
Korea
The Impossible Country
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Narrated by:
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James Cameron Stewart
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By:
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Daniel Tudor
About this listen
South Korea's amazing rise from the ashes: The inside story of an economic, political, and cultural phenomenon
Long overshadowed by Japan and China, South Korea is a small country that happens to be one of the great national success stories of the postwar period. From a failed state with no democratic tradition, ruined and partitioned by war, and sapped by a half-century of colonial rule, South Korea transformed itself in just 50 years into an economic powerhouse and a democracy that serves as a model for other countries. With no natural resources and a tradition of authoritarian rule, Korea managed to accomplish a second Asian miracle.
Daniel Tudor is a journalist who has lived in and written about Korea for almost a decade. In Korea: The Impossible Country, Tudor examines Korea's cultural foundations; the Korean character; the public sphere in politics, business, and the workplace as well as the family, dating, and marriage. In doing so, he touches on topics as diverse as shamanism, clan-ism, the dilemma posed by North Korea, the myths about doing business in Korea, the Koreans' renowned hard-partying ethos, and why the infatuation with learning English is now causing massive social problems.
South Korea has undergone two miracles at once: economic development and complete democratization. The question now is, will it become as some see Japan, a prosperous yet aging society, devoid of energy and momentum? Or will the dynamism of Korean society and its willingness to change - as well as the opportunity it has now to welcome outsiders into its fold - enable it to experience a third miracle that will propel it into the ranks of the world's leading nations regarding human culture, democracy, and wealth?
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- Facing History
- By: Ezra F. Vogel
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 22 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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China and Japan have cultural and political connections that stretch back 1,500 years. But today, their relationship is strained. China's military buildup deeply worries Japan, while Japan's brutal occupation of China in World War II remains an open wound. In recent years, less than 10 percent of each population had positive feelings toward the other, and both countries insist that the other side must deal openly with its history before relations can improve. Ezra Vogel's China and Japan examines key turning points in Sino-Japanese history.
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China & Japan is first rate by a top scholar
- By Louise Stone on 06-17-20
By: Ezra F. Vogel
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How Asia Works
- Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region
- By: Joe Studwell
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In How Asia Works, Joe Studwell distills extensive research into the economics of nine countries - Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China - into an accessible narrative that debunks Western misconceptions, shows what really happened in Asia and why, and for once makes clear why some countries have boomed while others have languished.
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The best economic development book I’ve ever seen
- By Jay on 02-17-20
By: Joe Studwell
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Beasts of a Little Land
- A Novel
- By: Juhea Kim
- Narrated by: Sue Jean Kim, Raymond Lee
- Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1917, deep in the snowy mountains of occupied Korea, an impoverished local hunter on the brink of starvation saves a young Japanese officer from an attacking tiger. In an instant, their fates are connected — and from this encounter unfolds a saga that spans half a century.
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PDF support needed
- By Ann L on 01-06-22
By: Juhea Kim
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The Frozen Chosen
- The 1st Marine Division and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir
- By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
- Narrated by: Norman Dietz
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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The Frozen Chosen is an account of the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea by the First Marine Division from November to December 1950, following the intervention of Red China in the Korean War. Fought during the worst blizzard in a century, it is considered by the US Marine Corps to be the Corps' finest hour. Fourteen Medals of Honor, a record for any American battle, and 85 Navy Crosses attest to the intensity of the battle.
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Fascinating story, very bad narration
- By Mat J Monk on 03-31-17
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A Brief History of Japan
- Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun
- By: Jonathan Clements
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present, and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world's most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.
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A Brief Review of the Book
- By Than on 12-07-19
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Vietnam
- A New History
- By: Christopher Goscha
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 23 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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In Vietnam, Christopher Goscha tells the full history of Vietnam, from antiquity to the present day. Generations of emperors, rebels, priests, and colonizers left complicated legacies in this remarkable country. Periods of Chinese, French, and Japanese rule reshaped and modernized Vietnam, but so too did the colonial enterprises of the Vietnamese themselves as they extended their influence southward from the Red River Delta.
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Not bad, but not great.
- By Kp on 08-06-18
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The Chrysanthemum and the Sword
- Patterns of Japanese Culture
- By: Ruth Benedict
- Narrated by: Cindy Kay
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
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Essential for anyone interested in Japanese culture, this unsurpassed masterwork opens an intriguing window on Japan. The World War II-era study by the cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict paints an illuminating contrast between the people of Japan and those of the United States. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is a revealing look at how and why our societies differ, making it the perfect introduction to Japanese history and customs.
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Fascinating Even If A Little Dated
- By Than on 12-07-22
By: Ruth Benedict
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A History of Japan
- Revised Edition
- By: R. H. P. Mason, J. G. Caiger
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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A classic of Japanese history, this audiobook is the preeminent work on the history of Japan. Newly revised and updated, A History of Japan is a single-volume complete history of the nation of Japan. Starting in ancient Japan during its early pre-history period, A History of Japan covers every important aspect of history and culture through feudal Japan to the post-Cold War period and collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. Recent findings shed additional light on the origins of Japanese civilization and the birth of Japanese culture.
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Content great - pronunciation not so much
- By A. Weber on 03-08-19
By: R. H. P. Mason, and others
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Korean Mythology Collection
- The Stories, Folklore, Fairy Tales, Folktales, and History of Korea
- By: William Elliot Griffis, Im Bang, Yi Ryuk, and others
- Narrated by: James Francis Markert
- Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Whether you're a lover of mythology, a student of Korean culture, or simply in search of a mesmerizing listen, this collection offers a treasure trove of stories that have withstood the test of time. Delve into this book and let the magic of Korean mythology enchant you.
