A lot of different topics were covered here, from the school and education system and work and dining culture to various notable accidents that left their mark on modern Korean society. Many of the things mentioned here I'm already aware of but the main downside of this book for me was that I didn't find it to be engaging enough. It took me a while to get through it and I can't say I found it rewarding.

South Korea: The Price of Efficiency and Success is written for people who are interested specifically in all the changes that Korea has undergone in the last 70 years. It is not for someone who just has a passing or casual interest in the country. It is a study of the values, economy, innovations and culture that is unique to Korea.

I found much of the information very interesting but the writing style was a bit difficult to get through. I wish the writing was more casual and flowed better, but as it was it felt like reading from a textbook. It wasn't all factual but included some descriptions of the author's own experiences in Korea (he is not native) and that also read as academic. But overall, this book was well thought out and researched, and will serve some readers well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dr. John Gonzalez and Young Lee for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Informative while striking a fair balance between positive and negative commentary, this book is for anyone looking to learn a little bit more about South Korea without having to clear out the whole library section to really dig into the history and socio-cultural dynamics of the country. Overall, it is a good place to start for the reader looking to find the area of the South Korean cultural character that they want to do a deeper dive into.

South Korean: The Price of Efficiency and Success was easy but interesting non-fiction reading. Most of the information contained within its chapters I was already well aware of, but it was still good to read the authors' interpretations and comments. For those fascinated by Korea and wanting to know more about its socioeconomic background, this book would be well worth a read. I thought the authors struck a good balance between positive and negative commentary, making their narrative seem fair and honest, neither prejudiced for or against but rather objective throughout. I am giving it four stars.