisha Rajesh
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant bookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 September 2017
Verified PurchaseProbably the most up-to-date and insightful book on NK. Having been published recently it features the most relevant detail in a way that Nothing to Envy feels outdated. The journalists have done rigorous research, verifying the stories of defectors with at least six independent other sources before deeming anything as fact. Also includes tiny details about the black market and South Korean soaps being watched on USB sticks that can be disposed of discreetly etc that make the book a brilliant read for anyone, not just those interested in the so-called hermit kingdom.
2 people found this helpful
ReportKindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on Nkrth Korea's quiet transformationReviewed in the United States on 11 January 2018
Verified PurchaseIf you're looking for an accessible and concise introduction to North Korea's immensely important transformation towards a market economy and how it shapes North Korean society, look no further. This is a brilliant book on the topic. I've been reading a bunch of books on North Korea's marketization lately and, although there are books that go into more detail, this is definitely the best place to start if you're new to the topic.
One person found this helpful
ReportMoo
3.0 out of 5 stars Well...Reviewed in Germany on 22 September 2015
Verified PurchaseNot my favorite book about North Korea. The book has many footnotes, so it cannot be read fluently. Nevertheless, it contains interesting information.
One person found this helpful
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Design Think
3.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting ideas, but ineffective organization, a focus on one class (upper middle), and sketchy evidence cast some doubtReviewed in the United States on 3 April 2016
Verified PurchaseThis book provides some insight that is lost in most books on North Korea. Its particular advantage is that it is written in 2015, based on newer information than the average North Korean refuge account tends to provide (which often involves years of separation from North Korean society, due to understandable delays between escape, resettlement, and publication). As such, this book's angle is that it is more focused on contemporary changes, such as the proliferation of USB sticks and micro SD cards, than refugee accounts and/or older books can possibly be. And that does have potential value for understanding what is going on there now.
As such, it is still worth reading, at least for those who have already worked through most books about North Korea already.
However, its problems and limitation are notable, including:
~~~ Questionably sourced statements of fact ~~~ The authors make sweeping pronouncements throughout the book that too rarely get cited with evidence (and, sure, while that is challenging with reference to NK, they still could have done considerably better on that front.). For example, they claim that fewer people attend party meetings in workplaces and residential areas now than they used to, with no discussion about how they drew that conclusion. And they claim that young people welcome "volunteering" in farms instead of going to school because of the party-like atmosphere during work engagements. How did they draw those conclusions? Obviously they won't have survey data of North Koreans to back that up. But did one person tell them that, or a dozen? Were sources from poor areas or wealthy ones, where conditions might have been better? Very little supportive evidence and/or any kind of indication of source quality is provided to back up many key statements and conclusions in this book. Perhaps the authors are correct in their conclusions, but one should not have to work largely on blind faith when reading a book of this type.
It should be noted that is possible to handle source quality well, even with respect to a complicated topic like North Korea; "Only Beautiful, Please: A British Diplomat in North Korea" by John Everard is exemplary on that front. "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea," by Barbara Demick handles sourcing well, also.
~~~ This book primarily focuses on the upper middle class, and over-extends its claims as a result ~~~ This book claims to focus on life for North Koreans overall, but it actually seems to focus mainly on the growing upper middle / merchant class of families who have gained priviledge and affluence through private market activities. This book's perspective largely seems to be that people in North Korea break rules now, because there is little loyalty towards the government after the great famine of the 1990s, and they can always bribe their way out of a jam. That is interesting and does represent a big change for some. But this book too often ignores the formidable cost of those bribes to the average North Korean, who too often doesn't have enough money to eat properly, even in the post-famine era. But as importantly, it too rarely acknowledges the importance of family status and connections for keeping people safe from the terrifying power of the law there. Better accounts of North Korea discuss in depth how it is connections and family status, as much or more than money, that keep people (and their three generations of relatives) out of deadly labor camps when they misstep. This book mentions those facts in passing, while usually returning to its belief that life is improved because bribes can be offered. Without thoroughly grappling with those social class issues, it is impossible to understand in any genuine way the situation that the socioeconomically average or below average North Korea is facing today. The book's minimal recognition about this potential for bias on that front is really quite disappointing.
