See You Again in Pyongyang

By: Travis Jeppesen

Narrated by: Will Collyer

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A "close-up look at the cloistered country" (USA Today), See You Again in Pyongyang is American writer Travis Jeppesen's "probing" and "artful" (New York Times Book Review) chronicle of his travels in North Korea - an eye-opening portrait that goes behind the headlines about Trump and Kim, revealing North Koreans' "entrepreneurial spirit, and hidden love of foreign media, as well as their dreams and fears" (Los Angeles Times).

In See You Again in Pyongyang, Travis Jeppesen, the first American to complete a university program in North Korea, culls from his experiences living, traveling, and studying in the country to create a multifaceted portrait of the country and its idiosyncratic capital city in the Kim Jong Un Era. Anchored by the experience of his five trips to North Korea and his interactions with citizens from all walks of life, Jeppesen takes listeners behind the propaganda, showing how the North Korean system actually works in daily life. He challenges the notion that Pyongyang is merely a "showcase capital" where everything is staged for the benefit of foreigners, as well as the idea that Pyongyangites are brainwashed robots.

Jeppesen introduces listeners to an array of fascinating North Koreans, from government ministers with a side hustle in black market Western products to young people enamored with American pop culture. With unique personal insight and a rigorous historical grounding, Jeppesen goes beyond the media clichés, showing North Koreans in their full complexity. See You Again in Pyongyang is an essential addition to the literature about one of the world's most fascinating and mysterious places.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Travis Jeppesen (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"[Jeppesen] knows how to talk about art, and he comes alive in his granular analyses of what he dubs 'Norkore' propaganda music and regime-approved 'Norkorealist' painting....He captures [North Koreans'] entrepreneurial spirit, and hidden love of foreign media, as well as their dreams and their fears....What makes See You Again in Pyongyang worth reading is the tension between the bold explorer and the impenetrable country, the feeling of frustration in the face of lies and exclusion and petrified resistance." (Los Angeles Times)

"A probing look...inside Kim Jong Un's North Korea...Striking...Jeppesen gives us a direct glimpse of North Korea's psychological techniques at work....Artful...An up-close and vivid account." (New York Times Book Review)

"A moving memoir of the first American to study at a university in North Korea and an eye-opening clarification of the U.S.'s role in Korean history." (Ben Shields, Paris Review)

Interesting and enjoyable perspective

Really enjoyed this story and its narration. It offers a unique perspective and I recommend it to anyone else interested in North Korea.

Immersive

It was hard to stop listening to this book. As a person with good knowledge in North Korean politics and culture in general this book still contained a great deal of information new to me. Interesting stories and great narration makes this book in my opinion a must for all who want to understand North Korea better. Just loved it.

Brilliant

The timing of this book could not have been better if planned. I finished it just before the Singapore Summit began and thanks to the author’s insight and experiences in North Korea, I felt like I had a good understanding of its history and sense one could only glean from living in a suppressed society. Travis Jeppesen is one of the loveliest writers of our time and a true citizen of the world. I look forward to more books from this brilliant young author.

a diffrent view

An interesting and balanced view of north Korea. At first I took the author as a north Korea apologist. As it went on he turns out to be quite balanced. A look a north Korea from a different angle than most books about it. Well worth a listen.

Interesting view

Good story, too many almost anti American statements. I was interested in North Korea, not what problems are in the USA.
Gave a fresh insight.
Was not able to see the PDF files in the library like other audible books with PDF files.

Really good book

I thought this book was a solid representation of North Korea, as much as I can tell. The author clearly wasn't biased entirely against the country like U.S. propaganda is but he had a fair assessment of the untruths present there. It was an enjoyable book to listen to. I might listen again someday in the future.

Very good

As an enthusiast of little countries and remote regions of the world North Korea has got my attention. I have read a large collection of books related to this region and its people. This book definitely gives a perspective from someone that is not just a tourist or diplomat or a journalist. I think it is very genuine.

A Philosopher Diarizes a Month in Chosun

Required reading for all Pyongyang-ologists. The events and people are thoughtfully displayed in human light which challenges popular media perceptions. A few short chapters about history can be supplemented by more academic writing but if you are interested in modern lives and day-to-day details from an American of all people, definitely worth it.

Terrible Narrator

I really wish that when they produce audiobooks like this that they would get someone who can correctly pronounce places/names in the language. As a person of Korean descent, I admit I’m probably more sensitive to this than other listeners, but good grief, every time he said “Pyongyang” or any other Korean words, it was like nails on a chalkboard for me. I’m begging you, Audible, please get someone who can get the pronunciation right!
Also, the narrator’s tone itself was fairly bland and unengaging in general.

Offensive and Condescending

Just an absolutely offensive book. I was hoping to get a nuanced view of life in the DPRK. This was not that. The author offers a caricature of the history and people that verges on outright racism at times. He remarks that North Koreans have smelly “dirty asses” because they don’t wipe themselves after using the toilet. He says their is a culture of ignorance; they don’t value intelligence. He offers the propagandized history of Kim Il Sung, saying he was an unknown entity, a nobody that was hand picked by Stalin for control purposes (untrue). He even states easily refuted fabrications like Kim Jun Un was never photographed smiling. Do yourself a favor and Google Kim Jun Un. Look through the top ten images. He references Cuba, saying the people have fear embedded in their DNA. I’ve been to Cuba and people were warm friendly and not afraid to talk about the Castros or the government. This whole book is utter nonsense and the author is super condescending. Oh and he does stereotyped accents during the segments of dialogue. Terrible.