In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-05-10 11:54:22
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Yeonmi Park
- ISBN：0241973031
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Summary
'I am most grateful for two things: that I was born in North Korea， and that I escaped from North Korea。'
Yeonmi Park was not dreaming of freedom when she escaped from North Korea。 She didn't even know what it meant to be free。 All she knew was that she was running for her life， that if she and her family stayed behind they would die - from starvation， or disease， or even execution。
This book is the story of Park's struggle to survive in the darkest， most repressive country on earth; her harrowing escape through China's underworld of smugglers and human traffickers; and then her escape from China across the Gobi desert to Mongolia， with only the stars to guide her way， and from there to South Korea and at last to freedom; and finally her emergence as a leading human rights activist - all before her 21st birthday。
Yeonmi Park was not dreaming of freedom when she escaped from North Korea。 She didn't even know what it meant to be free。 All she knew was that she was running for her life， that if she and her family stayed behind they would die - from starvation， or disease， or even execution。
This book is the story of Park's struggle to survive in the darkest， most repressive country on earth; her harrowing escape through China's underworld of smugglers and human traffickers; and then her escape from China across the Gobi desert to Mongolia， with only the stars to guide her way， and from there to South Korea and at last to freedom; and finally her emergence as a leading human rights activist - all before her 21st birthday。
Reviews
Rachel Docherty
，
5 heartbreaking stars！ No review could summon up the courage it took for Yeonmi Park to defect from North Korea and then write this memoir， knowing it probably would put her family back in her home country in tremendous danger， as well as herself， for speaking out against the oppressive regime。 Her determination to live and be free is so commendable and inspiring。
Parker
，
No words。 박연미 감사합니다。
Marina
，
Wir bewertet man die Biografie eines andern Menschen？ Das ist nicht so einfach。Das Buch gewährt einen Einblick in das Leben der nordkoreanischen Bevölkerung。 Viele Details aus der Erzählung über das Leben in Nordkorea sind furchtbar， haben mich allerdings nicht schockiert， da mir ähnliche Geschichten aus anderen Ländern mit kommunistischer Regierung bekannt sind。 Ich hatte mir erhofft etwas mehr über das Land， die Menschen und die Bräuche in Nordkorea zu erfahren。Ich bin mir sicher， dass der Gro Wir bewertet man die Biografie eines andern Menschen？ Das ist nicht so einfach。Das Buch gewährt einen Einblick in das Leben der nordkoreanischen Bevölkerung。 Viele Details aus der Erzählung über das Leben in Nordkorea sind furchtbar， haben mich allerdings nicht schockiert， da mir ähnliche Geschichten aus anderen Ländern mit kommunistischer Regierung bekannt sind。 Ich hatte mir erhofft etwas mehr über das Land， die Menschen und die Bräuche in Nordkorea zu erfahren。Ich bin mir sicher， dass der Großteil der Erzählung wahr ist， doch leider ist das Buch an diversen Stellen voller Widersprüche und Ungereimtheiten。 Dies hat den Lesefluss erheblich beeinträchtigt。 Auch der Schreibstil hat mir persönlich nicht gefallen。 Was wirklich passiert ist weiß nur die Autorin selbst und es ist nur verständlich， wenn sie aufgrund der traumatischen Erfahrungen gewisse Geschehnisse nicht 100% wiedergeben kann oder will， allerdings kann ich hier aufgrund der o。g。 Punkte keine gute Bewertung für dieses Buch abgeben。 。。。more
Yuna
，
This story is absolutely terrifying and horrible。 The fact， that she had to go through so much before she even turned 16！ I listend to the audiobook and had to skip a few seconds because it was just to much to even listen to。 I can't imagine having to go through all of this。。。 This story is absolutely terrifying and horrible。 The fact， that she had to go through so much before she even turned 16！ I listend to the audiobook and had to skip a few seconds because it was just to much to even listen to。 I can't imagine having to go through all of this。。。 。。。more
Andreea
，
4。5 starsHow does one review this book？ I read it all in one day （almost， read the first chapter yesterday evening）。
Amy Young
，
I don’t see how you can give this book any less than 5 stars。 A harrowing， honest account of an unbelievable story of horror and bravery in the face of trauma。 A very important read for a privileged westerner like me。
Michaela
，
If I could I would rate it 1000 stars。 This book made me cry so hard。 This book is a true story about how Yeonmi Park， the author， escaped North Korea。 It talks about the horrors of North Korea， human trafficking and the strength of political propaganda。Yeonmi Park is an incredible human being， and I would recommend this book to anybody with a heart。
Jess
，
