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While Time Remains: A North Korean Defector's Search for Freedom in America
Yeonmi Park, Jordan B. Peterson (Foreword)
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Neva
18 reviews
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April 5, 2023
This is right winged propaganda. Her hero’s are joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, and Candice Owens.
She afraid for her son to grow up in the United States, because “he’s a pillar of races people blame for their problems” as he is white and Asian
In this book, she says that she chooses to write this book because two black women mugged her, and stole her purse.
She is anti-black and trans phobic.
I listened to this books on audible, and kept having to remind myself this wasn’t satire.
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Steven Lua
35 reviews14 followers
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June 14, 2023
I first heard of Yeonmi Park, the North Korean defector, as many others did on the Joe Rogan podcast. Her story was horrifying and shocking, so when I saw that she'd published a book (her second, I later learned) I flipped through it and was immediately intrigued.
First of all, I don't agree with many of Park's points of view, I feel like she makes caricatures of people on the Left and overtly praises capitalism. That being said, even as a Liberal myself, I could not disagree with many of her critiques about the Left in America, especially from having conversations with people my own age.
How many people see the US as overtly imperialist, racist, and xenophobic
(despite it being one of the least imperialist superpowers to ever exist, one of the most diverse places in the world and the country that issues the highest amount of green cards in the world).
What's unique about this book is the love you can tell this woman has for America, the same way so many immigrants do. This place for her is not an expensive and oppressive prison, but a place unique in the world for the oppurtunities it provides.
Like I said I don't typically read "conservative" authors, but I understand why it's important. Like Uncle Iroh said, "It is important to draw wisdom from different places. If you take it from only one place it becomes rigid and stale." I believe we are in late stage capitalism, I believe in the power of social programs and labor unions, but if that's all I read, I forget that nothing is perfect and that even those things I believe in are flawed.
A specific example in the middle of the book that left me skeptical of the rest of Park's accounts was the story of her being robbed. The author recounts the instance where she was attacked and robbed while she was with her baby and nanny. She reveals how she was shocked that nobody would help her in the midst of a busy and populated area. The incident ends with the robbers escaping and Park recording them screaming that she had just been robbed only to be met with a hoard of shouts saying "racist!". Park attributes the reaction of the surrounding people to be due to "woke" culture and their automatic reaction of thinking "black people need to be protected from racism which this women is perpetuating".
Park's book speaks of her perspective and her experiences doing so to shed light on the problems she deems as being necessary to focus on to prevent the falling of American government and culture. While she is an incredible writer, I found the book lacking of the majority of experiences of other Americans, immigrant and citizen born alike. The issue of minorities being able to escape accountability by staying the other person is racist, sexist or bigoted is very prominent and definitely something that is a huge problem. However, I believe Park failed to shed light onto why the radical response was formed which was as a direct response to the other type of radical ignorance of actual racists and those that automatically assume, for example, that black people are immediately thugs.
Ultimately, Park's analysis and criticism of America lacked depth and consideration of other viewpoints that are also a threat to Americans' freedoms and focussed only on the issues perpetuated by the "woke left". While that is definitely a problem, without equal criticism of the radicals affiliated with other political agendas, it made it that Park's book appeared to be a piece of propaganda with a clear agenda and favoritism of certain political figures.
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Brittany
961 reviews1 follower
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June 29, 2023
1.5 stars rounded up. I've read Park's other book, which was fine, and in between reading that book and this book, I found out about some of her positions on some things. Based on that, I updated my view of her to "probable grifter". Now, having read this book, I have updated my view to "definite grifter". This book is cringy through and through.
Her three heroes are Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, and Candance Owens.
The book starts with a foreword from Jordan Peterson - "If the hypothetical moralism of the left had any grounding in reality..." - which tells you the direction this book is going to take right off the bat.
"Self-described socialists or woke activists or social justice warriors or whatever they are called on any particular day want to kick their ideological opponents off social media. They want to ban parents from having any say in what public schools teach their own children. They want to tell you what you can and can't put into your own body and they want the right to cut their perceived enemies off from financial services. They want education and basic subjects like math and science to reflect certain political preferences instead of physical reality." Uhhhhm Edwards v. Aguillard, Elon Musk, the median Republican stance on trans healthcare? No? Ok.
"It is not the job of the Supreme Court to make decisions for your family or your community." In light of the Dobbs Decision, I'd appreciate her telling the Supreme Court that.
She compares cancel culture to life in North Korea, thereby demonstrating how awful and evil the left is. Yet, when in college and having a rape described to her as 'rape', she was "offended" because she was 'actually' raped. It's not difficult to see the pattern in her arguments - similarities between the left and North Korea, no matter how dissimilar in scope, practice, or degree, are valid.
I was deeply amused by her blaming Hillary Clinton for not doing anything about North Korea and remaining completely silent on, y'know, Trump's dealings with North Korea throughout his presidency. Weird, that.
2023 audiobook non-fiction
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melhara
1,509 reviews74 followers
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March 2, 2023
4.5/5
Yeonmi Park's previous book, In Order to Live was one of my favourite North Korean memoirs that I've read (which I've reviewed here).
While In Order to Live was about Park's escape from North Korea, being a victim of human trafficking in China, and learning how to adapt in South Korea, this second book,While Time Remains, focuses on a completely different journey - adapting to life in America.
Since the publishing of her first book, Park has immigrated to the USA, graduated from Columbia University with a degree in economics, started a YouTube channel, and gave birth to a son. While it seems like she has completely integrated into 'normal' society, it is not without its challenges.
Park's experience in America is not dissimilar from that of other conservative Asian immigrants but this was still a very interesting memoir as it details how Park's life in America is both completely different and yet strangely similar, to life in North Korea. She offers a no holds barred critique of the USA (particularly the dangers of woke/cancel culture that seems to be on the rise), from the viewpoint of both an immigrant and a North Korean refugee.
I don't agree with all of the opinions that she's presented in this book but she brings up a lot of great points and offers a lot of food for thought. Also, the comparisons that she was able to draw between woke/cancel culture and North Korean dictatorship and propaganda were very interesting.
Audiobook Comments:
I personally would have preferred if the audiobook was narrated by Park herself (I find her Korean accent charming) but suspect I that the editors opted for a narrator with an American accent to make the audiobook more palatable to the general population.
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Leigh
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February 27, 2023
This book brought up many emotions. Fear, anger, frustration, and some hope. The hope comes from hearing others of many ages expressing their frustration. Carrying on from her previous book Yeonmi Park finds herself in America at last enjoying the freedom she never dared dream of in North Korea. But that joy was short lived. With each speech she delivers she's met first with people wanting to help only to be shut down when told they have to go against China, a big no no among western elites. Starting school was a a frustrating and horrifying experience too. Books like Jane Austen as white supremacist propaganda and show white male privilege, she is berated for calling someone by the wrong pronoun even though she is a new arrival to the country and not a native English speaker I mean I speak English and I still can't figure out the pronoun thing. The book is written as a plea from someone who has actually lived in a dictatorship and seen what the loss of freedom is actually like. While people from everywhere do have struggles I would think that someone being called the wrong pronoun or being offended by everything is not as bad as being trafficked in China, or living in fear that anyone could report on you and have you sent to a camp or worse. Or living in a war zone. We have it easy here by comparison and this book illustrates that we would all be better to acknowledge just how comfortable and free our lives truly are.
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Kimball
1,271 reviews20 followers
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February 21, 2023
If you didn't read the first book In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom, Yeonmi gives a very brief synopsis of her escape from North Korea. The book included a good forward by Jordan Peterson. I liked how she called out the Left/Elite especially at her alma mater Columbia University. But I wished she had done it more and to have named names. So many of the Elite were at first interested in her story and even naively asked how to help, but when she mentioned China they scurried back into the shadows.
Her and her sister didn't talk for two years. I wish she went into detail about that.
Notes:
"If a man is afraid of commitment he's probably frightened of being responsible and loving."
"Feelings of devastation come from how we think of the problem, not necessarily the problem."
She's hot.
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Fatime
63 reviews1 follower
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ReadApril 20, 2023
I don’t want to rate this because it doesn’t feel right but it was quite one-sided. I understand where she’s coming from, though. I am from a post communist country and I experienced first hand the aftermath of communism. But it’s worth pointing out that the socialist and communist ideas they have in the West are very different to those of North Korea or China. Yes it’s likely they didn’t experience communism/socialism themselves but the effects of capitalism on the environment are undeniable and apparent. White supremacy is a fact, too. I understand that these problems are nothing compared to the torture North Koreans go through but the point of these (and discussing these and sharing awareness) is to make people more sensitive towards others that are different, promote acceptance and different perspectives, experiences. A lot of the time this book felt a bit dismissive.
