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.