Ask a North Korean: Defectors Talk About Their Lives Inside the World's Most Secretive Nation

Some Insights into Daily Life

EDIT: Below is my original review, which I gave 2/5 stars. On reflection, I think that is far too negative. Despite the repetition in substance, this book can serve as a good starting point for readers of North Korea.

"Ask A North Korean: Defectors Talk About Their Lives Inside The World's Most Secretive Nation" is a quick and interesting read. As the publisher, the compiler, and the writer of the forward say several times, it seeks to fill a void of literature on North Korea, a country about whom there are many books regarding the Kim family and defectors, but few books about daily life. "Ask A North Korean" takes questions from readers of website and asks a North Korean defector to answer each show more question.

However, there are books about many of the themes touched on in this book, particularly the differences between Pyongyang and the rest of the country, the military, the Kim family, defectors, student life, and market liberalization. The compiler of this book, Daniel Tudor, even has another book that touches on these topics, "North Korea Confidential."

A casual reader can easily pick up this book and put it down for a break or read large sections at a time. The chapters on religion, fun and leisure, and relationships provide a beginning look at personal lives in the country. These are the sections where readers need more information. Unfortunately, what is provided is a scant survey. A future book could certainly flesh out these areas and provide tremendous insight into life in North Korea.

There are several frustrations. First, the compiler interjects before every question is answered. He provides his own thesis and then a summary of what the North Korean defector will write. This interrupts the flow of narratives. Because the North Korean defector is only given a few paragraphs to one or two pages for a response, the force of their personal remarks are lessened by Tudor's succinct summaries.

An additional complaint is that there is no index for "Ask a North Korean." This makes the book a poor resource for libraries, students, and academics.

All in all, this book is a light read about a horrible regime. It mentions some of the depravities, but aims not to dwell on them. It touches briefly on a few topics about daily lives but not enough to give a whole picture. show less