It is also an illusion that ‘if you work hard you’ll succeed”. That’s not necessarily true in the West either.
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Hannah Nagle
763 reviews37 followers
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ReadMarch 9, 2023
I don't rate memoirs, but this was bad.
I enjoyed Yeonmi Park's first book (well, as much as you can enjoy learning about the trauma and tortures she faced). I thought it was important to read and learn about North Korea and the poor treatment of those who live there.
The epilogue is quite literally a love letter to Jordan Peterson, Candace Owns and Joe Rogan. Their trains of thought are clear throughout the this book as they heavily influence Park. I don't care about 'authenticity', when people are hateful, they are hateful and there is nothing that can justify that.
Park has some brilliant insights into what can be done better and how we must act to prevent other countries from becoming like North Korea, but I found her constantly smearing the "woke movement" off putting and took away from the overall message completely.
memoir-biography no-thanks non-fiction
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Ben
2,670 reviews200 followers
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August 1, 2023
Act Now!
Outstanding book on the plight of communism.
A really important and timely book on China and also North Korea.
Park is a really outspoken and impressive writer.
Really impressed with this whole book.
Definitely check it out.
I also really liked her first book In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
WARNING - There's some questionable unions in this book - for example, a pretty big recommendation of Joe Rogan (something I can't really condone). Other than that, the book was pretty solid.
4.7/5
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Julie Hurd
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April 19, 2023
I’m glad it wasn’t longer than it was and even so there were parts that were very repetitive. My mom asked me to read this book because she thinks I’m too “woke” and a socialist. So I did and it was…fine? I don’t know. I’d never choose to read it myself. The epilogue felt gross. I was put off by the introduction. I probably would have liked her other book better than this one as it covers her experience. Yeonmi has some major black and white thinking still, I found it difficult to listen to because she acknowledges no nuance.
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Maxxie
148 reviews12 followers
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May 8, 2023
The audiobook's reader was pretty good and I learned a lot of interesting things about how life in North Korea feels like, especially for women and how they have been treated but, even if Yeonmi Park lived throught truly difficults and horrendious times, I don't get why she feels so threatned by the "woke disease" as she calls it. Plus, I couldn't follow her, when she loves to quote people I hate, like Shapiro or Peterson. Let me put my thoughts as I can and I'll try to post something a little bit clearer later.
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Cassie Ernst
89 reviews1 follower
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March 10, 2023
READ. THIS. BOOK.
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Lucinda
75 reviews
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May 3, 2023
Okay I am giving this a 1 - 1.5.
Unfortunately, I found this book very disappointing in comparison with the first.
While I think that the points made on the advent/danger of cancel culture, and on China's rise to power/influence are interesting, I found 90% of the book to be rather contradictory and somewhat... Insensitive and narrow-minded? Maybe even slightly misinformed or under-researched in some areas?
Which I really hate to say as she is someone who has suffered unimaginably at the hands of horrendous regimes in more than one country and I have great respect for her, the pain that she has suffered and the bravery that she has demonstrated in continuing to speak out despite the dangers to herself and her family in doing so. Her perspective is incredibly valuable, but there was something that felt quite off about this book.
I am glad that I read it regardless of my confusion and disappointment, as I am currently studying to be a lawyer and have a particular interest in International Law and Human Rights, but overall I don't think that I can completely support this book in particular.
It reads a little bit like an impassioned political advertisement for the far-right, and encourages capitalism while simultaneously complaining about the various circumstances in which it has failed. Overall it feels a little bit misinformed to say the least, especially at points where she speaks of Americans never having to experience poverty or having to consider where their next meal would come from. Her encouragement towards her fellow Americans to avoid thinking about Washington in order to live a better life feels a little bit tone deaf too. I will avoid commenting on her perspective on trauma and therapy as I feel like I'd need more information on her experience with both in order to discuss her perspective more thoroughly. Although I am glad that her gratitude towards the life she has now is enough to propel her through the most difficult challenges of PTSD, I know that that is certainly not the case for everyone, or even for most people.
In terms of the above I am admittedly looking from the outside in and I could be completely wrong, but I do believe that the perspective that she has on America is not one that I think is shared by many of the average Americans experiencing it first hand. Certainly living in the US is nothing in comparison to growing up at the hands of an authoritarian regime like in North Korea, but everyone and every country has their own individual struggles, and I don't think that we can contain the entirety of the US population in one box and decide that theirs are unworthy of compassion and empathy. Not every American spends all of their time complaining about the privileged lifestyle that they have/have not been given. In fact, I would say a large chunk of them spend their time worrying about how to afford health care for their families.
Anyway those are my initial thoughts upon finishing the book for the first time!
I don't usually comment too heavily on the books that I read but this one felt a bit bleh overall sadly 😅
2023
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While Time Remains: A North Korean Defector's Search for Freedom in America
byYeonmi Park
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colin
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting ReadReviewed in Australia on 2 July 2024
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Was a great read, and a great insight into the North Korean regime at the time.
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Lília Finelli
5.0 out of 5 stars Aqui o comentário brasileiro que você procuraReviewed in Brazil on 26 June 2023
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Excelente livro. Muito diferente do primeiro, que é mais chocante. Esse é mais revoltante. Resumindo: a pessoa sai do inferno, pra sofrer censura nos EUA. Vale a pena demais ler.
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Irisa
3.0 out of 5 stars Skadat omslagReviewed in Sweden on 28 March 2024
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Play VideoJag är ledsen att utsikten ser så här ut… jag väntade ganska längre för att få boken och omslag är lite förstört.
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars Freedom needs to be taken care ofReviewed in Spain on 1 September 2023
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In a very enjoyable way and while describing some personal experiences, Yeonmi gives her view, as a North Korean Defector, of some of the hot topics in current society. She warns us about how some rising behaviors in modern day America resemble very much to what she lived in North Korea, for example, how reason and search of truth are many times displaced by political correctness, even in ordinary relationships between ordinary people.
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Yarn
5.0 out of 5 stars Park's faith is a beacon of courage; Inspiration for the young, and a fanning to the smoking flax.Reviewed in Canada on 17 February 2023
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With every word I hear from Yeonmi Park my love for her is renewed. Whether it be on her channel, by interview, or written word.
The voice of the spirit within her, is in this book, so inspiring that it intimidates and provokes to jealousy any soul who has had so much more, and yet done so much less, any soul who aspires to not only listen to, but have the courage to obey, the Lord Jesus.
Her decision to obey His spirit, her labor of love, of learning, her tireless effort to travel, and warn, and continuously work, for selfless cause, through all that she has been, with such magnificent faith as to face oppositions, afflictions, and the threat of loss, despite all that she has already suffered, knowing full well that the cost is nothing short of everything, and the very freedom that she had fought her entire life to obtain, is admirable, and the kind of faith that engenders such courage as we should all aspire to have. In this, she lives by Jesus's words: Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Yeonmi Park is a light of the world. A beacon to inspire all those who lack courage, through faith. An example of what is possible to the young, and an admonition to those whose light is but a smoking flax.
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I. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars A beacon of hope for North KoreaReviewed in Germany on 21 September 2023
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I have the highest admiration for this courageous young lady. She is a true beacon of hope for the liberation of the North Korean People.
I sincerely hope she succeeds further.
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Ryan Tanner
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, purposeful insight into 'woke elitist' American culture - MUST READReviewed in the United States on 22 March 2023
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UPDATE:
Thank you all for the support! Following Yeonmi’s lead, I’ve began to get involved at the grassroots level campaigning for Kennedy 2024 and have experienced VERY ENCOURAGING results. Personal responsibility and ownership is the Way to restoring American freedom, democracy, and unity.
Park's second volume serves as a courageous, cautionary and uniquely crafted perspective into contemporary American culture.
How white men are evil and the only way for men to stop being toxic is for them to give up their masculinity and embrace femininity, and that college (and sometimes high school) classrooms, once the place of conversing and debating ideas has been lowered to a place where people censor their thoughts for fear of cancelation and ostracization by ones classmates.
