The Koreas (Asia in Focus Series)
In an increasingly interconnected world we need to inform ourselves about the nations and regions with which we share our planet. Global Studies: Asia is a new series of reference books (available both in print and online as eBooks) designed as a resource for students as well as anyone traveling to or conducting business in Asia. Concise yet comprehensive, each illustrated volume uses a mix of lively narrative and reliable reference data to provide a solid overview of the history, geography,...
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Asia in Focus: The Koreas is the most complete, accessible, and up-to-date resource available on both North Korea and South Korea. Michael Levy - VOYA This well-done book is very similar to Culture and Customs of Korea (Greenwood, 2000/VOYA June 2001), albeit aimed at a slightly more sophisticated audience and with more space devoted to the details of Korea's political history. Connor, a member of the curriculum committee for the National Council for Social Studies, received a Korea Society Fellowship to aid in writing this book. She defines her primary goal as "to meet the need for a general introduction to Korea with a focus on the economic, political, social, and cultural developments since the Korean War." Her secondary aim is to provide reference material for those traveling to Korea. In general, the author succeeds admirably in fulfilling these goals. The first part contains detailed and clear chapters on the geography and history of Korea, economic and political developments since 1945, contemporary Korean culture, and the nation's social problems. Connor hits on a number of controversial issues, and the writing is particularly good on the long and thorny relationship between North and South Korea. Oddly, however, she devotes no more than a line or two to the Unification Church and only one sentence to the hot topic of Korean adoption. The second part consists of reference materials, including a short chronology of Korean history; entries on significant people, places, and events; and information on the Korean language, traditional foods, and etiquette The book closes with a useful list of relevant organizations and an excellent annotated bibliography of recommended works about Korea. (Global Studies: Asia). Photos. Maps. Charts. Biblio. Further Reading. Chronology. Appendix. VOYA Codes: 4Q 2P S A/YA (Better than most, marredonly by occasional lapses; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2002, ABC-CLIO, 305p,
Series Editor's ForewordPrefaceMapPt. 1Narrative Section11Geography and History32Economic Development since 1945653Political Development since 19451094Contemporary Culture and Social Problems163Pt. 2Reference Materials209Chronological Table211Significant People, Places, and Events215Korean Language, Food, and Etiquette241Organizations257Annotated Bibliography of Recommended Works on Korea275Index287About the Author307
\ VOYAThis well-done book is very similar to Culture and Customs of Korea (Greenwood, 2000/VOYA June 2001), albeit aimed at a slightly more sophisticated audience and with more space devoted to the details of Korea's political history. Connor, a member of the curriculum committee for the National Council for Social Studies, received a Korea Society Fellowship to aid in writing this book. She defines her primary goal as "to meet the need for a general introduction to Korea with a focus on the economic, political, social, and cultural developments since the Korean War." Her secondary aim is to provide reference material for those traveling to Korea. In general, the author succeeds admirably in fulfilling these goals. The first part contains detailed and clear chapters on the geography and history of Korea, economic and political developments since 1945, contemporary Korean culture, and the nation's social problems. Connor hits on a number of controversial issues, and the writing is particularly good on the long and thorny relationship between North and South Korea. Oddly, however, she devotes no more than a line or two to the Unification Church and only one sentence to the hot topic of Korean adoption. The second part consists of reference materials, including a short chronology of Korean history; entries on significant people, places, and events; and information on the Korean language, traditional foods, and etiquette The book closes with a useful list of relevant organizations and an excellent annotated bibliography of recommended works about Korea. (Global Studies: Asia). Photos. Maps. Charts. Biblio. Further Reading. Chronology. Appendix. VOYA Codes: 4Q 2P S A/YA (Better than most, marredonly by occasional lapses; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2002, ABC-CLIO, 305p, \ — Michael Levy\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalWith these two inaugural titles—updated and enlarged from their 2002 incarnations in the "Global Studies Handbook" series—ABC-CLIO is launching a brand new series titled "Asia in Focus." The title on China is slated to join them shortly. Ellington (Univ. of Tennessee, Chattanooga) and Connor (Korea Acad. for Educators) authored the earlier titles in the series as well. Connor wrote the bulk of the newer The Koreas, and there are five subchapters by contributors. Prefaces in these books stress the need for global awareness in general and an increased understanding of Asian countries in particular. To that end, each title covers the awareness aspect with sections on geography, history, government and politics, economy, society, culture, and contemporary issues. A historical approach serves The Koreas particularly well, emphasizing the relative recency of the political division between north and south. Supplemental material makes up more than a quarter of each book, including a glossary, a compilation of facts and figures, a description of holidays, a listing of organizations, an annotated bibliography of recommended works, a thematic index, and a general index. BOTTOM LINE Financially strapped libraries holding the earlier "Global Studies Handbook" titles may skip these. Otherwise, they are recommended to public, school, and academic libraries as highly readable, information-rich resources on regions and peoples playing increasingly large roles in our economic future. Librarians may choose to place them in circulation where they would be more appreciated.—Teresa R. Faust, Vermont Dept. of Libs., Berlin\ \ \ BooknewsIn a general introduction to Korea specifically accessible to young readers, Connor (history, Westridge School, Pasadena, California) focuses on the economic, political, social, and cultural developments since the Korean War. A section also covers geography and history. Among the reference materials are a chronological table; a brief dictionary of people, places, and events; an outline of language, food, and etiquette; a list of organizations; and an annotated bibliography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)\ \ \ \ \ From the Publisher"Recommended for the general public and high school and lower-division undergraduate students."\ -\ Choice\ " … well-researched and well-written…can also serve as a quick refernce tool for public and school libraries and for general area studies collections in academic and special libraries."\ -\ American Reference Books Annual\ " … devoted to the details of Korea's political history … The book closes with a useful list of relevant organizations and an excellent annotated bibliography of recommended works about Korea."\ -\ VOYA\ \ \
