Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

BATB score: 10/10 📕‼🔺

well-written 👏 the different lives of North Koreans: the selected Pyongyang elite, the starving Chongjin shameful caste, the defectors, the loyalist, the real tears and the saliva ones

Best to: the best introduction to North Korea's communism rule, dictatorship regime, 360 propaganda, blinded loyalty, flawed management, starvation, hopeless deaths, and survival act of defectors

Best for: politics and human rights aside; North Korea's Kim-family dictatorship is a 360 marketing campaign well-executed nailing all touch-points with no counterproductive thoughts (punishment to those who think otherwise) and no loopholes (nowhere to run)

Best as: somebody has to write an equivalent book on Thailand; the richest monarchy, lese majeste laws, propaganda everywhere, the real tears and the saliva ones.. shit that person may have to be me

Fun Fact: You know I've been to North Korea in 2017. Pyongyang was definitely beautiful. People there seemed happy with their minimalistic slow life with a purpose to solely serve the Kims.The outskirts were vast lands with low-rise residents <100 people in a small communal; for sure, without electricity and possible grass intake for nutrients. Yet, it's been 100+ years since the prosperous years with Kim Il Sung (grandpa), what's the plan?