Park comes at these issues from (the Right, sure but more uniquely) from the perspective of someone who grew up in one of the most horrendous places, under one of the heinous regimes in the history of mankind, who lived through unspeakable horrors in China as a sex slave and is now a Columbia educated activist in the public sphere advocating for human rights and individual liberties. I have no patience for Ben Shapiros or Candace Owens but I had to hear this lady out.
What she writes about is the trajectory she sees the US heading一one that limits freedom of speech, cancels and bans dissidents, ignores teaching critical thinking in favor of memorization, and absolves itself from individual responsibility一is very similar to what led North Koreans (and other societies) to give up their freedoms in favor of charismatic leaders who later revealed themselves to be villains.
Park comes at these issues from (the Right, sure but more uniquely) from the perspective of someone who grew up in one of the most horrendous places, under one of the heinous regimes in the history of mankind, who lived through unspeakable horrors in China as a sex slave and is now a Columbia educated activist in the public sphere advocating for human rights and individual liberties. I have no patience for Ben Shapiros or Candace Owens but I had to hear this lady out.
What she writes about is the trajectory she sees the US heading一one that limits freedom of speech, cancels and bans dissidents, ignores teaching critical thinking in favor of memorization, and absolves itself from individual responsibility一is very similar to what led North Koreans (and other societies) to give up their freedoms in favor of charismatic leaders who later revealed themselves to be villains.
What's unique about this book is the love you can tell this woman has for America, the same way so many immigrants do. This place for her is not an expensive and oppressive prison, but a place unique in the world for the oppurtunities it provides.
Like I said I don't typically read "conservative" authors, but I understand why it's important. Like Uncle Iroh said, "It is important to draw wisdom from different places. If you take it from only one place it becomes rigid and stale." I believe we are in late stage capitalism, I believe in the power of social programs and labor unions, but if that's all I read, I forget that nothing is perfect and that even those things I believe in are flawed.
Park makes very strong and legitimate arguments for the faults of socialism and the great aspects of capitalism. She acknowledges it's not perfect and should be replaced if something better comes up, but very strongly urges the reader to resist the urge to be drawn towards socialism and it's "baseless promises of Utopia" as so many have before, because she's seen what a world under that can look like.
I really enjoyed the short book and highly recommend it.
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Emily Tess
11 reviews
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June 7, 2023
Read for a book club - I feel like I read the wrong book...?
I assumed this would be about her defection from North Korea, but that was apparently all covered in her first book (which I haven't read). While I appreciate all she has been through, this book is like getting stuck at a party listening to a self-important acquaintance in their 20s rant about where the U.S. is headed.
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Emily Tess
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June 7, 2023
Read for a book club - I feel like I read the wrong book...?
I assumed this would be about her defection from North Korea, but that was apparently all covered in her first book (which I haven't read). While I appreciate all she has been through, this book is like getting stuck at a party listening to a self-important acquaintance in their 20s rant about where the U.S. is headed.
It is clear that she believes her experiences in North Korea / China allow her to have opinions on U.S. politics that are more sophisticated than the average U.S. citizen, but it all comes across as incredibly naive and her opinions are constantly in contradiction. If you're interested in her story, I'd def skip this one and just stick to her first book.
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Luke Spooner
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May 9, 2023
I was expecting this book to be more of a straightforward follow up to the author's powerful memoir 'In Order to Live', but from the foreward, by none other than Jordan Peterson, it became pretty clear as to what this book is going for. Regardless, I decided to proceed, as I think the author has a valuable perspective that should be listened to.
I think she makes some salient points about cancel culture and performative activism among the left. However, those same discussions around cancel culture and cult of personality among the left read as somewhat foolish when no mention is made of right wing suppression of books, history, and science and the overall idolization of Donald Trump (not to mention his on again off again relationship with both the North Korean and Chinese rulers). Further, she is concerned that embracing "woke' ideologies and socialist politics will erode American democracy while again making no mention of a literal right wing insurrection and active voter suppression. She also relies largely on anecdotes to make her points rather than any real evidence or data.
She claims to be somewhat apolitical, but by the end of this book it is clear that is not the case. That is fine, we can all believe whatever we like and support whatever politicians we want to. However, this book is being presented as a call to action to protect the US democracy and preserve 'logic and truth'. That is my main issue with it: the information she is presenting as 'logical and true' and in need of activism is at best incomplete and in the larger context just false.
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Sharynlyn
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April 25, 2023
Horrible book & not well written.
It is a tirade of her complaints about the United States.
The book was her being mad at people when they don’t live up to her expectations. Then complaining about Columbia, that gave her a free ride scholarship, because they teach that our founding fathers weren’t perfect & we have flaws !
It is VERY clear, from the writing, she has fallen into the far right of politics, with her not so subtle remarks on groups she doesn’t like - while railing against Americans who don’t like her.
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Nicole Price
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March 31, 2023
Hmmmm. I can't really say much about this, honestly, cause it'll just mean I'm a part of cancel culture. And I think she has every right to say what she thinks even if it is very... ehm, comical.
Summary: America good. Capitalism good. Leftists bad. Socialism bad. Racism has re-emerged recently. Racism was overcome during the Civil rights movements.
I had no idea about that. It's pretty much the exact opposite of every book I read for Black history month. Oh well.
I'm gonna go read something light now. Cause my head hurts from this.
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Sarah
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March 8, 2023
Should be required reading! A timely reminder that we are STILL the land of OPPORTUNITY. Not the land of guaranteed outcomes. That equity and equality are not the same. That saying 'oppressed' here and 'oppressed' in 2/3 of the rest of the world doesn't mean what you think it means.
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Nineteen90
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March 2, 2023
This is the kind of book I get excited about to one day share with my children. This is the kind of book that should make it’s way into the hands of every entitled, wanna-be oppressed, chronically complaining American who needs a wake up call as to what exactly they have; the privilege of being a citizen of one of the greatest countries in the world. Yeonmi’s tale of personal hardship and perseverance to make it to America is incredible and impressive. Her examples of the glaring similarities between what The North Korean propaganda spreads to its citizens and the nonsense espoused by a specific group of people in our country are jarring and should be taken seriously. Her book is a warning to us all that if we don’t fight for the values that make our country great we will lose it to those who are happily watching it crumble and benefiting from its destruction.
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Delaney Zook
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July 28, 2023
I mean it’s an easy to read book with hard truths in it that just make me love America more and scared for the country that I love and what could happen to it. Currently living overseas, I feel like I can even understand this book from a different perspective idk if I would have seen if I was in America.
I wish everyone would read this. It’s offensive to those who lean far left and so the people who should read it probably won’t but I think Yeonmi is great at making truths known in a way that’s easier to understand and she just gets straight to the point of the matter and still gives us hope in the end. I wasn’t just learning about the situation at hand but about her perspective and how she has handled this life.
I’m encouraged. 5 stars.
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Ramona Tudor
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February 1, 2024
I loved her first book, but the second one… It starts promising but after she made a summary of her life moving to America, the book continues with a wild theory of political history which she extend over the face of every American that she deals with. Even she reveals some of the true cruelty situations we are dealing with in our own lives, the book made me feel a little anxious when it goes too far into ideas of indoctrination and propaganda.
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Lily
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Want to readFebruary 28, 2023
Adding this book to my to-read shelf after watching this clip. https://youtu.be/ehXdsxRlMuE
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Charity (Booktrovert Reader)
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September 9, 2023
This was an interesting read for sure. Many of the things she talks about do make you think.
There were many times that it seemed like she was repeating herself in her memoir. Whether it be what her mother or her endured and such. But it wasn't the end of all things.
Good insightful read.
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Robin Ruggles
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March 21, 2023
A real disappointment compared to her 1st book
I loved her first book (In order to live) and gave it a 5-star rating.
I found this book to be quite repetitive drawing on many sections from the 1st book.
I’m not clear whether she thinks proponents of fake news bear any responsibility when the lies they promote lead to harmful consequences.
I like the section on the ties between North Korea and China but wish she explored these connections much more.
The move to limit student reading choices and curriculum topics covered in school seems to be applicable to both sides of the political spectrum but she only
talks about the activism from one side.
Hopefully her next book will return to the excellent quality standard of her first book.
