Blaine Harden

This well researched and sourced book gave excellent insight into the Korean war and the establishment of North Korea through the story of one young man who was determined to change his own life. Few people of any age are as perceptive and determined as he was. And it's a good flying story for those who can relate to military aviation.

It's also a disturbing story. In the mid 1940s, teachers began instilling a disturbing mantra into children, the new members of the Korean Democratic Youth League: "There is no God, no mystery, no secrets of life. Everyone can know everything."

Is that similar to what "new" atheists would have us believe 75 years later?… (plus d'informations)

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.… (plus d'informations)

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.… (plus d'informations)