A book that will inevitably make you cry。 It forces you to contemplate the enormity of your privilege and what it means to live an autonomous life。 One thing which I would like to know more about however is her interpretation of what 'freedom' is in a democratic world， because as much as she does paint the world as novel and incredibly futuristic， i'm interested in perhaps the oppression she had experienced behind living in a world like that - aka， the affliction she had felt reconciling with he A book that will inevitably make you cry。 It forces you to contemplate the enormity of your privilege and what it means to live an autonomous life。 One thing which I would like to know more about however is her interpretation of what 'freedom' is in a democratic world， because as much as she does paint the world as novel and incredibly futuristic， i'm interested in perhaps the oppression she had experienced behind living in a world like that - aka， the affliction she had felt reconciling with her past， her disillusionment in her identity and thus her animosity to her life story， and the discrimination - the hardships of living in such a digital world that merely teaches you to judge upon impressions rather than depth。 I wish she could have delved more into the feelings of her misfortunes that she and her mother had experienced in South Korea and how that would have influenced the idea of what it means to be 'free' in a sadly broken democracy， and maybe how that cultivated in her way of governing of her own sovereignty as of current。 。。。more
Emily
，
This is just devastating。 I’ve watched some of Yeonmi’s videos on youtube and she is such a presence to behold。 What she has gone through is unimaginable for many of us。 However， it’s also the story of many others。 She is undoubtedly brave and inspiring。 This book is also written in a very approachable manner; it is to-the-point and I think everyone should read it。
Grace
，
It is very heartbreaking and inspiring story。 I admire her personality， her courage， never giving up， her hope and her self-determination。 The story is surreal and yet real。 Though the literature and the writing style were not so great but nevertheless she wrote them in her third acquired language and i gave her 5 stars for it。
Nicole
，
Not many people know what goes on in North Korea or the harrowing and dangerous journey required to escape。 Yeonmi no only escaped， but thrived and decided to support those who are in the same position she was in。
Christina Fesmire
，
Read it。 That’s all。
Callie
，
Could not put this book down。 Not only was it so fascinating， it was incredibly inspiring and suspenseful。 It truly changed my perspective on the political climate on the other side of the world and how people are able to deal with unfortunate situations and come out stronger but internally broken in a way。 It also is crazy how this takes place not even that long ago， the fact that people are still living like this within this same decade is insane。
Nicolas
，
I had to take a few days to step back and really think about the things I have read in Yeonmi Park's memoir。 This book is really good， and such a page turner， but I think that's why I wanted to marinate on it once I had finished it。The reality of what Ms。 Park had to go through is so remote from my reality that I found myself reading it as a great drama and I had to constantly remind myself that the shocking parts that I am reading are not there for their shock purpose， these are events that hap I had to take a few days to step back and really think about the things I have read in Yeonmi Park's memoir。 This book is really good， and such a page turner， but I think that's why I wanted to marinate on it once I had finished it。The reality of what Ms。 Park had to go through is so remote from my reality that I found myself reading it as a great drama and I had to constantly remind myself that the shocking parts that I am reading are not there for their shock purpose， these are events that happened to a young girl that had lived through such atrocities， that she was prepared to kill herself with a razorblade if she had to go back to North-Korea。 You constantly have to remind yourself that these are decisions no humans should have to go through， even less a 15-years old。In the last years I found myself having developed quite a fascination for the Hermit Kingdom。 Like a few of us， I even thought about travelling just to see that what you hear is real; to see that inhumane setting。 After having read Yeonmi Park story， I have no interest in going to see for myself。 I understand that what she went through happened， and the fascination felt so akin to wanting to see a freak show that I felt disgusted。This book should be read by anyone with an interest in learning about North-Korea。 It gives a great account of its history and how it came to be this way， but it is first and foremost， a tale of suffering and hope。 。。。more
Kyra
，
We all know about North Korea （at least， we think we do）。 North Korea is a giant police state， and it is a giant authoritarian， and totalitarian regime。 It’s a place where you can’t have your own thoughts。 It’s a place where you can’t be an individual， （instead， you’re basically a clone）。 It’s a place where every single day， you struggle each and everyday to survive。 Yeonmi Park is a human rights activist， who fled North Korea at a very young age。 And… （the North Korean regime doesn’t like her v We all know about North Korea （at least， we think we do）。 North Korea is a giant police state， and it is a giant authoritarian， and totalitarian regime。 It’s a place where you can’t have your own thoughts。 It’s a place where you can’t be an individual， （instead， you’re basically a clone）。 It’s a place where every single day， you struggle each and everyday to survive。 Yeonmi Park is a human rights activist， who fled North Korea at a very young age。 And… （the North Korean regime doesn’t like her very much， in fact， Kim Jong Un hates her with a burning passion because she exposes what it’s ACTUALLY like to live in North Korea）。 Yeonmi has a YouTube channel， a place where she discusses the TRUE and REAL North Korea。