"Uncovering South Korea's Astonishing Transformation: Daniel Tudor's Korea: The Impossible Country and Its Global Impact"

Eduardo: Excelente libro que se remonta hasta el origen de la civilización coreana antes de que la conocieramos como tal. Aborda los temas de su religión, historia, pasando por su política y costumbres, hasta hablarnos sobre el fenómeno de la cultura pop coreana en la actualidad. Gracias a este libro me me interesó escuchar el kpop. Si quieres conocer más sobre este país lo recomiendo ampliamente.

Mexico on Oct 01, 2020

Samuel Cardoso: Ótima forma de se ter informações históricas, sociais e econômicas sobre o país. Muito boa abordagem geral sobre o período de superação da pobreza e transformação desta nação (o que estava buscando ao adquirir o livro).

Brazil on Jul 17, 2019

The buyer: Little bit pricy but writing is good staying neutral and not favouring any party.

India on Jun 24, 2019

Ansgar Eussner: Full of data and lively description of Korean history and modern life, the reader gets insights into recent developments, struggles, successes, problems and perspectives of this rapidly modernising society still little known to the outside world.

France on May 13, 2018

Markinho: The author succeeds in delivering a comprehensive fact-filled yet entertaining account of South Korea. He gives concise overviews by topic ranging from cultural, historical and social to political subjects interspersed with personal experience in a very readable manner. For those who are about to travel there or are merely curious due to K-Pop etc, this is a great place to start.

Germany on May 05, 2018

M. T. Crenshaw: Korea. The impossible Country is a passionate comprehensive introduction to Korea, its culture and its people. The book is easy to read, engaging, very informative, and a great introduction to the country, especially if you intend visiting. Tudor's depth of knowledge is admirable and impressive and although his expertise is economics and business, the book has a soul. What is more, Tudor is able to dig into the Korean soul and present it to you in its many faces. You will dive through Korea's collective psyche and understand why Koreans behave and do things in a certain way.

This book could have been a Wikipedia sort of book or a travel guide sort of book but it succeeds at being none of that but being informative and a good companion from travelling. The book touches on the eternal and the mundane in five fascinating sections:
1- Foundations: We are presented with a brief analysis of the most influential religions in Korea (Buddhism, Christianity and Confucianism) and the specific forms that Capitalism and Democracy take in that country.
2- Cultural Codes: We immerse ourselves into those beliefs, ways of being and attitudes that make Koreans who they are: Jeong,...

United States on Jul 16, 2016

P. H.: The modern history of South Korea, a new nation that had been mired in abject poverty at its birth and then rose to become a 21st Century country the envy of even developed nations, is amazingly inspiring and yet provocative.

Whether people the world over knew about South Korea's educational and economic miracles or not, this book helps one understands why the fantastically sensational world-wide success of PSY's YouTube music video "Gangnam Style" (with 1.7 billion downloads as of August 16, 2013) resonate with most everyone, especially with my preschool nieces. (I'm relieved to learn the video message has nothing to do with gangsters, or does it -- is the video about superbly educated, exceptionally wealthy, and supremely beautiful South Koreans who are preoccupied with materialism and conspicuous consumption?)

A dear professor (who is also a close relative of mine) referred me to an instructive article in The Atlantic:

[...]

Daniel Tudor wrote:

"Gangnam is a symbol for the excesses of modern South Korea. It is the center not only of English mania but also of competitiveness, not to mention conspicuous consumption. Young women . . . carry...

United States on Aug 17, 2013