Dr. Bruce Cumings' Korea's Place in the Sun: A Comprehensive History of Modern Korea

へのへのもへじー: In the first chapter, the author talks about how he said to a Japanese professor Japan is better off not existing or something along those lines.

Had to buy this for a university class. His writing is too personal and biased.

Japan on Mar 29, 2024

Alistair Baillie: A fascinating and well-informed revisionist account of Korean history from the "Three Kingdoms" tom the two regimes in the ROK and the DPRK.

United Kingdom on Jun 09, 2023

Zuzanna: Arrived in perfect state and before predicted delivery date

United Kingdom on Nov 16, 2020

Dog Walker Bill: Really eye opening history of Korea. Starts with ancient Korean history to 1890. In 1890 the West decided to "open" Korea against it's will. Around 1906, the West (Including the USA) gave Korea to Japan, as a colony, until 1946. After that, the West split Korea, North & South, due to the Cold War. Today, the Two Koreas remain as an artifact of the Cold War. Reunification is a chimera, like the Holy Grail.
First published in 2001 & updated in 2005, before Donald Trump & Kim Jong-Un.

United States on Dec 10, 2018

M. E. Reeves: A comprehensive, well-organized, and serious work, filled with interesting observations and comparisons, reflecting serious study and deep sympathy for the subject. As a PhD in political science with a specialty in international affairs, but limited knowledge of Asia, I found this book the most valuable history available in English.

United States on Sep 18, 2018

Arturo Revelo: A remarkably honest review of Korean history, made more relevant by the inept being in charge of this nation's foreign policy. Before we embark in any further idiotic disaster, Americans should read this book to understand why we have always been wrong in Korea.

United States on Nov 22, 2017

Shibaski: Had to buy it for the class I took.
I probably didn't enjoy it because I don't remember a bit.

Canada on Jul 19, 2017

Parker: Als Koreanistik Studentin freue ich mich über das Buch. Es ist wirklich gut geschrieben und behandelt einige sehr wichtige Themen. Natürlich kann man sich auch sehr kritisch, mit dem Buch von Cumings auseinandersetzen, was ich hier allerdings jetzt nicht tun werde.
Für Studenten ist Korea's place in the sun ein akzeptables Buch um sein Grundwissen zu erweitern. Für den "normalen" Lesen hingegen, ist dieses Buch wirklich gut, da Cumings alle möglichen Fakten erwähnt und wiederholt.

Germany on Jun 24, 2017

muenster: I like the information provided in this book. It quickly covers the ancient kingdoms and how they became Korea, then slows down to focus on more recent history. Cumings seems to be quite knowledgable and does great research, but I do not care for his writing style. Multiple times I found myself groaning or rolling my eyes because of an unnecessary, seemingly conceited reference to an aspect of his personal life. This would be fine if found in the preface, maybe to emphasize his personal ties and how he came to be an expert. But suddenly mentioning his wife's family when talking about a town in modern North Korea did not seem relevant.

United States on Dec 16, 2016

David Fairley: I rarely read books more than once. But my continuing interest in all things Korean and my appreciation of Cumings' book induced me to read it a second time.

Cumings has a unique perspective on Korea not just as a scholar, but also as someone who has a personal connection with Korea going back to at least the 1960s. His perspective is not ideological -- not left or right. A good example is his two chapters on modern Korean history. In the first, he presents the positive aspects of the regime of Park Chun Hee, and how Korea went from a 3rd world country to an industrial powerhouse. In the second, he discusses the brutal measures used to get Korea there and the heroism of those who fought it. (He's not ideological, but he's definitely pro-Korean.) He's no fan of North Korea, but does a good job of trying to understand why they are the way they are, and to see the current regime in light of Korean history.

United States on Feb 07, 2015