Escape From Camp 14 - Blaine Harden

Amazon Summary: North Korea’s political prison camps have existed twice as long as Stalin’s Soviet gulags and twelve times as long as the Nazi concentration camps. No one born and raised in these camps is known to have escaped. No one, that is, except Shin Dong-hyuk.

In Escape From Camp 14, Blaine Harden unlocks the secrets of the world’s most repressive totalitarian state through the story of Shin’s shocking imprisonment and his astounding getaway. Shin knew nothing of civilized existence—he saw his mother as a competitor for food, guards raised him to be a snitch, and he witnessed the execution of his mother and brother.

Escape from Camp 14 offers an unequalled inside account of one of the world’s darkest nations. It is a tale of endurance and courage, survival and hope.

Rating:4 / 5

Review:This will probably be a relatively short review considering the nature of this book. There isn't exactly much to "review" or critique here - Escape From Camp 14 is a factual journalistic account of Shin Dong-hyuk's life and escape from a North Korean labor camp. There are no frills added by author, Blaine Harden which is fitting given the solemn tone of the story. Given how rare a personal story like this is coming from behind the nation's walls of secrecy, it seems imperative to read if you have any interest whatsoever in global affairs. I was astounded by not only Shin's bravery throughout his story, but by his willingness to come forward and share such intimate details of his life with the public. He's truly remarkable and my heart goes out to him and any others facing these nightmares each day.

All I can really say is - this book is going to stick with you.


Recent News:
-North Korea Ready to Start Nuclear Talks
-Did North Korea really admit to its horrific forced labor camps? Not exactly.
-In Kim Jong-un’s Absence, Rumors About Him Swirl in North Korea
-Japanese women who have escaped from North Korea find little sympathy at home

Final Thoughts: Read this. Learn. Understand.