Again, "Only Beautiful, Please: A British Diplomat in North Korea" (by John Everard) handles class issues well by acknowledging repeatedly that he mainly had contact with lower-level elites in the capital, and so could not speak as well to issues facing rural areas and the poor. Everard's writing is stronger because he directly acknowledges the limitations of his knowledge.
~~~ Haphazard organization, and poor structure ~~~ Any given paragraph is breezy and readable enough. But when moving from paragraph to paragraph, this book reads like an almost random collection of ideas, grouped roughly under chapter topics, but barely organized beyond that. There are few introductions or topic sentences to help transition the idea from idea to idea. Instead, it becomes the reader's job to follow the flow of logic, as the authors hop from one concept to another. The reader logically takes away less than they could otherwise, with more effort than should be necessary to try to piece together a narrative and the author's argument. Those kinds of structural issues tend to be so easy to fix; careful editing could have done so, but no one bothered for this book.
~~~ Poor proofing ~~~ This book reads as a fairly unprofessional effort, with many obvious/blatant typos throughout. I expect books in the $10 and over range for electronic / Kindle editions to have been proofed well by professional editors and publishers.
Finally, The Amazon page for this book proclaims that The Economist ranked it as one of the best books the year it was published. That statement should be ignored, as A) this book is not written well enough, nor is its evidence strong enough, for that claim to pass muster; and B) there is a serious conflict of interest for the Economist, as one of the authors was a long-time reporter for the Economist. Basic ethics suggest that this book should have been ineligible for awards from a publication where one of its authors worked, as it looks quite sketchy, indeed.
*************************
*** BOTTOM-LINE ***
*************************
I can only recommend this book with considerable caution.
Overall, this book tries to paint a rosier picture of the daily life of North Koreans than one might imagine would be the case apriori. That is interesting of course, in a counter-intuitive man-bites-dog kind of way that stands in contrast to the far more dismal accounts of life in North Korea that most have read before. But given that this book seems to be focused primarily on the rising upper middle / merchant class, rather than on the rank and file, there are reasons to doubt these conclusions for some, or perhaps even most, North Koreans.
It does provide some angles that might prove later be proven to be accurate. But given that the quality of evidence these authors are using to draw its conclusions and grand pronouncements are often hidden entirely from the reader, the information and conclusions in this work should be taken with a big grain of salt, at least until it gets independently confirmed by other sources moving forward.
26 people found this helpful
ReportRoy Calley
3.0 out of 5 stars DisappointingReviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 May 2018
Verified PurchaseAs a regular visitor to North Korea I was hoping to find a book that redresses the balance of the normally biased view by the western media. To a certain extent this is that book, but I got the distinct impression that neither author had ever visited the country, despite their obvious knowledge on the subject. There was a lot of padding (explaining how Karaoke works...) and lots of repetition (DVDs and memory sticks etc..), plus the sections on leisure and women's fashions are just wrong. Women can and do wear short skirts in the country, people can travel (albeit with a little more difficulty than you and I) and there are NO billboards in Pyongyang for mobile phones. Some of writing seemed to be pure guesswork when it came to the suggestion that people travel on over-crowded and slow trains to talk about the Leaders. I travelled on a train that was quiet and smooth without a hint of any conspiracy theory anywhere. I was also becoming rather irritated with the regular 'sources' mentioned constantly, even over the most menial detail. I also found some of the writing slightly simplistic in its tone.
Having said that, there are some really good moments, especially with the explanation of the Kim2 and his route to power. The authors are clearly passionate about their subject (as am I) so I think this was an opportunity lost. Hopefully there will be another book on the subject soon.