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Drtaxsacto
621 reviews51 followers
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April 22, 2023
This is a short book by a North Korean refugee which makes parallels between the tyranny in totalitarian places like her home country and some trends in the US. It is a harrowing story of how this young woman escaped from her homeland through China and then to S. Korea and then to the US. I am sure some of her characterizations would anger some readers but I think her story is a compelling one and should get some to think about the core values that she seems to have so well understood about her adopted new homeland.
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Lauren
173 reviews3 followers
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May 17, 2023
I picked up this book wondering where the next step on Yeonmi Park’s amazing journey took her. I can’t believe the direction she’s chosen to follow. I literally reread passages thinking I must have initially misread or understood what she was saying. I felt disappointed to find her entrenched in many right wing arguments against the elitist left. I didn’t agree with most of this and part of me wanted to put it down. I stuck with it to try and understand her perspective. I don’t.
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Robert Melnyk
372 reviews19 followers
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June 16, 2023
Excellent book by Yeonmi Park. Park describes her life history, growing up in communist North Korea, escaping to China, and then to South Korea, eventually making her way to the United States. She describes in detail the horrors of living under the current regimes in North Korea and China, and the joys of living in a free society such as the United States.
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Luke Spooner
512 reviews4 followers
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May 9, 2023
I was expecting this book to be more of a straightforward follow up to the author's powerful memoir 'In Order to Live', but from the foreward, by none other than Jordan Peterson, it became pretty clear as to what this book is going for. Regardless, I decided to proceed, as I think the author has a valuable perspective that should be listened to.
I think she makes some salient points about cancel culture and performative activism among the left. However, those same discussions around cancel culture and cult of personality among the left read as somewhat foolish when no mention is made of right wing suppression of books, history, and science and the overall idolization of Donald Trump (not to mention his on again off again relationship with both the North Korean and Chinese rulers). Further, she is concerned that embracing "woke' ideologies and socialist politics will erode American democracy while again making no mention of a literal right wing insurrection and active voter suppression. She also relies largely on anecdotes to make her points rather than any real evidence or data.
She claims to be somewhat apolitical, but by the end of this book it is clear that is not the case. That is fine, we can all believe whatever we like and support whatever politicians we want to. However, this book is being presented as a call to action to protect the US democracy and preserve 'logic and truth'. That is my main issue with it: the information she is presenting as 'logical and true' and in need of activism is at best incomplete and in the larger context just false.
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Sharynlyn
20 reviews4 followers
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April 25, 2023
Horrible book & not well written.
It is a tirade of her complaints about the United States.
The book was her being mad at people when they don’t live up to her expectations. Then complaining about Columbia, that gave her a free ride scholarship, because they teach that our founding fathers weren’t perfect & we have flaws !
It is VERY clear, from the writing, she has fallen into the far right of politics, with her not so subtle remarks on groups she doesn’t like - while railing against Americans who don’t like her.
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Nicole Price
124 reviews9 followers
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March 31, 2023
Hmmmm. I can't really say much about this, honestly, cause it'll just mean I'm a part of cancel culture. And I think she has every right to say what she thinks even if it is very... ehm, comical.
Summary: America good. Capitalism good. Leftists bad. Socialism bad. Racism has re-emerged recently. Racism was overcome during the Civil rights movements.
I had no idea about that. It's pretty much the exact opposite of every book I read for Black history month. Oh well.
I'm gonna go read something light now. Cause my head hurts from this.
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Sarah
171 reviews1 follower
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March 8, 2023
Should be required reading! A timely reminder that we are STILL the land of OPPORTUNITY. Not the land of guaranteed outcomes. That equity and equality are not the same. That saying 'oppressed' here and 'oppressed' in 2/3 of the rest of the world doesn't mean what you think it means.
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Nineteen90
5 reviews2 followers
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March 2, 2023
This is the kind of book I get excited about to one day share with my children. This is the kind of book that should make it’s way into the hands of every entitled, wanna-be oppressed, chronically complaining American who needs a wake up call as to what exactly they have; the privilege of being a citizen of one of the greatest countries in the world. Yeonmi’s tale of personal hardship and perseverance to make it to America is incredible and impressive. Her examples of the glaring similarities between what The North Korean propaganda spreads to its citizens and the nonsense espoused by a specific group of people in our country are jarring and should be taken seriously. Her book is a warning to us all that if we don’t fight for the values that make our country great we will lose it to those who are happily watching it crumble and benefiting from its destruction.
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Delaney Zook
268 reviews10 followers
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July 28, 2023
I mean it’s an easy to read book with hard truths in it that just make me love America more and scared for the country that I love and what could happen to it. Currently living overseas, I feel like I can even understand this book from a different perspective idk if I would have seen if I was in America.
I wish everyone would read this. It’s offensive to those who lean far left and so the people who should read it probably won’t but I think Yeonmi is great at making truths known in a way that’s easier to understand and she just gets straight to the point of the matter and still gives us hope in the end. I wasn’t just learning about the situation at hand but about her perspective and how she has handled this life.
I’m encouraged. 5 stars.
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Ramona Tudor
14 reviews
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February 1, 2024
I loved her first book, but the second one… It starts promising but after she made a summary of her life moving to America, the book continues with a wild theory of political history which she extend over the face of every American that she deals with. Even she reveals some of the true cruelty situations we are dealing with in our own lives, the book made me feel a little anxious when it goes too far into ideas of indoctrination and propaganda.
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Lily
469 reviews232 followers
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Want to readFebruary 28, 2023
Adding this book to my to-read shelf after watching this clip. https://youtu.be/ehXdsxRlMuE
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Charity (Booktrovert Reader)
670 reviews476 followers
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September 9, 2023
This was an interesting read for sure. Many of the things she talks about do make you think.
There were many times that it seemed like she was repeating herself in her memoir. Whether it be what her mother or her endured and such. But it wasn't the end of all things.
Good insightful read.
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Robin Ruggles
12 reviews
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March 21, 2023
A real disappointment compared to her 1st book
I loved her first book (In order to live) and gave it a 5-star rating.
I found this book to be quite repetitive drawing on many sections from the 1st book.
I’m not clear whether she thinks proponents of fake news bear any responsibility when the lies they promote lead to harmful consequences.
I like the section on the ties between North Korea and China but wish she explored these connections much more.
The move to limit student reading choices and curriculum topics covered in school seems to be applicable to both sides of the political spectrum but she only
talks about the activism from one side.
Hopefully her next book will return to the excellent quality standard of her first book.
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Drtaxsacto
621 reviews51 followers
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April 22, 2023
This is a short book by a North Korean refugee which makes parallels between the tyranny in totalitarian places like her home country and some trends in the US. It is a harrowing story of how this young woman escaped from her homeland through China and then to S. Korea and then to the US. I am sure some of her characterizations would anger some readers but I think her story is a compelling one and should get some to think about the core values that she seems to have so well understood about her adopted new homeland.
8 likes
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Lauren
173 reviews3 followers
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May 17, 2023
I picked up this book wondering where the next step on Yeonmi Park’s amazing journey took her. I can’t believe the direction she’s chosen to follow. I literally reread passages thinking I must have initially misread or understood what she was saying. I felt disappointed to find her entrenched in many right wing arguments against the elitist left. I didn’t agree with most of this and part of me wanted to put it down. I stuck with it to try and understand her perspective. I don’t.
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Robert Melnyk
372 reviews19 followers
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June 16, 2023
Excellent book by Yeonmi Park. Park describes her life history, growing up in communist North Korea, escaping to China, and then to South Korea, eventually making her way to the United States. She describes in detail the horrors of living under the current regimes in North Korea and China, and the joys of living in a free society such as the United States.
However she also draws parallels to how those countries became the communist societies they are today, and to the things that are currently going on in the United States that are leading us down the same path. It is very interesting, but very scary. Hopefully the people in the United States will wake up before it is too late.
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Joanne
348 reviews
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May 4, 2023
I loved this author's first book so much that I didn't even look into this before I put it on hold from the library and started reading. As soon as I read the forward by Jordan Peterson I got a sinking feeling in my stomach and after reading the first few chapters, I feel so, so, disappointed.
