skybridge

curtis.engineer · @curtis.engineer@bridge.neodb.net

Rated Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea 10/10

Nothing to Envy is one book that changed the way I see North Korea for sure. I try to read this book once a year, just to revisit the clarity of thought that it gave me.

I remember (and still hear) people throwing out North Korea as the villain to any sort of plot that might be going on. Because, in essence, North Korea hates the United States. I remember thinking this myself as a younger man, and believing that they hated the U.S. and all things freedom. I never stopped to question that, or try to understand why North Korea is treated as the pariah of the world (among others).

This book really changed how I view North Korea and North Koreans. I can see how easy it could be to get stuck inside that system for fear of what may happen to their family, or just by buying into all of the propaganda. I think this story is especially relevant in recent times. This book makes it clear how propaganda can be used to control an entire country, and continually reinforce that the rest of the world are evil.

With all that said, this book made me look on North Korea with a lot of empathy. Imagine growing up in state ran schools that teach you that the Great Leader saved you from the evil of the world, and that you should grow up to do your best for the Workers’ Party. It takes a lot of life experience, and critical thinking to break a grip that tight.

This book follows a few different main characters, their experiences growing up in North Korea, and what led to them finally defecting to South Korea or China. It is absolutely interesting how these stories progress. I would rather not give away some of the plot, so I won’t say much more. I would like to tease one idea though. Imagine that your parent is a die-hard believer in communism, but of course you love them. What lengths would you go to, in order to bring them to safety? Would you deceive them?

#book

Published 2026-08-27 16:18 UTC · bridged from Atmosphere