2 people found this helpful
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Sunwatcher
5.0 out of 5 stars I have read a few books on N. K ...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2015
Verified PurchaseI have read a few books on N. K. This book gave me an understanding of the resilience, inovativness and courage of the average citizen despite the gruesome living conditions and personal dangers from the
Authorities and snoopers. Want to get some understanding of N.K people? Then get this book.
2 people found this helpful
ReportScott Flash
4.0 out of 5 stars A much closer look inside The DPRK.Reviewed in the United States on 16 March 2020
Verified PurchaseThis journey was from many different perspective es, and reasons the people of North Korea may have so many views from home, business and the government elite. Very detailed but well categorized making it more personally understandable.
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karl14050
5.0 out of 5 stars A must to understand North KoreaReviewed in Germany on 3 November 2015
Verified PurchaseI was in North Korea, without this book I would have seen much less. On the spot I saw an exciting landscape, the lives of the people remained hidden. It's forbidden to contact us.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great readReviewed in the United States on 4 May 2015
Verified PurchaseI found the writing accessible and clear. It is a very up to date source of information on North Korea, a compilation of all the recent source material from scholars and defectors. It's not necessarily a weighty scholarly source, instead the flow and content is breezy and casual. If you want to be well read on North Korea, definitely consider this book.
4 people found this helpful
ReportM Zurbrugg
4.0 out of 5 stars Four StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 July 2016
Verified PurchaseAn interesting read that provides a different perspective on North Korea. Definitely worth reading
ReportSteven Gibson
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book with insight as to who controls North KoreaReviewed in the United States on 6 July 2017
Verified PurchaseI enjoyed reading about the Kim family and the OGD organization and how those two groups sometimes align together and sometimes are opponents. Interesting book !
One person found this helpful
ReportTomW94
5.0 out of 5 stars Great bookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2019
Verified PurchaseGreat book, provides very useful and new information which i did not know myself as well as everything else being accurate with my knowledge of North Korea
One person found this helpful
ReportJGBermudez
5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic!Reviewed in the United States on 28 February 2022
Verified PurchaseWe started watching crash landing on you, and I had a hard time grasping the cultural differences. But with this book I was educated on what North Korea is really like. Far from the misconceptions that American media has portrayed for us.
ReportM. James
3.0 out of 5 stars Good book just not very in-depth.Reviewed in the United States on 5 January 2016
Verified PurchaseThis isn't a very in-depth look at North Korea but at least somewhat of a look and you might glean something from it that you didn't know. Books by people who were born there, grew up there, and then escaped probably give you more of an insight into what the real North Koreans are thinking and who they actually are. The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag is one such book that seemed to me to be truthful and was very interesting, albeit very sad. Maybe because I've read quite a bit about North Korea but I didn't learn anything new in this book.
4 people found this helpful
Reportmike harris
4.0 out of 5 stars Struck living and rightsReviewed in the United States on 29 April 2021
Verified PurchaseKept could to get to next page ,was reality not as maid out to be, thing not liked not going in to detail enough
ReportPepper lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful book about North KoreaReviewed in the United States on 10 June 2018
Verified PurchaseThis book shows holistic views on North Korea. I was shocked how famine has changed North Korea system. The burgeoning capitalism with feudalism and elitism led where North Korea is today. I was little worried that this book is not the most up to date book about NK, but I can fix my perception and prejudice about North Korea through this book. This book is must read for those who would like to understand NK, which hot potato nowadays,
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5.0 out of 5 stars ExcellentReviewed in the United States on 18 April 2017
Verified PurchaseRefreshing; insightful and matter of fact. A very straight forward view into a country that outsiders often forget contains real people just like them. Highly recommended.
I was expecting a brief word or two on lgbt matters; but as this information is probably less than accessible or relatively non existent as we know the idea of it; leaving it out seems ok in terms of continuing with the book's matter of fact tone.
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