2023
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Janna
89 reviews
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March 16, 2023
I thought her first book was really interesting. This second book was not at all what I was expecting it to be …
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Amanda
3 reviews1 follower
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August 11, 2023
I believed this book to be a criticism of American culture and politics but instead it was a criticism of the left and liberalism. I was eager to hear about critics of politicians across the board but instead was met with a one sided discussion. There were numerous mentions of the corruption from the left as well as stories revealing the lack of consideration from wealthy individuals regarding their promoted causes, however, these analytical revelations were limited to these people alone. The "woke" people's agenda was synonymous to whining while the author neglected to analyze the positive aspects in aspect of "extreme woke-ness" as she did with more conservative viewpoints. Anecdotes that were included seemed to leave me with more questions on the purpose of their inclusion to the book which ultimately left me feeling like I was reading propaganda.
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Joanne
348 reviews
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May 4, 2023
I loved this author's first book so much that I didn't even look into this before I put it on hold from the library and started reading. As soon as I read the forward by Jordan Peterson I got a sinking feeling in my stomach and after reading the first few chapters, I feel so, so, disappointed.
2023
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Janna
89 reviews
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March 16, 2023
I thought her first book was really interesting. This second book was not at all what I was expecting it to be …
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Amanda
3 reviews1 follower
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August 11, 2023
I believed this book to be a criticism of American culture and politics but instead it was a criticism of the left and liberalism. I was eager to hear about critics of politicians across the board but instead was met with a one sided discussion. There were numerous mentions of the corruption from the left as well as stories revealing the lack of consideration from wealthy individuals regarding their promoted causes, however, these analytical revelations were limited to these people alone. The "woke" people's agenda was synonymous to whining while the author neglected to analyze the positive aspects in aspect of "extreme woke-ness" as she did with more conservative viewpoints. Anecdotes that were included seemed to leave me with more questions on the purpose of their inclusion to the book which ultimately left me feeling like I was reading propaganda.
A specific example in the middle of the book that left me skeptical of the rest of Park's accounts was the story of her being robbed. The author recounts the instance where she was attacked and robbed while she was with her baby and nanny. She reveals how she was shocked that nobody would help her in the midst of a busy and populated area. The incident ends with the robbers escaping and Park recording them screaming that she had just been robbed only to be met with a hoard of shouts saying "racist!". Park attributes the reaction of the surrounding people to be due to "woke" culture and their automatic reaction of thinking "black people need to be protected from racism which this women is perpetuating".
My issues with this story stem from the lack of credibility: how does a women get accused of being racist for saying she was robbed by 2 black women when she was in such a populated area that she was definitely seen being attacked enough so that she was confused at nobody helping. This specific example of Park's storytelling is the largest instance of what appears to be a half-story with half-truths where it appears to be propaganda because of the glorification.
Park's book speaks of her perspective and her experiences doing so to shed light on the problems she deems as being necessary to focus on to prevent the falling of American government and culture. While she is an incredible writer, I found the book lacking of the majority of experiences of other Americans, immigrant and citizen born alike. The issue of minorities being able to escape accountability by staying the other person is racist, sexist or bigoted is very prominent and definitely something that is a huge problem. However, I believe Park failed to shed light onto why the radical response was formed which was as a direct response to the other type of radical ignorance of actual racists and those that automatically assume, for example, that black people are immediately thugs.
Ultimately, Park's analysis and criticism of America lacked depth and consideration of other viewpoints that are also a threat to Americans' freedoms and focussed only on the issues perpetuated by the "woke left". While that is definitely a problem, without equal criticism of the radicals affiliated with other political agendas, it made it that Park's book appeared to be a piece of propaganda with a clear agenda and favoritism of certain political figures.
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Brittany
961 reviews1 follower
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June 29, 2023
1.5 stars rounded up. I've read Park's other book, which was fine, and in between reading that book and this book, I found out about some of her positions on some things. Based on that, I updated my view of her to "probable grifter". Now, having read this book, I have updated my view to "definite grifter". This book is cringy through and through.
Her three heroes are Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, and Candance Owens.
The book starts with a foreword from Jordan Peterson - "If the hypothetical moralism of the left had any grounding in reality..." - which tells you the direction this book is going to take right off the bat.
"Self-described socialists or woke activists or social justice warriors or whatever they are called on any particular day want to kick their ideological opponents off social media. They want to ban parents from having any say in what public schools teach their own children. They want to tell you what you can and can't put into your own body and they want the right to cut their perceived enemies off from financial services. They want education and basic subjects like math and science to reflect certain political preferences instead of physical reality." Uhhhhm Edwards v. Aguillard, Elon Musk, the median Republican stance on trans healthcare? No? Ok.
"It is not the job of the Supreme Court to make decisions for your family or your community." In light of the Dobbs Decision, I'd appreciate her telling the Supreme Court that.
She compares cancel culture to life in North Korea, thereby demonstrating how awful and evil the left is. Yet, when in college and having a rape described to her as 'rape', she was "offended" because she was 'actually' raped. It's not difficult to see the pattern in her arguments - similarities between the left and North Korea, no matter how dissimilar in scope, practice, or degree, are valid.
I was deeply amused by her blaming Hillary Clinton for not doing anything about North Korea and remaining completely silent on, y'know, Trump's dealings with North Korea throughout his presidency. Weird, that.
2023 audiobook non-fiction
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melhara
1,509 reviews74 followers
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March 2, 2023
4.5/5
Yeonmi Park's previous book, In Order to Live was one of my favourite North Korean memoirs that I've read (which I've reviewed here).
While In Order to Live was about Park's escape from North Korea, being a victim of human trafficking in China, and learning how to adapt in South Korea, this second book,While Time Remains, focuses on a completely different journey - adapting to life in America.
Since the publishing of her first book, Park has immigrated to the USA, graduated from Columbia University with a degree in economics, started a YouTube channel, and gave birth to a son. While it seems like she has completely integrated into 'normal' society, it is not without its challenges.
Park's experience in America is not dissimilar from that of other conservative Asian immigrants but this was still a very interesting memoir as it details how Park's life in America is both completely different and yet strangely similar, to life in North Korea. She offers a no holds barred critique of the USA (particularly the dangers of woke/cancel culture that seems to be on the rise), from the viewpoint of both an immigrant and a North Korean refugee.
I don't agree with all of the opinions that she's presented in this book but she brings up a lot of great points and offers a lot of food for thought. Also, the comparisons that she was able to draw between woke/cancel culture and North Korean dictatorship and propaganda were very interesting.
Audiobook Comments:
I personally would have preferred if the audiobook was narrated by Park herself (I find her Korean accent charming) but suspect I that the editors opted for a narrator with an American accent to make the audiobook more palatable to the general population.
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Leigh
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February 27, 2023
This book brought up many emotions. Fear, anger, frustration, and some hope. The hope comes from hearing others of many ages expressing their frustration. Carrying on from her previous book Yeonmi Park finds herself in America at last enjoying the freedom she never dared dream of in North Korea. But that joy was short lived. With each speech she delivers she's met first with people wanting to help only to be shut down when told they have to go against China, a big no no among western elites. Starting school was a a frustrating and horrifying experience too. Books like Jane Austen as white supremacist propaganda and show white male privilege, she is berated for calling someone by the wrong pronoun even though she is a new arrival to the country and not a native English speaker I mean I speak English and I still can't figure out the pronoun thing. The book is written as a plea from someone who has actually lived in a dictatorship and seen what the loss of freedom is actually like. While people from everywhere do have struggles I would think that someone being called the wrong pronoun or being offended by everything is not as bad as being trafficked in China, or living in fear that anyone could report on you and have you sent to a camp or worse. Or living in a war zone. We have it easy here by comparison and this book illustrates that we would all be better to acknowledge just how comfortable and free our lives truly are.
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Kimball
1,271 reviews20 followers
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February 21, 2023
If you didn't read the first book In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom, Yeonmi gives a very brief synopsis of her escape from North Korea. The book included a good forward by Jordan Peterson. I liked how she called out the Left/Elite especially at her alma mater Columbia University. But I wished she had done it more and to have named names. So many of the Elite were at first interested in her story and even naively asked how to help, but when she mentioned China they scurried back into the shadows.
Her and her sister didn't talk for two years. I wish she went into detail about that.
Notes:
"If a man is afraid of commitment he's probably frightened of being responsible and loving."
"Feelings of devastation come from how we think of the problem, not necessarily the problem."
She's hot.
