Customer Reviews

Korea: Tradition and Transformation : A History of the Korean People

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first came across this book when I was a graduate student in Far East Asian studies, working ever so diligently on my thesis. I was looking for a Korean history book that was comprehsive in nature. It is certainly both an intellectual treatise yet highly readable! I was pleasantly surprised to see it on Amazon as I am again in the throes of academic research and wanted to see what was currently available in Korea-related materials. It was an invaluable source of information the first time and continues to be relevant today. As the Korean peninsula is the focus of much debate in our political dialogue, I would recommend this book for its detailed, thorough, and eminently knowledgeable history of the Korean people. With the explosion of Korea-related materials in the past decade, this book stands the test of time, relevancy, and readability. Unlike many books that have inherently Eastern or Western biases, Nahm gives it a balanced and fair treatment. It is not just a history book, but a history of its people. This important distinction allows the reader to fully understand how the linkages between social, cultural, religious, geographic, and economic aspects of the Korean people translate to the current political crisis on the peninsula and her neighbors. Highlights of the book include the crhonological chart of East Asian history and the archival photos that are interspersed within the pages. Nahm authored several books and numerous articles related to Korea. He is considered to have been one of the leading experts on Korean history. For anyone that wants to gain a thorough background knowledge, I would highly recommend this book. It will easily satisfy both the academic and the history buff. I plan to keep my original copy on my bookshelf for years to come. It is truly a standout among all the available sources.