Choose one book for North Korea

If you could choose one book to be made available to the general populace of North Korea, what would it be?

As best I understand, most North Koreans live in fear and awe under the personality cult of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il - the only literature they are exposed to is allegedly authored by Kim Il Sung. They've been living under an oppressive regime for 55 years, that's several generations, and most or many people's submission to the power of the state is total. While there is extreme hardship, people believe fervently in the wisdom and righteousness of their leader out of a combination of fear and indoctrination from birth.

So what book would you want people in this country to read? I would choose something in which the protagonist(s) escape from or judge and defeat an oppressive authority. The setting would have to be fantasy or nondescript in order to prevent the reader from dismissing the book based on perceived historical fallibility. I initially thought Watership Down would be a good choice, partially for its accessibility, but there are probably better options.

The novelization of Barbarella. I figure they could use a little spice.

The Catcher in the Rye, leadership problems solved.

Or,




I can't really decide.

I'm thinking Great Gatsby or Animal Farm

Mao Tze-Tong's Red Book.

actually I shouldn't laugh too much, I've barely even opened the English version copy I somehow managed to get my hands on. (didn't even know they made English versions until it was in my hands! )

On a serious note, I'd say either 1984--although that'd be really think thinking, so I'd go with--or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. (the third installment is out now! )

Even if you can't read the other two, the first one is enough to get brain juices flowing, and is amazingly amazing writing to boot.

Seriously most of their population is illiterate to begin with.

Originally Posted by MathiasOfAthens

Seriously most of their population is illiterate to begin with.

Actually, and this one is true about most Communist countries, their literacy rate are very high. It is something their government holds high.

On topic: 1984

Originally Posted by Vortimore the Conqueror

Actually, and this one is true about most Communist countries, their literacy rate are very high. It is something their government holds high.

Seems rather logical if you ask me. They'd want the people to read and understand their propaganda, right!?


On topic....Grapes of Wrath...

Originally Posted by Vortimore the Conqueror

Actually, and this one is true about most Communist countries, their literacy rate are very high. It is something their government holds high.

On topic: 1984

NK isn't a communist country

it's basic an absolute monarchy with fuedalism to go

Lots of 1984 nominations. They already live in that book, I think they'd gain more from being exposed to an alternate reality

Good suggestions but I think they'd prefer something familiar and useful.

Originally Posted by NStarun

Lots of 1984 nominations. They already live in that book, I think they'd gain more from being exposed to an alternate reality

I fully agree, 1984 wouldn't seem a good fit.
Considering the OP:

So what book would you want people in this country to read? I would choose something in which the protagonist(s) escape from or judge and defeat an oppressive authority. The setting would have to be fantasy or nondescript

Animal farm would be a more suitable book, because it is very fantasy/nondescript. And the 'protagonists' more or less defeat the oppresive authority.

...Otherwise maybe... Lord of the Rings?

But how do they learn to read a book when they have to read the book? I think Kim Jong Il thought this ahead of time. Clever boy.

Island by Aldous Huxley as Kim Jong Il and his son remind me a little of Murugan. Also because it is the one book I would choose for the entire world to read.

That or the Tarvunty, as North Korea could learn a lot from Tarvu, as could we all.

Originally Posted by Corvis

But how do they learn to read a book when they have to read the book? I think Kim Jong Il thought this ahead of time. Clever boy.

He can spend the rest of his life mulling over this very question.

1984

The Anarchists Cookbook. That ought to stir things up a little...