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Without You, There Is No Us

320 pages, 2015

biographies & memoirs

biographies & memoirs

997 books
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economics & politics

economics & politics

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Takeaways
Description

A haunting account of teaching English to the sons of North Korea's ruling class during the last six months of Kim Jong-il's reign.

Every day, three times a day, the students march in two straight lines, singing praises to Kim Jong-il and North Korea: Without you, there is no motherland. Without you, there is no us. It is a chilling scene, but gradually Suki Kim, too, learns the tune and, without noticing, begins to hum it.

It is 2011, and all universities in North Korea have been shut down for an entire year. The students are sent to construction fields - except for the 270 students at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), a walled compound where portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il look on impassively from the walls of every room and where Suki has accepted a job teaching English.

Over the next six months, she will eat three meals a day with her young charges and struggle to teach them to write, all under the watchful eye of the regime.

Without You, There Is No Us offers a moving and incalculably rare glimpse of life in the world's most unknowable country and at the privileged young men she calls "soldiers and slaves."

The Power of Propaganda

In Without You, There Is No Us, Suki Kim explores the power of propaganda in North Korea. She shows how the government uses it to control and manipulate its citizens. It's a fascinating look into how information can be used as a tool for control.

The Importance of Education

Suki Kim emphasizes the importance of education in the book. She teaches English to the sons of North Korea's elite, showing us that education can be a powerful tool for change. It's a reminder to never underestimate the power of knowledge.

The Reality of Life in North Korea

Without You, There Is No Us gives us a rare glimpse into the reality of life in North Korea. It's not often that we get to see what life is like in such a closed-off country. This book allows us to understand the hardships and challenges faced by its citizens.

The Role of Fear in Society

Suki Kim shows us how fear is used as a tool to maintain control in North Korea. The constant fear of punishment keeps the citizens in line. It's a sobering look into how fear can be used to manipulate and control a society.

The Power of Hope

Despite the bleak reality, Suki Kim finds hope in the resilience of her students. Their curiosity and eagerness to learn inspire her. This book reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope.

Quotes 4

Suki Kim's book is a heartbreaking insight into the profound isolation of the North Korean people.

Barbara DemickBarbara Demick - Journalist, Author

Suki Kim's book is a deeply personal journey into a complex nation shrouded in mystery.

Adam JohnsonAdam Johnson - Novelist, Academic

Kim's book is a rare and precious glimpse into the hermit kingdom of North Korea.

Krys LeeKrys Lee - Writer, Professor

Suki Kim's book is a brave and illuminating journey into the darkest corners of North Korea.

Blaine HardenBlaine Harden - Journalist, Author
Barbara DemickAdam JohnsonKrys LeeBlaine Harden

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