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[A] probing, clear-eyed study of the world's most irascible dictatorship. Lankov's is one of the best and most accessible recent accounts of this seemingly outlandish nation, and the book eschews North Korea's lurid stereotypes to reveal a stunted normalcy. -Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) The Real North Korea is one of the best books about this isolated republic to appear in years. Andrei Lankov draws on three decades of experience to write a deeply informed, thoughtful, fair-minded and highly readable account of 'life and politics' in North Korea, from day one to the present. His policy recommendations for dealing with the nuclear problem, for a South Korea waiting impatiently to inherit the North, and for the eventual end of this regime as we know it, are cogent and full of something rare in discussions about this irascible country: common sense. -Bruce Cumings, Chair of the History Department at the University of Chicago, and author of Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History Lankov explains how North Korea's survival imperative combined with South Korea's success compels the regime to persist in internally rational but self-isolating behavior that only further deepens its quandary. North Korea is the Galapagos Island of nation states, and Lankov provides clear analysis of how the regime has survived despite steep odds, why the leadership cannot change, and why it must. -Scott Snyder, Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy, The Council on Foreign Relations The Real North Korea presents a detailed and careful analysis of a country that has been difficult for many to understand. Andrei Lankov, one of the world's top North Korea scholars, provides a fascinating look at the internal dynamics and motivations that drive North Korea. Few scholars of North Korea have the experience and insight of Andrei Lankov, and this book will be required reading for all who wish to better understand the actions of the DPRK. -Terence Roehrig, Professor in National Security Affairs and Director of the Asia-Pacific Studies Group at the U.S. Naval War College and author of Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella Lankov offers a highly readable book and a unique perspective that yields a knowledgeable, sardonic, acerbic and not entirely dispassionate view of North Korea. The author also dishes up a rare treat, mostly unfound in books of this genre: common sense and humility about the North's future, a theme from beginning to end. --National Interest Andrei Lankov has written a wonderful introduction to North Korean history and North Korean studies in The Real North Korea. Historians and researchers in other specialties -- particularly involving the history of the Communist world -- will find it a good introduction to the peculiarities of North Korea. Policymakers and staffers in Washington will find a sober-minded, realistic, and -- given the author's personal background as a Soviet academic -- very different take on North Korea than the standard media line. Highly recommended. --History News Network The book, an engaging blend of scholarship, reportage and memoir, offers striking details about daily life in a country reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984. -- The New York Times Book Review (Editor's Choice) The book has the feel of a particularly fascinating college class taught by an elbow-patched luminary. The syllabus ranges from labor camps to nuclear diplomacy...offering both the academic consensus and Lankov's take...Readers will come away with a solid understanding of what's happening in North Korea and why. Lankov illuminates large patches of that North Korea-shaped black hole. --The Washington Post

[A] probing, clear-eyed study Lankov's is one of the best and most accessible recent accounts of this seemingly outlandish nation. Publishers Weekly

In his accessible and refreshingly fair-minded new book, Andrei Lankov does a fine job of making sense of the world's most inscrutable state...it is a commanding overview of the country's politics and society, and a significant contribution to policy debates in the United States and South Korea. International Affairs Journal Lankov offers a nuanced picture of this secretive country, drawing on his own experience and the North Koreans he has interviewed. Clare Debenham, THE [ The Real North Korea ] provides an extraordinary insight into a state that defies conventional categories of tyranny. Oliver Kamm, The Times This is the best all round account of North Korea yet. Aidan Foster-Carter, Times Literary Supplement [Lankov's] book is an important curative to the unhelpful gaggle of pundits who describe nuclear-armed North Korea as irrational or an impenetrable black box Christian Oliver, Financial Times There is no better road map in English than this wise, anecdotally rich and entertaining book. Richard Lloyd Parry, The Times Superb,.. An engaging blend of scholarship, reportage and memoir, offers striking details about daily life in a country reminiscent of George Orwell's '1984'. new York Times Book Review [A] probing, clear-eyed study Lankov's is one of the best and most accessible recent accounts of this seemingly outlandish nation. Publishers Weekly

There is no better road map in English than this wise, anecdotally rich and entertaining book. Richard Lloyd Parry, The Times [A] probing, clear-eyed study Lankov's is one of the best and most accessible recent accounts of this seemingly outlandish nation. Publishers Weekly

[A] probing, clear-eyed study Lankov's is one of the best and most accessible recent accounts of this seemingly outlandish nation. * Publishers Weekly * Superb,.. An engaging blend of scholarship, reportage and memoir, offers striking details about daily life in a country reminiscent of George Orwell's '1984'. * new York Times Book Review * There is no better road map in English than this wise, anecdotally rich and entertaining book. * Richard Lloyd Parry, The Times * [Lankov's] book is an important curative to the unhelpful gaggle of pundits who describe nuclear-armed North Korea as irrational or an impenetrable black box * Christian Oliver, Financial Times * This is the best all round account of North Korea yet. * Aidan Foster-Carter, Times Literary Supplement * [ The Real North Korea ] provides an extraordinary insight into a state that defies conventional categories of tyranny. * Oliver Kamm, The Times * Lankov offers a nuanced picture of this secretive country, drawing on his own experience and the North Koreans he has interviewed. * Clare Debenham, THE * In his accessible and refreshingly fair-minded new book, Andrei Lankov does a fine job of making sense of the world's most inscrutable state...it is a commanding overview of the country's politics and society, and a significant contribution to policy debates in the United States and South Korea. * International Affairs Journal *

Author Information

Andrei Lankov is Professor of History at Koomkin University in Seoul, South Korea. A native of Leningrad, he studied in North Korea as an exchange student. His books include North of the DMZ: Essays on Daily Life in North Korea, and From Stalin to Kim Il Sung: The Formation of North Korea, 1945-1960.

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