The Aquariums of Pyongyang

Genuinely harrowing. This book has shown me that self-determination of our own societies, under the protections of fair and equal laws, are indescribable treasures. For they enable all the other joys of life to flourish. I despaired along with this author while I read this and I think anyone who holds great anger and hostility towards their Western societies ought to read this. Much needs to be done to improve European and American democracies, but reading how people in the least free country in the world live has given me a huge dose of perspective. This offers a glimpse into the sheer terror that these people live in, every day, every week, every month, for years, entire lifetimes. Few people in our modern, Western world can comprehend this. That's why a book like this is so valuable. I hope that this man has a long and happy life, and that he gets to see his people freed before he passes. Thank you for your book, Kang Chol-Hwan. You have educated me by writing it.

Slow and at times a difficult book to get into. Weird layout of time line and stories and sometimes repetitive. Bit a good book in that there aren't many of this topic and style around.

Great read!