But， her book， “In Order To Live” is even more detailed。 It sheds real light on what her experience was like （from birth）， up until what her life was like in North Korea before she escaped。 There were many heartbreaking parts of this book that I won’t share （because I think that everyone should read this book）。 But， what I will tell you is that freedom is not free。 It is something that is continuously earned。 Yeonmi is strongly against big government。 In a TED Talk she gave， she explains what she learned。 As soon as I read the last page of this book， a quote from my all time favorite president Ronald Reagan came to mind， “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction。 We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream。 It must be fought for， protected and handed down for them to do the same， or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States where men were free”。 So， in order to live， we must be free。 。。。more
Jenna
，
I learned a lot about life in North Korea and thought her story was an important one to learn about。 So in that sense， I'm glad I read it。 That being said， it isn't an "enjoyable" read。 It's heartbreaking and shocking。 And it's honestly not particularly well-written or engaging。 It's like a 300 page newspaper article listing all the terrible things that happened to her。 I learned a lot about life in North Korea and thought her story was an important one to learn about。 So in that sense， I'm glad I read it。 That being said， it isn't an "enjoyable" read。 It's heartbreaking and shocking。 And it's honestly not particularly well-written or engaging。 It's like a 300 page newspaper article listing all the terrible things that happened to her。 。。。more
Elin
，
This book really made me realize how little I knew of North Korea （spoiler alert; nothing）。 It was a truly heartbreaking story， but filled with so much hope and determination。
Tricia
，
Very difficult story to hear but well written。
Francesca
，
Only three stars not because it wasn’t a good book。 But it was really hard to digest。 I had to read it with pauses in between because I was getting too depressed。 How to break a human being， how to totally mess up her mind and soul。 Thanks to。。。 I don’t know exactly what， she was able to rise again， but to think that there is an entire nation still living in these conditions， is horrific。
engin
，
one of the most inspirational and outstanding stories i have read and will ever read。 yeonmi park’s devastating yet immensely empowering story is definitely set to be one of the greatest human rights journeys ever to be told。 my only wish is for all north korean people to find peace and freedom once and for all。
Erica George
，
A powerful story about survival and the strength of family。 It gave me a great insight into life in communist and secretive North Korea。
Amy Ursula
，
I found Yeonmi's story fascinating & very moving。 She has such a strong character， no wonder she is an inspiration to many。Reading about her life in North Korea felt like an illegal privilege - some bits seem completely unfathomable。I devoured her autobiography & am now browsing the internet to watch her speak！ I found Yeonmi's story fascinating & very moving。 She has such a strong character， no wonder she is an inspiration to many。Reading about her life in North Korea felt like an illegal privilege - some bits seem completely unfathomable。I devoured her autobiography & am now browsing the internet to watch her speak！ 。。。more
Kei
，
This read is part of my #AsianReadathon TBR。A harrowing， yet courageous true story about a girl's journey to freedom。 This read is part of my #AsianReadathon TBR。A harrowing， yet courageous true story about a girl's journey to freedom。 。。。more
Stephany Lineback
，
I don't rate memoirs， but I can say this book is heartbreaking， gripping， and an altogether important read。 Highly recommend。 I don't rate memoirs， but I can say this book is heartbreaking， gripping， and an altogether important read。 Highly recommend。 。。。more
Nalbha
，
It is one of the most stunning books I have read in the recent past， about the story of Yeomni Park's escape from her life and world in North Korea。 The book makes you ponder over how we take things for granted in life and that we should be grateful for what we have。 Always！ It humbled me and gripped me。 Must read！ It is one of the most stunning books I have read in the recent past， about the story of Yeomni Park's escape from her life and world in North Korea。 The book makes you ponder over how we take things for granted in life and that we should be grateful for what we have。 Always！ It humbled me and gripped me。 Must read！ 。。。more
Lucía
，
Sin ninguna duda el libro más duro que me he leído sobre Corea del Norte。
Raina
，
Eye opening but harrowing。
Morgan Smith
，
So inspiring and so sad。 I cried like 4 times while I was reading this。 It's a great reminder that we think we have hard lives and we face vast troubles but we face nothing compared to what North Koreans like Yeonmi face every day。 So inspiring and so sad。 I cried like 4 times while I was reading this。 It's a great reminder that we think we have hard lives and we face vast troubles but we face nothing compared to what North Koreans like Yeonmi face every day。 。。。more
Esther Pickering
，
This was a really tough read， and it took me a long time to get through it。Yeonmi is an excellent writer and story-teller， with a gift for painting a picture。 It is truly heartbreaking to read what she and her family endured in order to be free， and as I read the final few pages， knowing the whole story， tears flowed freely。
Pankaj Chopra
，