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Entertaining and informative
- By S A Smith on 11-14-23
By: William Elliot Griffis, and others
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The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes
- The Ancient World Economy and the Empires of Parthia, Central Asia and Han China
- By: Raoul McLaughlin
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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The Roman Empire and the Silk Routes investigates the trade routes between Rome and the powerful empires of inner Asia, including the Parthian regime which ruled ancient Persia (Iran). It explores Roman dealings with the Kushan Empire which seized power in Bactria (Afghanistan) and laid claim to the Indus Kingdoms. Further chapters examine the development of Palmyra as a leading caravan city on the edge of Roman Syria and consider trade ventures through the Tarim territories that led Roman merchants to Han China.
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An arduous trek through Eurasia
- By Eternl Rayne on 12-27-19
By: Raoul McLaughlin
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The Outcasts of Time
- By: Ian Mortimer
- Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
- Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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With the country in the grip of the Black Death, brothers John and William fear that they will shortly die and suffer in the afterlife. But as the end draws near, they are given an unexpected choice: either to go home and spend their last six days in their familiar world, or to search for salvation across the forthcoming centuries - living each one of their remaining days 99 years after the last. John and William choose the future and find themselves in 1447, ignorant of almost everything going on. The year 1546 brings no more comfort, and 1645 challenges them further....
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Disappointment
- By Kathy on 07-01-19
By: Ian Mortimer
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Emperor of Japan
- Meiji and His World, 1852-1912
- By: Donald Keene
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 38 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Little has been written about the strangely obscured figure of Meiji himself, the first Japanese emperor ever to meet a European. But now, Donald Keene sifts the available evidence to present a rich portrait not only of Meiji but also of rapid and sometimes violent change during this pivotal period in Japan's history. Emperor of Japan conveys in sparkling prose the complexity of the man and offers an unrivaled portrait of Japan in a period of unique interest.
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Great book. Terrible narration.
- By Ken Snyder on 07-05-23
By: Donald Keene
What listeners say about Korea
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- Aaron Gerlach
- 05-24-24
Excellent
I listened to this book to prep for a work trip to South Korea. Listening to this book in advance very much enriched my experience. The history and culture of Korea is so well organized and narrated that it was easy to absorb. I didn’t expect to be so fascinated by this book. I consider it a must listen for anyone who wants to similarly prepare for a trip to Korea or who is interested in expanding their worldview.
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- Bruce Screws
- 11-05-23
Top tier analysis of Korea
This book was amazingly insightful. As an expat in Korea, I was already familiar with much of the subject matter, but the book covered areas I had never considered. I have already recommended this book to others.
My only complaint was with the narration. The narrator was great except he could not pronounce the many Korean loan words correctly. I am disappointed that no one who knew any Korean was consulted.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Kyle Laramore
- 06-25-23
Insightful, Balanced, Accessible Overview of Korean History and Culture
A pleasant performance and an excellent, detailed overview of Korean history and culture. Good balance of realism and optimism, and even coverage of political and religious perspectives.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-20-22
Korea is amazing and complex!
This book is perfectly narrated, especially the traditional names of cities, events and cultural references! I feel like this is a perfect blend of all aspects and helps us see the positives as well as the negatives! In addition, I am very impressed by the cunning and strength of South Korea in bouncing back from almost nothing and becoming a wonder of the world! I encourage anyone that loves Korean culture to listen to this book to see the bright side and the gritty side of South Korea!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Bradley
- 03-20-19
An Insightful book
having been to Korea I can attest to the insight of the offer and I feel that this book has enhanced my knowledge of that particular country
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2 people found this helpful
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- JT Batchelor
- 01-30-23
Narrator could be better
Interesting book, but the narrator’s pronunciation of Korean words is pretty terrible. If you don’t speak Korean, you won’t even notice.
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- ForestCritique
- 11-10-23
A helpful tome
While I'm not informed enough about South Korea to evaluate the nuances of whether this is all correct or not, I didfind it fascinating since I'm very interested in and curious about the country.
While not the fault of the narrator, who seems sincere, I found his style over-the-top erudite and flowery, so found it very distracting. Please- while dated, this is such a unique book providing background on a country so many people are interested in-just re-record it already! That would also give the publisher and Audible a chance to be more respectful in terms of any mispronunciations, which other reviewers mention.
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- Antoine
- 12-14-18
Amazing book
I learned a lot and am thoroughly impressed by the Korean people as they are depicted in this book. I found the content to be very inspiring and the things I have learned make me desire to participate and be involved in this society. I wish more content of this type was available in English, I am studying Korean and am sometimes feeling demotivated by the challenge, but this book really drove home that there's an amazing culture to discover on the other side of that gap, and that there's a great need for foreigners such as myself to participate in it. Thank you, Mr. Tudor, for taking the time to write this work.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Dimitri
- 05-06-19
Concise Korean History
Loved the book. The narration was okay, although the narrator mispronounced a few of the Korean words. That being said, it’s a lovely book for anyone looking for a brief history of Korea, its culture, and people. Well worth it.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Roberta F
- 11-09-21
a must hear if you love Korea
I am fascinated by the Korean culture and its people. there are very few audible books on the history of Korea. I spent many hours listening to this book and thus feel closer to the people of Korea and understand their culture and where it comes from. I plan to visit Korea for several months and I am learning the Korean language. I will probably listen to this audible one more time.
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