Dear Leader

Poet, Spy, Escapee - A Look inside North Korea

By: Jang Jin-sung

Narrated by: Daniel York

In this rare insider's view into contemporary North Korea, a high-ranking counterintelligence agent describes his life as a former poet laureate to Kim Jong-il and his breathtaking escape to freedom.

"The General will now enter the room."

Everyone turns to stone. Not moving my head, I direct my eyes to a point halfway up the archway where Kim Jong-il’s face will soon appear.

As North Korea's State Poet Laureate, Jang Jin-sung led a charmed life. With food provisions (even as the country suffered through its great famine), a travel pass, access to strictly censored information, and audiences with Kim Jong-il himself, his life in Pyongyang seemed safe and secure. But this privileged existence was about to be shattered. When a strictly forbidden magazine he lent to a friend goes missing, Jang Jin-sung must flee for his life.

Never before has a member of the elite described the inner workings of this totalitarian state and its propaganda machine. An astonishing exposé told through the heart-stopping story of Jang Jin-sung's escape to South Korea, Dear Leader is a rare and unprecedented insight into the world’s most secretive and repressive regime.

©2014 Jang Jin-Sung. All rights reserved. (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Interesting and Aggravating at the Same Time

This book was not what I was expecting. I happened to be reading this while North Korean was in the news quite a bit.

The author, Jang Jin-Sung, was one of the admitted North Korean socially chosen because of his literary ability. During his time in North Korea he was granted numerous privileges. He had personal encounter with Kim Jong-il, which was interesting and quite telling. I was expecting a bit more information of his day to day life.

Though his journey to South Korea was at times exciting, at other times I felt the author continued to feel privileged. He survived because of the kindness of others. When you consider that he didn't help anyone less privileged when he was in the elite group yet upon being in need, his survival was paramount to everything. The author never seemed too concerned about the danger he put those that aided him in. Once he found assistance – he held on to them till he brought them danger, with little regard or concern for them. He called the first family that helped him, to ask for additional information and assistance, more than repeatedly,fully aware of the danger he was putting them in. It was disturbing to me.

Fantastic! Fantastic! Fantastic!

I read every book I can find about North Korean refugees. This book has such a different perspective. The author has written his account beautifully. Please don’t pass this book by!

Informative exciting heartfelt

A education into the workings of North Korea that reads like a suspense novel. Beautifully read. Worth reading

Amazing

Total 5 star, amazing book and narration. I would totally recommend this to anyone

interesting story

I love story's of people that have over come adversity . the reader did a good job of telling the story he kept my attention. I will look for other story by this reader.

Mind Bending. Freedom is not free. What a story <br /><br />

this is a life changing story. I wonder about his parents. I can't help but wonder what I might do in the same situation. this is brutal.

Absolutely Fascinating!

An absolutely riveting story told with passion and great sincerity. One of the best and most informative books on North Korea I have ever read

A moving and powerful story

After you finish reading this book you will feel humbled. Humbled because of how most of us take simple things for granted in our lives.
I won't give away any of the story with this review.
I will just leave anyone wondering if they should buy this book with this.
At the least it's an interesting listen. At best your own life will be enriched by the experience!

A rare and interesting perspective on the leadership of North Korea

This is a very intimate perspective from an insider in North Korea's power structure. Even though the story seems to drag at times due to the in-depth description of his fears (which he had good reason to have), the over all story was both informative and enthralling.

An amazing story

What an amazing story of escape! It's so unbelievable that a country like this still exists today in this modern world. The excellent narrator brought just the right tone throughout the entire ordeal. I'm definitely recommending this book to my family and friends. It sure makes me appreciate America and freedom.