Escape from Camp 14

One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West

By: Blaine Harden

Narrated by: Blaine Harden

A New York Times bestseller, the shocking story of one of the few people born in a North Korean political prison to have escaped and survived.

North Korea is isolated and hungry, bankrupt and belligerent. It is also armed with nuclear weapons. Between 150,000 and 200,000 people are being held in its political prison camps, which have existed twice as long as Stalin's Soviet gulags and twelve times as long as the Nazi concentration camps. Very few born and raised in these camps have escaped. But Shin Donghyuk did.

In Escape from Camp 14, acclaimed journalist Blaine Harden tells the story of Shin Dong-hyuk and through the lens of Shin's life unlocks the secrets of the world's most repressive totalitarian state. Shin knew nothing of civilized existence—he saw his mother as a competitor for food, guards raised him to be a snitch, and he witnessed the execution of his own family. Through Harden's harrowing narrative of Shin's life and remarkable escape, he offers an unequaled inside account of one of the world's darkest nations and a riveting tale of endurance, courage, and survival.

©2012 Blaine Harden (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Harden’s book, besides being a gripping story, unsparingly told, carries a freight of intelligence about this black hole of a country."—Bill Keller, The New York Times

“As U.S. policymakers wonder what changes may arise after the recent death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, this gripping book should raise awareness of the brutality that underscores this strange land. Without interrupting the narrative, Harden skillfully weaves in details of North Korea’s history, politics and society, providing context for Shin’s plight.”—Associated Press

“Many good books will be published this year. This one is absolutely unique…Shin Dong-Hyuk is the only person born in a North Korean political camp to escape and defect. He told his story at length to veteran foreign correspondent Blaine Harden, who wrote this extraordinary book…I don't say that there's an answer to the issues raised by this book. But there is a question. And the question is: "High school students in America debate why President Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't bomb the rail lines to Hitler's caps. Their children may ask, a generation from now, why the West stared at far clearer satellite images of Kim Jong Il's camps and did nothing." This is tough reading. Read it.”—Don Graham, CEO of The Washington Post

Sad to think this is reality

Interesting yet sad view into life in North Korea labor camps. Horrific lives for these people. They’re treated worse than animals and yet it continues

A must listen

This is an amazing story to hear. Even if only half were true. A must have for anyone interested in stories from North Korea.

Incredible story

Hooked from the start. Couldn’t get enough. Also loved how history was N Korea was weaved in

Great book about the struggle of a man’s life in North Korea

Loved how the book talked about systematic oppression in North Korea and the struggle of a man’s survival under extremely harsh conditions.

Absolutely brutal

Will tug at your heart strings and get you fascinated with the daily lives of north Koreans. The book goes over shins journey and it is an epic odyssey. Graphic descriptions of betrayal and torture during the first half and a very interesting account of shins escape and integration into society during the 2nd half.

An unknown story that deserved attention!

I absolutely love that the author read their own book. I feel that that adds a level of sincerity and depth to the story. There were so many things that as a father listening to the story broke my heart that anyone especially a child would have to go through the atrocities that this man went through. This is a story that deserves much more attention about a country and people that deserve much more help!

What I did not know but always suspected about North Korea

Well done. Fascinating story about the freedom we enjoy and all too often take for granted. We should never forget the sacrifices that came before us to give us that freedom.

great defector story! 5/5!!

I loved this story, you really get the meat of the country. I cried during this audible, and couldn't believe it could have possibly the best defector story I ever heard. if you studied Korea like me, like me, wfor many many years and never came across . I find the defectors stories are the closest thing to best to get to know Korea. studying the actual country (those books are good too) . the only one I couldn't ever read that one was so awful i couldnt go to the end. he was talking about Kim Jung Un and pronounced the name wrong over and over. it's called "North Korea undercover" was so so hard. terrible story, total horrible, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME. Although there are mistakes about history, I just, a couple weeks ago, read "Nothing to Envy" which was a great read. it was a study into the defector lives, all while her study stayed up on laws, ECT. it's the best study book. most of my books in the early 2000s got burned. so I love I can listen to a lot here. if you like defector stories the most, like me, read "the girl with 7 names" or "in order to live" which is here on audible .. by Yeonmi Park

heart breaking

I listened to this book from cover to cover i couldn't imagine what would be in this book

Direct honest story of events

Incredible, blunt and honest description of events! Direct feelings of the events of his story!