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Fatime
63 reviews1 follower
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ReadApril 20, 2023
I don’t want to rate this because it doesn’t feel right but it was quite one-sided. I understand where she’s coming from, though. I am from a post communist country and I experienced first hand the aftermath of communism. But it’s worth pointing out that the socialist and communist ideas they have in the West are very different to those of North Korea or China. Yes it’s likely they didn’t experience communism/socialism themselves but the effects of capitalism on the environment are undeniable and apparent. White supremacy is a fact, too. I understand that these problems are nothing compared to the torture North Koreans go through but the point of these (and discussing these and sharing awareness) is to make people more sensitive towards others that are different, promote acceptance and different perspectives, experiences. A lot of the time this book felt a bit dismissive.
It is also an illusion that ‘if you work hard you’ll succeed”. That’s not necessarily true in the West either.
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Hannah Nagle
763 reviews37 followers
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ReadMarch 9, 2023
I don't rate memoirs, but this was bad.
I enjoyed Yeonmi Park's first book (well, as much as you can enjoy learning about the trauma and tortures she faced). I thought it was important to read and learn about North Korea and the poor treatment of those who live there.
The epilogue is quite literally a love letter to Jordan Peterson, Candace Owns and Joe Rogan. Their trains of thought are clear throughout the this book as they heavily influence Park. I don't care about 'authenticity', when people are hateful, they are hateful and there is nothing that can justify that.
Park has some brilliant insights into what can be done better and how we must act to prevent other countries from becoming like North Korea, but I found her constantly smearing the "woke movement" off putting and took away from the overall message completely.
memoir-biography no-thanks non-fiction
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Ben
2,670 reviews200 followers
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August 1, 2023
Act Now!
Outstanding book on the plight of communism.
A really important and timely book on China and also North Korea.
Park is a really outspoken and impressive writer.
Really impressed with this whole book.
Definitely check it out.
I also really liked her first book In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
WARNING - There's some questionable unions in this book - for example, a pretty big recommendation of Joe Rogan (something I can't really condone). Other than that, the book was pretty solid.
4.7/5
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Julie Hurd
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April 19, 2023
I’m glad it wasn’t longer than it was and even so there were parts that were very repetitive. My mom asked me to read this book because she thinks I’m too “woke” and a socialist. So I did and it was…fine? I don’t know. I’d never choose to read it myself. The epilogue felt gross. I was put off by the introduction. I probably would have liked her other book better than this one as it covers her experience. Yeonmi has some major black and white thinking still, I found it difficult to listen to because she acknowledges no nuance.
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Maxxie
148 reviews12 followers
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May 8, 2023
The audiobook's reader was pretty good and I learned a lot of interesting things about how life in North Korea feels like, especially for women and how they have been treated but, even if Yeonmi Park lived throught truly difficults and horrendious times, I don't get why she feels so threatned by the "woke disease" as she calls it. Plus, I couldn't follow her, when she loves to quote people I hate, like Shapiro or Peterson. Let me put my thoughts as I can and I'll try to post something a little bit clearer later.
asian-readathon-2023 audiobook
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Cassie Ernst
89 reviews1 follower
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March 10, 2023
READ. THIS. BOOK.
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Lucinda
75 reviews
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May 3, 2023
Okay I am giving this a 1 - 1.5.
Unfortunately, I found this book very disappointing in comparison with the first.
While I think that the points made on the advent/danger of cancel culture, and on China's rise to power/influence are interesting, I found 90% of the book to be rather contradictory and somewhat... Insensitive and narrow-minded? Maybe even slightly misinformed or under-researched in some areas?
Which I really hate to say as she is someone who has suffered unimaginably at the hands of horrendous regimes in more than one country and I have great respect for her, the pain that she has suffered and the bravery that she has demonstrated in continuing to speak out despite the dangers to herself and her family in doing so. Her perspective is incredibly valuable, but there was something that felt quite off about this book.
I am glad that I read it regardless of my confusion and disappointment, as I am currently studying to be a lawyer and have a particular interest in International Law and Human Rights, but overall I don't think that I can completely support this book in particular.
It reads a little bit like an impassioned political advertisement for the far-right, and encourages capitalism while simultaneously complaining about the various circumstances in which it has failed. Overall it feels a little bit misinformed to say the least, especially at points where she speaks of Americans never having to experience poverty or having to consider where their next meal would come from. Her encouragement towards her fellow Americans to avoid thinking about Washington in order to live a better life feels a little bit tone deaf too. I will avoid commenting on her perspective on trauma and therapy as I feel like I'd need more information on her experience with both in order to discuss her perspective more thoroughly. Although I am glad that her gratitude towards the life she has now is enough to propel her through the most difficult challenges of PTSD, I know that that is certainly not the case for everyone, or even for most people.
In terms of the above I am admittedly looking from the outside in and I could be completely wrong, but I do believe that the perspective that she has on America is not one that I think is shared by many of the average Americans experiencing it first hand. Certainly living in the US is nothing in comparison to growing up at the hands of an authoritarian regime like in North Korea, but everyone and every country has their own individual struggles, and I don't think that we can contain the entirety of the US population in one box and decide that theirs are unworthy of compassion and empathy. Not every American spends all of their time complaining about the privileged lifestyle that they have/have not been given. In fact, I would say a large chunk of them spend their time worrying about how to afford health care for their families.
Anyway those are my initial thoughts upon finishing the book for the first time!
I don't usually comment too heavily on the books that I read but this one felt a bit bleh overall sadly 😅
2023
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While Time Remains: A North Korean Defector's Search for Freedom in America
byYeonmi Park
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colin
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting ReadReviewed in Australia on 2 July 2024
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Was a great read, and a great insight into the North Korean regime at the time.
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From other countries
Lília Finelli
5.0 out of 5 stars Aqui o comentário brasileiro que você procuraReviewed in Brazil on 26 June 2023
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Excelente livro. Muito diferente do primeiro, que é mais chocante. Esse é mais revoltante. Resumindo: a pessoa sai do inferno, pra sofrer censura nos EUA. Vale a pena demais ler.
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Irisa
3.0 out of 5 stars Skadat omslagReviewed in Sweden on 28 March 2024
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Play VideoJag är ledsen att utsikten ser så här ut… jag väntade ganska längre för att få boken och omslag är lite förstört.
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars Freedom needs to be taken care ofReviewed in Spain on 1 September 2023
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In a very enjoyable way and while describing some personal experiences, Yeonmi gives her view, as a North Korean Defector, of some of the hot topics in current society. She warns us about how some rising behaviors in modern day America resemble very much to what she lived in North Korea, for example, how reason and search of truth are many times displaced by political correctness, even in ordinary relationships between ordinary people.
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Yarn
5.0 out of 5 stars Park's faith is a beacon of courage; Inspiration for the young, and a fanning to the smoking flax.Reviewed in Canada on 17 February 2023
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With every word I hear from Yeonmi Park my love for her is renewed. Whether it be on her channel, by interview, or written word.
The voice of the spirit within her, is in this book, so inspiring that it intimidates and provokes to jealousy any soul who has had so much more, and yet done so much less, any soul who aspires to not only listen to, but have the courage to obey, the Lord Jesus.
Her decision to obey His spirit, her labor of love, of learning, her tireless effort to travel, and warn, and continuously work, for selfless cause, through all that she has been, with such magnificent faith as to face oppositions, afflictions, and the threat of loss, despite all that she has already suffered, knowing full well that the cost is nothing short of everything, and the very freedom that she had fought her entire life to obtain, is admirable, and the kind of faith that engenders such courage as we should all aspire to have. In this, she lives by Jesus's words: Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Yeonmi Park is a light of the world. A beacon to inspire all those who lack courage, through faith. An example of what is possible to the young, and an admonition to those whose light is but a smoking flax.
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I. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars A beacon of hope for North KoreaReviewed in Germany on 21 September 2023
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I have the highest admiration for this courageous young lady. She is a true beacon of hope for the liberation of the North Korean People.
I sincerely hope she succeeds further.
One person found this helpfulReport
Ryan Tanner
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, purposeful insight into 'woke elitist' American culture - MUST READReviewed in the United States on 22 March 2023
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UPDATE:
Thank you all for the support! Following Yeonmi’s lead, I’ve began to get involved at the grassroots level campaigning for Kennedy 2024 and have experienced VERY ENCOURAGING results. Personal responsibility and ownership is the Way to restoring American freedom, democracy, and unity.
Park's second volume serves as a courageous, cautionary and uniquely crafted perspective into contemporary American culture.
Recruiting her experiences in the tyrannical regimes of North Korea and China, as well as her experience at Columbia and as an acclimating American citizen, she carefully and clearly details the growing connections between the current sociopolitical climate in America and the fundamental idealogical narratives and practicalities of circumstance that lead to tyranny.
