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The Real North Korea
- Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia
- Narrated by: Steven Roy Grimsley
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
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The Real North Korea
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Summary
Andrei Lankov has gone where few outsiders have ever been. A native of the former Soviet Union, he lived as an exchange student in North Korea in the 1980s. He has studied it for his entire career, using his fluency in Korean and personal contacts to build a rich, nuanced understanding. In The Real North Korea, Lankov substitutes cold, clear analysis for the overheated rhetoric surrounding this opaque police state. After providing an accessible history of the nation, he turns his focus to what North Korea is, what its leadership thinks, and how its people cope with living in such an oppressive and poor place. He argues that North Korea is not irrational, and nothing shows this better than its continuing survival against all odds. A living political fossil, it clings to existence in the face of limited resources and a zombie economy, manipulating great powers despite its weakness. Its leaders are not ideological zealots or madmen, but perhaps the best practitioners of Machiavellian politics that can be found in the modern world. Even though they preside over a failed state, they have successfully used diplomacy - including nuclear threats - to extract support from other nations. But while the people in charge have been ruthless and successful in holding on to power, Lankov goes on to argue that this cannot continue forever, since the old system is slowly falling apart. In the long run, with or without reform, the regime is unsustainable. Lankov contends that reforms, if attempted, will trigger a dramatic implosion of the regime. They will not prolong its existence.
Based on vast expertise, this book reveals how average North Koreans live, how their leaders rule, and how both survive.
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What listeners say about The Real North Korea
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 05-12-16
Almost perfect.
A very interesting history of North Korea and a fair take on its possible future. The performance can be a little dry but it suits the subject matter.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Simon Edward Smith
- 26-05-21
Illuminating
Very informative but a little repetitive at points. Would definitely recommend however. Eye opening.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nicky Ramone
- 20-03-21
Interesting - I didn’t know much before
I bought this audiobook to learn something about a country I hear about a lot but know little about. I enjoyed all of the background and history, I thought it was well told too. I did not expect so much of the book to be about what might happen in future, but that turned out to be interesting too, even if it was not what I thought would be in the book. I’m glad I bought and listened to it. Narration a little dull, textbook-like but then the subject matter is not a barrel of laughs.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- olympian
- 31-05-22
Enjoyable and interesting
Lots of interesting stuff, great to dig below the very limited picture we get in news media to see a bit more about what makes the regime tick, how like has changed for North Koreans over time etc.
Only minor negatives for me were that there was a bit of repetition at points, and some parts of the book felt like they were written several years before other parts of the book. Also note that it was written in 2013 so doesn't have much about Kim Jong Un's premiership.
Narration was nice and clear, good voice for it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Paul Worlock
- 22-08-21
An enlightening look behind the curtain
This is a very intelligently thought out and written book. The temptation to visit the more lurid details of torture and death are avoided and the focus is on political problems and policies.
My only criticism is of the narration. Some odd pronunciations and rather robot style of delivery.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lena h.
- 14-03-22
Informational, thought provoking
The author provides much food for thought. Facts presented and conclusions drawn all make sense. I found this book highly interested, and pretty well written.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rhys
- 27-11-18
Excellently read, excellently written
Loved it, finished it quickly and with great interest. The narrator is very good, would definitely listen to more. The author is also brilliant and would love to hear more from him.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PHILLIP
- 29-07-14
Great Insight
Would you consider the audio edition of The Real North Korea to be better than the print version?
Yes, the narration was very well done and made for an easy read. The narrators deep voice and American accent are clear and crisp.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The general theme of the book was what interested me, getting a real insight into the North Korean way of life has interested me for years. The book provides real knowledge into the North Korean regime and how the North live in comparison to the south, it also provides a look at possible outcomes for when the Kim dynasty fall's. Possible reunification or keeping the North as a separate state.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I would listen to this book in short stints as it can be very deep with a lot to take in, I did it within a week.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Martin S.
- 26-03-17
Really quite good
I really enjoyed this book. It was very informative, explaining the political and economic issues surrounding North Korea without ever going over my head... also gave a fair account of events without ever resorting to using weasel words or out right criticism.
My only two relatively minor gripes were:
- A few times the author practically repeated a point or sentence he had already made, almost word for word
- The narrator sometimes paused excessively.
but these are very forgivable
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- ShaneRooney
- 24-01-17
A good political view of past, present & future
An detailed view on how NK got to where it is and what the future may hold for NK.
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