Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding North Korea

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This is a concise and well written modern chronicle of North Korea. There are very few resources available on this "mysterious" country. I found the book to be engrossing, concise and most informative.

When I picked up this book out of the bargain bin at the bookstore, I was not expecting much more than mediocre nighttime reading. I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-written, nearly comprehensive book on an obscure and mysterious country.

Authors Dr. Kenneth Quinones and Joseph Tragert stick to the standard format for Idiot's Guide books. There are boxes labeled either Korean Concept, Fact, and Increase Your North Korea IQ interwoven throughout the text that give you interesting tidbits of knowledge. Also, there are interesting personal recollections boxes, where the authors share first-hand insights and experiences with the reader.

I gained new perspectives on the history, current political system, and foreign relations of North Korea, a complex and potentially dangerous threat to the U.S, China, and Japan. The book is informative, factual, and non-biased. I recommend this book to anyone who desires a wide, jargon-free explanation of North Korea's past, present, and future.

When my son chose to do a report on North Korea, we had to scramble for resources. Not a lot is known about the country. This book provided a broad general overview of just about all aspects of the country, society and people. It wasn't as in depth in some areas, but excellent overall.

I started reading this book a few days before the July 4th misstle launches. I was glad to get more information on North Korea which was a total mystery to me. Now I understand much more. The book reviews Korean history and how Confucianism has just as much influence in North Korea as communism does. Absolute devotion to the Great Leader is rewarded and the slightest deviation from that is punished by execution. How North Korea will play the nuclear card out is yet to be seen, but I don't think I want them to have nuclear weapons. They will use it for terrorism.

Ideal for people who live outside North Korea and wish to learn about North Korea, people who live in North Korea and are confused or for Geoge W. Bush.

Very factual. A good complement to the general news on the subject.