Park makes several powerful arguments and observations that help make an objective case for the why the American elite is motivated, by the self-interest of their position, to continue the propagation of woke ideology—and why everyday Americans are afraid to take action, partly because most of them are unable to truly appreciate the marvel of their own liberties (having never been denied them or exposed to real life circumstances without them), and partly because of a lack of leadership, guidance, and planning on this front.
I found her increasingly articulate reflections on the circumstances that make socialist tyranny possible particularly eye-opening and intrinsically persuasive. Park discusses how the lack of linguistic representation for concepts such as 'starvation', 'depression', and 'freedom' in the North Korean dialect provides the state increased abilities to police thought, and as consequence deter revolution and resistance by stripping individuals of the necessary cognitive, communicative, and linguistic means to organize such. There's much to talk about, many similar arguments to this that outline the practicalities of the current situation—attempting to elucidate, from Park's perspective, why society is where it is at today and what we can do about it. This, coupled alongside interesting anecdotes, leads to a mentally stimulating, educating, and thoughtful read that I believe ultimately made me a better person, or at least a less ignorant one.
Here's a quote that struck me hard:
"At the end of the day, this is the object of cancel culture in America: to deprive people of the right or ability to express thoughts that run counter to official narratives, so that eventually, they won't even know how. Threaten people enough with the destruction of their reputations and livelihoods if they criticize the wrong thing, and eventually they won't even know how to criticize it."
I would also like to mention that there was a moment reading this book where I can say that for the first time in my life, I genuinely felt proud to be an American—and in the best way possible, not founded on grandiosity or false bravado but a real, solid sense of appreciation, perspective, gratitude and honor. It was a strange feeling, one that I suppose I wasn't supposed to feel, but it left me with a resolve to remember the words in this book and put my faith into them as True.
To provide some context, I am an Ivy League student in the US and am well aware of the current woke idealogical narrative. I think Park's second installment is so crucial because it has given me the perspective to see the real value in what American stands for, and to therefore have the wisdom to understand how precious and fragile freedom actually is, and to be willing to speak my mind and do my part no matters the consequences. I am now embodying this knowledge in my own life and my own decisions, and am frequently reminded of Nietzsche's comment "How much truth can a spirit bear, how much truth can a spirit dare? That became more and more for me the real measure of value" as I begin to speak my mind, say what I think. I now see that the consequences of not doing so are simply too great.
Park ends optimistically describing what we, everyday Americans, can do. Park advocates for personal responsibility, and outlines how by attending to the democratic process, by voting in schoolboard meetings, building local communities, engaging meaningfully with your family, limiting social media usage, among other such things, we can all do our part, carry our weight, and produce real change. In essence, instead of looking towards DC to fix our problems, abdicating our personal power, we should look to ourselves.
My only critique of this deeply purposeful book is that some of the passages appeared to be repeated throughout the book. However, in consideration of the magnitude and importance of the piece of a whole, I would consider this to be a minor practical flaw.
I give this book five stars and would recommend it to anyone, really.
156 people found this helpfulReport
Paul YH
5.0 out of 5 stars Un must have !Reviewed in France on 18 April 2023
Verified Purchase
Incroyablement inspirant tout simplement. Ce livre nous fait vraiment relativiser.
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patrik uytterhoeven
3.0 out of 5 stars Goed maarReviewed in Belgium on 16 May 2024
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Goed boek om te lezen om een idee te krijgen hoe iemand van ginds de dingen bij ons in t westen ziet. Alleen is de schrijfster niet onbesproken en zou een deel niet waar zijn volgens anderen die ooit ook wisten te ontkomen. Wat natuurlijk niet geverifieerd kan worden. Los daar van interessante lectuur
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Richard Downs
5.0 out of 5 stars Scary stuffReviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 June 2023
Verified Purchase
Read the first book by her who he is even scarier! Before you read this one One brave young lady
One person found this helpfulReport
===
From other countries
Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book you will readReviewed in Canada on 7 November 2023
Verified Purchase
Amazing. Both Yeonmi Park's books are a MUST READ. Learned so much about North Korea and the importance of freedom. We don't learn this important stuff in school, so it was extremely eye opening and i think everyone should read her books.
One person found this helpfulReport
Niall Doorley
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent follow upReviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2023
Verified Purchase
Where the first book highlights the horrors of a socialist society, this book is showing how easy it is for so called "enlightened" people to follow the doctrine of those failed ideologies. It should be required reading for those who espouse such rhetoric
6 people found this helpfulReport
Trns
5.0 out of 5 stars Produit en très bon état, arrivé en avanceReviewed in France on 9 March 2023
Verified Purchase
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ERIC V MADISON
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it.Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is awesome. For someone who has lived so differently and persevered through so much, it is very intriguing and inspiring to get their perspective on our beloved country. It is well written and I can only hope it becomes required reading in all colleges (especially Columbia). Cheers to and best wishes for the author.
3 people found this helpfulReport
Hwei-Ling Lin
5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable book to readReviewed in Germany on 14 June 2023
Verified Purchase
Help you to know the truth
One person found this helpfulReport
Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps one of the most thoughtful books I have ever picked upReviewed in Canada on 24 April 2023
Verified Purchase
After initially dealing her first book, “In order to live” I had been quite taken by the life and experiences of Ms Yeonmi Park. After hearing of this release I knew I wanted to add it to my reading list - it didn’t disappoint. As someone who isn’t a regular or avid reader, I blew through this book in a few days. Barely able to put it down.. and at time almost in tears in reverence to the story and perspectives she told. Well worth a read, I would recommend this book to anyone.
3 people found this helpfulReport
Ron S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing story and powerful insightsReviewed in the United States on 10 July 2024
Verified Purchase
Incredible book — the story of escaping the crazy hell of North Korea into Chinese sex trafficking and eventually to freedom in the US. But also incredible is the depth of insight into our current predicament and a way forward. One of the darkest and yet most hopeful books I’ve read.
Report
jerry6
5.0 out of 5 stars read the book appreciate what you haveReviewed in Canada on 12 August 2023
Verified Purchase
if you have a problem with life in the US read this book , might show you how good we have it here , not perfect but you have opportunity you can take advantage of or not .
Report
Sean Patrick Shetler
5.0 out of 5 stars While Time Remains: Great Story of FreedomReviewed in the United States on 8 May 2024
Verified Purchase
"Yeonmi Park's 'While Time Remains' is a poignant memoir that shines a light on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. In this gripping account, Park takes readers on a journey through her harrowing experiences as a North Korean defector, offering a rare glimpse into the brutal realities of life under one of the world's most oppressive regimes.
From the very first page, Park's storytelling captivates with its raw honesty and emotional depth. She paints a vivid picture of her childhood in North Korea, where poverty, hunger, and fear were constant companions. Through her eyes, readers witness the struggle for survival in a society where freedom of thought and expression is brutally suppressed.
But 'While Time Remains' is not just a tale of suffering; it is also a testament to the power of hope and resilience. Despite facing unimaginable hardships, Park refuses to succumb to despair. Instead, she finds the strength to defy the odds and embark on a perilous journey to freedom, leaving behind everything she has ever known in search of a better life.
What sets this memoir apart is Park's unwavering commitment to truth and authenticity. She does not shy away from depicting the complexities of her journey, including the challenges she faced as a defector adjusting to life in the outside world. Her willingness to confront difficult truths and grapple with the trauma of her past is both brave and inspiring.
Throughout the book, Park's voice resonates with a sense of urgency, as she implores readers not to turn a blind eye to the suffering of those still trapped in North Korea. Her message is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up for the rights of the oppressed.
In conclusion, 'While Time Remains' is a gripping memoir that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. With its compelling narrative and powerful message, it is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of freedom and the resilience of the human spirit."
5 people found this helpfulReport
Desislava Deller
3.0 out of 5 stars A food for thoughtReviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2023
Verified Purchase
The reason I give this book only 3 stars is the dry and a tad edifying style, but perhaps this feeling is brought up by the "my own oppinion" presentation of it. While I do not agree with some of the statements and conclusions made by the author and find some of them naive it has given me plenty of food for thought and made me examine my own views.
There are few points made in this book I most definitely agree with, we should preserve the freedom created by the western civilisations and be afraid of manipulators irregardless where they originate from.
