Without You, There Is No Us

Title of the Book: Without You, There Is No Us
Author: Suki Kim
Number of Pages: 285
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

North Korea is a subject of morbid fascination. Living in a largely free and globalized world, it’s hard to imagine that a nation could survive with neither quality. The country keeps its dying ecosystem alive with nationalist propaganda taken to an extreme, mythologizing its dictators into a pantheon of glorious falsehoods. For Americans, the idea of such ideals taken to such an extreme is met with bewildered curiosity, and it is rare than one can become basically informed without raising more questions on their own. In addition, curated images of the country’s wellness created by the government make few facts concrete. Suki Kim’s Without You, There Is No Us brings a candid, personalized picture of what the seedy underbelly of North Korea looks like, even from the meticulously crafted yet limited world she had been placed in. 

Even with relatively conscious media coverage of North Korea, it’s rare that the perspective on the country is so balanced and aware. Many westerners have read a think piece or two on the horrid brainwashing of North Korean citizens, but few have seen them portrayed as more than a sympathetic prop to a larger, more gruesome problem. Kim’s memoir, however, gives an in-depth account into what living with lifelong propaganda looks like for even the most elite. She treats the government control as less of a novelty, and more of a fact of life. The perspective that can be gained from reading just how afraid the students of the university are is consistently more impactful than a shocking exposé will ever be. While the writing style of the book is rather blended and often difficult to place chronologically, it only tends to add to the description of just how blandly terrifying one’s day-to-day looks like. Even so, plenty of breaks in narrative to speak more personally of Kim’s experience as a Korean immigrant with a family torn by war are added to enrich the story even further. Coupled with the layers of falsehoods the author was required to use in order to secure and keep her position, Without You, There Is No Us proves to be a fascinating read from both a psychological and investigative perspective.

Admittedly, there is a bit of confusion as to how the book is marketed. While many, including Kim herself, insist that it stands as investigative journalism, the book is labeled and generally flows more as a memoir. The twists are less large and explosive than the typical reporting on North Korea, heavily influenced by stylistic choices to create a more psychologically-driven story. Without You, There Is No Us relies most on the psyche of North Korea’s citizens and surrounding inhabitants, which could be a turn-off for many. If looking for investigative journalism that dives deep into the suspicious government and gruesome tactics used by it, one might find themselves disappointed. The book is, deep down, a personal account, one to be taken as an experience rather than an exposé or an undercover drama. It is best read as an answer to questions about the day-to-day of the more fortunate than a traditional look into the blatant darkness of a totalitarian regime. 

Without You, There Is No Us is honestly a book I would recommend, specifically for the subversive qualities it holds. Anyone who appreciates psychological thrillers or simply holds curiosity beyond morbid fascination would find it to be a fascinating read. The book is a deep and personal look into a country that is heavily covered by American media, but rarely from a Korean perspective. The book is deep beyond concrete facts and statistics, and acts almost as a look behind the layers sheer curtain presented by those in control. It is filled with heart and humanity that is hard to see when bombarded with sensationalized and even demonized headlines. It is both candid and mysterious, presenting a reality both glamorous and deeply cold at the core. Few accounts are able to capture this dichotomy, making Without You, There Is No Us a worthwhile read that is greater than the sum of its parts.