The Real North Korea

Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia

By: Andrei Lankov

Narrated by: Steven Roy Grimsley

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.

©2013 Andrei Lankov (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Outstanding

Thoughtful analysis of the past, present, and future situation in North Korea. Best assessment I've read. Strongly recommend this for both the interested layman and the scholar.

Excellent research

Enjoyed it, very well done. A great overview of a very complex problem. Ppl must read this book

Narrator can’t pronounce Korean!

They should have gotten a narrator with some basic Korean skills. It was hugely distracting the way this guy guessed his way through and it took away from the authority of the text even though it had nothing to do with the actual text.

Complete full picture

Great book to understand what's going on with the North Korea situation and how have gotten to where it is now.
I'd recommend it to those that have none or little knowledge about North Korea but what to have a clear picture of what's going on.

Best Single Book on North Korea

What made the experience of listening to The Real North Korea the most enjoyable?

Andrei Lankov's scholarship plus his personal experience makes this book the most complete look at North Korea I've read.

What about Steven Roy Grimsley’s performance did you like?

He seemed to capture the author's personality.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Great book

What did you like best about this story?

A very compelling och interesting book on North Korea. I especially like the part on North Korean History from the Soviet union who set upp the state to the fall of the soviet union and the internal collapse of the country. A non fiction page turner.

Great, enlightening book with a point

What did you love best about The Real North Korea?

The authors insight from within. And just now in the middle of a new nuclear crisis it is extremely relevant information.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The fact that this author who grew up in another communist country and that he has lived in North Korea himself makes this book so extremely useful.

Loved this book!!

Even handed and well informed account of the history, politics and future of nK. Wonderful accounts of how things may turn out. Recommend to anyone who wants to learn about this unique world problem and hope it may be ultimately resolved.

Very Informative

I read this book to better understand the international community’s approach to handling
North Korea. The author describes in detail not only the history of how North Korea came to be, but really the day-to-day life of the average North Korean and a glimpse into the lives of the Kim family. Perhaps, the most valuable part of this book is the what if scenarios the author presents regarding the regime collapse. If you ever wanted to understand NK and the “why” behind the international community’s approach to NK…look no further, this book is truly comprehensive.

Well thought out

You can tell this author knows his subject. Very interesting analysis and thoughtful discussion. Worth the read.