Nothing to Envy Summary

Summary of Nothing to Envy Book by Barbara Demick

Name: Nothing to Envy
Rating: 4.7 (6200 reviews)
Author: Barbara Demick

4.7 . 6200 reviews

Short summary

Nothing to Envy is an eye-opening account of the sequestered life in North Korea. People who defected to South Korea give a first-hand account of what life is like under this modern-day dictatorship. Barbara Demick is the Beijing bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times. “Nothing to Envy” follows the lives of six North Koreans over fifteen years — a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung, the unchallenged rise to power of his son Kim Jong-Il, and the devastation of a far-ranging famine that killed one-fifth of the population. “Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe. I will never truly be free of its gravity, no matter how far I journey.” ~ Lee Hyeon Seo, a North Korean defector

17 min

11 key points

14 insights

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Table of content

Summary of Nothing to Envy
About the author
What is Nothing to Envy about?
Who should read Nothing to Envy
Topics in Nothing to Envy

first key point

An arbitrary division of the Korea peninsula into North Korea and South Korea by the US Government triggered a war

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Before the end of World War II and the consequent collapse of the Japanese Empire, the Korean peninsula was a Japanese colony with no global significance. However, following the end of the war, the United States and USSR, in a struggle to promote their ideologies, cast their attention on this otherwise obscure colony.

The United States resolved the conflict by splitting the Korean peninsula into two parts: the North and South. The United States, fearing an advance on Korea by the USSR in order to seize Japan, gave the northern region to the USSR as a temporary trusteeship and kept the southern half for themselves.

In 1945, North Korea and South Korea were created when the US Government divided the Korean peninsula between itself and Russia.

The peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel. The division at the 38thparallel was arbitrary; there was nothing in the Korean peninsula or history to indicate that there was a boundary there. The Koreans had no say in this decision. They were simply being transferred from one superpower (Japan) to another (the USSR and the United States).

The result of this arbitrary separation was a divided peninsula with two governments. The North, led by Kim Il-sung, became the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Kim Il-sung was a resistance fighter during the time Japan occupied Korea. The South became the Republic of Korea under the leadership of Syngman Rhee.

Two years later, in 1950, both Korean countries laid claim to the entire Korea peninsula. This clash of claims resulted in the Korean War. On June 25, Kim Il-sung launched a surprise attack on South Korea and took Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. His attack was supported with Soviet tanks.

Several countries came to the aid of South Korea, including the United States and 15 other nations. The coalition was able to roll back Kim Il-Sung’s advances. At this time, Kim Il – sung was also backed by the Chinese army. The Korean War ended in an armistice after three years of battle. The armed conflict was futile as neither side gained anything from the war that claimed the lives of 3 million people.

The rest of this book provides a glimpse into what life has been like for those who are stuck in North Korea through the lens of those who escaped the dictatorship.

second key point

North Korean citizens lived under a caste system that influenced every part of their lives

At the end of the 3 year Korean War, Kim Il-sung declared himself president of North Korea and adopted communism. His government was built on rewards and punishments. He rewarded those he considered loyal with privileges and meted out deep-reaching punishments to those suspected of being against him.

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third key point

North Koreans had to undergo strict ideological indoctrinations over regular intervals

fourth key point

Kim Il-sung borrowed ideas from Christianity to achieve godlike status in the eyes of North Koreans

fifth key point

The collapse of the USSR meant the collapse of the dependent North Korea

sixth key point

Black markets rose to fill the roles of food distribution centers in the midst of crippling starvation

seventh key point

Forced by the collapsing society, Kim Jong-Il legitimized the black market and opened the borders to foreign aid

eighth key point

A smuggling industry emerged as defectors migrate to South Korea via China through North Korea’s northern border

ninth key point

The South Korea government has a program to assist North Korean deserters’ adaptation

tenth key point

There is nothing to envy about the lives of North Koreans under Kim Jong-un’s rule today

eleventh key point

Conclusion

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What is Nothing to Envy about?

"Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea" offers a gripping and eye-opening account of life in one of the world's most secretive and oppressive regimes. Through the personal stories of six North Korean citizens, journalist Barbara Demick unveils the harsh realities of poverty, propaganda, and political control that shape their everyday existence. This powerful narrative sheds light on the resilience and determination of ordinary people living under an authoritarian regime, providing a rare glimpse into a hidden world.

Who should read Nothing to Envy

Individuals interested in gaining insight into the lives of ordinary North Koreans.
History enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of North Korea's society.
Those curious about the human stories behind North Korea's political regime.

Topics in Nothing to Envy

North Korea Politics History Human Rights Society Dictatorship Totalitarianism Communism Journalism International Relations Social History Government the Cold War Surveillance Diplomacy

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