Korea: A History

I am only reading this for fun as I am not a serious historian or student. This book is so good I read it cover to cover and enjoyed it completely. I wish it was longer and more detailed in the part from years 2000 to present, but hopefully this author will write another book with that as the focus. If that happens, I will definitely buy it.Country of Origin: Printed in the USA

While reading this book, one theme that stuck out to me was how the resilience of Korea and its culture doesn’t get nearly enough recognition as it deserves. It constantly faced outside forces and pressures and yet, still managed to preserve its history and restart the cycle. This book drew attention to the numerous conquerings that Korea faced and how its history didn’t just stop afterward but continued and even grew off of the experiences. Not only did this help grow my appreciation for Korea, but it also proved that looking at both sides is the only true way to gain a historical perspective. In addition, another interesting point in the book is how Korea is not just a country that was only split in half. I found it interesting to learn about the buildup that eventually led to the present-day divide between North and South Korea. Most of all, this book was a chance to learn about my identity in a historical way which I enjoyed. This book allowed me to dive deeper into my own history as a Korean.

Very disappointed book was tough read, lacked any emotion in presentation, and lacked depth presenting history of Japanese occupation or the Korean War.