Report
Park makes several powerful arguments and observations that help make an objective case for the why the American elite is motivated, by the self-interest of their position, to continue the propagation of woke ideology—and why everyday Americans are afraid to take action, partly because most of them are unable to truly appreciate the marvel of their own liberties (having never been denied them or exposed to real life circumstances without them), and partly because of a lack of leadership, guidance, and planning on this front.
I found her increasingly articulate reflections on the circumstances that make socialist tyranny possible particularly eye-opening and intrinsically persuasive. Park discusses how the lack of linguistic representation for concepts such as 'starvation', 'depression', and 'freedom' in the North Korean dialect provides the state increased abilities to police thought, and as consequence deter revolution and resistance by stripping individuals of the necessary cognitive, communicative, and linguistic means to organize such. There's much to talk about, many similar arguments to this that outline the practicalities of the current situation—attempting to elucidate, from Park's perspective, why society is where it is at today and what we can do about it. This, coupled alongside interesting anecdotes, leads to a mentally stimulating, educating, and thoughtful read that I believe ultimately made me a better person, or at least a less ignorant one.
Here's a quote that struck me hard:
"At the end of the day, this is the object of cancel culture in America: to deprive people of the right or ability to express thoughts that run counter to official narratives, so that eventually, they won't even know how. Threaten people enough with the destruction of their reputations and livelihoods if they criticize the wrong thing, and eventually they won't even know how to criticize it."
I would also like to mention that there was a moment reading this book where I can say that for the first time in my life, I genuinely felt proud to be an American—and in the best way possible, not founded on grandiosity or false bravado but a real, solid sense of appreciation, perspective, gratitude and honor. It was a strange feeling, one that I suppose I wasn't supposed to feel, but it left me with a resolve to remember the words in this book and put my faith into them as True.
To provide some context, I am an Ivy League student in the US and am well aware of the current woke idealogical narrative. I think Park's second installment is so crucial because it has given me the perspective to see the real value in what American stands for, and to therefore have the wisdom to understand how precious and fragile freedom actually is, and to be willing to speak my mind and do my part no matters the consequences. I am now embodying this knowledge in my own life and my own decisions, and am frequently reminded of Nietzsche's comment "How much truth can a spirit bear, how much truth can a spirit dare? That became more and more for me the real measure of value" as I begin to speak my mind, say what I think. I now see that the consequences of not doing so are simply too great.
Park ends optimistically describing what we, everyday Americans, can do. Park advocates for personal responsibility, and outlines how by attending to the democratic process, by voting in schoolboard meetings, building local communities, engaging meaningfully with your family, limiting social media usage, among other such things, we can all do our part, carry our weight, and produce real change. In essence, instead of looking towards DC to fix our problems, abdicating our personal power, we should look to ourselves.
My only critique of this deeply purposeful book is that some of the passages appeared to be repeated throughout the book. However, in consideration of the magnitude and importance of the piece of a whole, I would consider this to be a minor practical flaw.
I give this book five stars and would recommend it to anyone, really.
156 people found this helpfulReport
Paul YH
5.0 out of 5 stars Un must have !Reviewed in France on 18 April 2023
Verified Purchase
Incroyablement inspirant tout simplement. Ce livre nous fait vraiment relativiser.
Report
Translate review to English
patrik uytterhoeven
3.0 out of 5 stars Goed maarReviewed in Belgium on 16 May 2024
Verified Purchase
Goed boek om te lezen om een idee te krijgen hoe iemand van ginds de dingen bij ons in t westen ziet. Alleen is de schrijfster niet onbesproken en zou een deel niet waar zijn volgens anderen die ooit ook wisten te ontkomen. Wat natuurlijk niet geverifieerd kan worden. Los daar van interessante lectuur
Report
Translate review to English
Richard Downs
5.0 out of 5 stars Scary stuffReviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 June 2023
Verified Purchase
Read the first book by her who he is even scarier! Before you read this one One brave young lady
One person found this helpfulReport
===
From other countries
Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book you will readReviewed in Canada on 7 November 2023
Verified Purchase
Amazing. Both Yeonmi Park's books are a MUST READ. Learned so much about North Korea and the importance of freedom. We don't learn this important stuff in school, so it was extremely eye opening and i think everyone should read her books.
One person found this helpfulReport
Niall Doorley
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent follow upReviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2023
Verified Purchase
Where the first book highlights the horrors of a socialist society, this book is showing how easy it is for so called "enlightened" people to follow the doctrine of those failed ideologies. It should be required reading for those who espouse such rhetoric
6 people found this helpfulReport
Trns
5.0 out of 5 stars Produit en très bon état, arrivé en avanceReviewed in France on 9 March 2023
Verified Purchase
Report
Translate review to English
ERIC V MADISON
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it.Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is awesome. For someone who has lived so differently and persevered through so much, it is very intriguing and inspiring to get their perspective on our beloved country. It is well written and I can only hope it becomes required reading in all colleges (especially Columbia). Cheers to and best wishes for the author.
3 people found this helpfulReport
Hwei-Ling Lin
5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable book to readReviewed in Germany on 14 June 2023
Verified Purchase
Help you to know the truth
One person found this helpfulReport
Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps one of the most thoughtful books I have ever picked upReviewed in Canada on 24 April 2023
Verified Purchase
After initially dealing her first book, “In order to live” I had been quite taken by the life and experiences of Ms Yeonmi Park. After hearing of this release I knew I wanted to add it to my reading list - it didn’t disappoint. As someone who isn’t a regular or avid reader, I blew through this book in a few days. Barely able to put it down.. and at time almost in tears in reverence to the story and perspectives she told. Well worth a read, I would recommend this book to anyone.
3 people found this helpfulReport
Ron S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing story and powerful insightsReviewed in the United States on 10 July 2024
Verified Purchase
Incredible book — the story of escaping the crazy hell of North Korea into Chinese sex trafficking and eventually to freedom in the US. But also incredible is the depth of insight into our current predicament and a way forward. One of the darkest and yet most hopeful books I’ve read.
Report
jerry6
5.0 out of 5 stars read the book appreciate what you haveReviewed in Canada on 12 August 2023
Verified Purchase
if you have a problem with life in the US read this book , might show you how good we have it here , not perfect but you have opportunity you can take advantage of or not .
Report
Sean Patrick Shetler
5.0 out of 5 stars While Time Remains: Great Story of FreedomReviewed in the United States on 8 May 2024
Verified Purchase
"Yeonmi Park's 'While Time Remains' is a poignant memoir that shines a light on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. In this gripping account, Park takes readers on a journey through her harrowing experiences as a North Korean defector, offering a rare glimpse into the brutal realities of life under one of the world's most oppressive regimes.
From the very first page, Park's storytelling captivates with its raw honesty and emotional depth. She paints a vivid picture of her childhood in North Korea, where poverty, hunger, and fear were constant companions. Through her eyes, readers witness the struggle for survival in a society where freedom of thought and expression is brutally suppressed.
But 'While Time Remains' is not just a tale of suffering; it is also a testament to the power of hope and resilience. Despite facing unimaginable hardships, Park refuses to succumb to despair. Instead, she finds the strength to defy the odds and embark on a perilous journey to freedom, leaving behind everything she has ever known in search of a better life.
What sets this memoir apart is Park's unwavering commitment to truth and authenticity. She does not shy away from depicting the complexities of her journey, including the challenges she faced as a defector adjusting to life in the outside world. Her willingness to confront difficult truths and grapple with the trauma of her past is both brave and inspiring.
Throughout the book, Park's voice resonates with a sense of urgency, as she implores readers not to turn a blind eye to the suffering of those still trapped in North Korea. Her message is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up for the rights of the oppressed.
In conclusion, 'While Time Remains' is a gripping memoir that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. With its compelling narrative and powerful message, it is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of freedom and the resilience of the human spirit."
5 people found this helpfulReport
Desislava Deller
3.0 out of 5 stars A food for thoughtReviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2023
Verified Purchase
The reason I give this book only 3 stars is the dry and a tad edifying style, but perhaps this feeling is brought up by the "my own oppinion" presentation of it. While I do not agree with some of the statements and conclusions made by the author and find some of them naive it has given me plenty of food for thought and made me examine my own views.
There are few points made in this book I most definitely agree with, we should preserve the freedom created by the western civilisations and be afraid of manipulators irregardless where they originate from.
Report
===
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