In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park

Yeonmi sounds like a remarkable young lady - a child, really, who had to endure unimaginable things and take responsibilities of decisions which no child should have to take. This was a book worth reading.

In addition to describing the tragic life of Yeonmi and her family, the story describes perfectly the society which is built on the ideas of Marxism-Leninism - on which Juche was later built on.

The government provided all jobs, paid everyone’s salary, and distributed rations for most food and consumer goods.

When this system collapsed - and any such system does eventually collapse - private enterprise took over. People started trading goods and services. They started building their own supply chains, regardless of the constant fear of retributions from the failing government. The will to live and the natural drive to improve living conditions of oneself and close ones has always transcended any political ideology.

This was a tragic story of Yeonmi and her family. But hopefully it was also a story which provided the final nail in the coffin of Marxism-Leninism ideas. Never again. Not in any country.