Positives The book receives strong praise for being fascinating, concise, and highly readable, with reviewers describing it as both enjoyable and a delight. Readers appreciate its clear historical contextualization of the situation of the two Koreas, tracing their past, present, and crucial ties with Japan, China, and the United States. The book is also lauded for its surprisingly neutral approach to a complex subject, offering an interesting counterpoint to common media narratives and even proposing guidelines for potential reunification.
Negatives However, some reviewers noted that the book shows its age and can be considered dated in certain aspects. A key point of discussion revolves around the author's perspective; while an expert, the author is not ethnically Korean, which some felt led to a potential lack of direct subjective insight into the intense emotions surrounding the division and unification rhetoric. This raised questions about the balance of expert analysis versus native subjective experience in the book's approach.
Conclusion Overall, the book is considered a valuable and fair resource for understanding the intricate dynamics of the Koreas. It is highly recommended for readers seeking a concise, engaging, and historically grounded overview of the region, its geopolitical context, and the challenges of reunification. Those interested in a balanced perspective that offers an expert counterpoint to typical media portrayals, and who are comfortable with analysis that may not fully capture a native subjective viewpoint, would likely find this book particularly insightful.
