Disturbing book about life in North Korea. ( )

Very interesting story. This North Korean refugee differs from others interviewed in that the young man was born and raised in a labor camp, within the authoritarian regime of the DPRK. It is not necessarily a good representation of a typical life of a North Korean citizen. It is, however, a tremendous account of how cruel and inhumane humans can be to one another. Institutional and violent detention can even drive one to turn around an inflect the same hatred and violence upon one's own family members and daily companions. Another main part of the story is the young man's adjustment to life in South Korea, and later, the United States. From a researcher's point of view, the author does a good job telling his own story of compiling this account and the difficulty of extracting story from Shin, the refugee from North Korea.

As an audiobook, it could have been done better. The reading was inconsistent, and the editing was very noticeable and distracting.

Merged review:

Very interesting story. This North Korean refugee differs from others interviewed in that the young man was born and raised in a labor camp, within the authoritarian regime of the DPRK. It is not necessarily a good representation of a typical life of a North Korean citizen. It is, however, a tremendous account of how cruel and inhumane humans can be to one another. Institutional and violent detention can even drive one to turn around an inflect the same hatred and violence upon one's own family members and daily companions. Another main part of the story is the young man's adjustment to life in South Korea, and later, the United States. From a researcher's point of view, the author does a good job telling his own story of compiling this account and the difficulty of extracting story from Shin, the refugee from North Korea.

As an audiobook, it could have been done better. The reading was inconsistent, and the editing was very noticeable and distracting. ( )

is the 2nd book I've read about North Korea (I now have 4 of them) and I'm officially obsessed. It's not that fact that it's this side show with a maniac ruler and the fairy tales the citizens are made to believe. After reading this, you will understand the severity of these camps and how truly horrible they are. Something should be done, on an international level, to hoThisld the Kim family responsible for crimes against humanity. There are plenty to choose from. It's easy to think about how hideous these camps are but it's another thing to hear a story of an actual human being who is trying to adapt to a world outside of North Korea. Words like love, companionship, friendship were foreign to him and to many defectors who now live in countries such as South Korea or the U.S. And to think that President Trump had summits with this guy is truly disgusting but 1 of the only 500 huge, horrible things that 45 did that something this vile is a footnote on his presidency, if that. Says a lot. Kim is a despotic maniac who murders his own people and controls their thoughts throughout their lives. He should not be praised but taken out. We'll go after Sadaam and Iraq for fraudulent weapons of mass destruction but stand by and do nothing as he murders at will. Not only do we not do anything but until 2003 we provided them food and fertilizer, especially during their horrible famine in the 90's. Not saying we shouldnt help out a nation in a famine crisis but it should come with stipulations to change stuff up. ( )

is the 2nd book I've read about North Korea (I now have 4 of them) and I'm officially obsessed. It's not that fact that it's this side show with a maniac ruler and the fairy tales the citizens are made to believe. After reading this, you will understand the severity of these camps and how truly horrible they are. Something should be done, on an international level, to hoThisld the Kim family responsible for crimes against humanity. There are plenty to choose from. It's easy to think about how hideous these camps are but it's another thing to hear a story of an actual human being who is trying to adapt to a world outside of North Korea. Words like love, companionship, friendship were foreign to him and to many defectors who now live in countries such as South Korea or the U.S. And to think that President Trump had summits with this guy is truly disgusting but 1 of the only 500 huge, horrible things that 45 did that something this vile is a footnote on his presidency, if that. Says a lot. Kim is a despotic maniac who murders his own people and controls their thoughts throughout their lives. He should not be praised but taken out. We'll go after Sadaam and Iraq for fraudulent weapons of mass destruction but stand by and do nothing as he murders at will. Not only do we not do anything but until 2003 we provided them food and fertilizer, especially during their horrible famine in the 90's. Not saying we shouldnt help out a nation in a famine crisis but it should come with stipulations to change stuff up. ( )

I found this book to be mediocre writing on an important topic. Harden is a journalist who reconstructs the life story of a North Korean man who is born in a prison camp in North Korea and who ultimately escapes to tell the tale.

I think the book shines a light on human rights violations occurring in North Korea and also illustrates how deprivation and beatings can really damage a human being. It is a jarring reminder of how so many in the world are powerless to change their circumstances and how horrible those circumstances can be.

On the flip side, the book is based on an account that strikes me as fairly unreliable. I didn't find the writing to be very compelling. It felt like it was aimed at an 8th grade level, and unlike say a Laura Hillebrand, Harden does little to really garner a reader's empathy.

So, my conclusion is that the book was worthwhile educationally, but as a reader it was just meh. It was, however, a solid book club choice as there was plenty to discuss. ( )