The problem with the book is that the author constantly compares Korea to the West. In his view, Koreans are inferior and backward people because they are still strongly attached to family values and often people's actions in Korea are determined based on those values. I wish the author (and people in the West in general) would realize that happiness and advancement do not come from individualistic pursuit of material gain and exploitation of others. I gave the book 2 stars because it has some information which was new to me. I wish facts would be presented as they are and not constantly compared and evaluated in the light of things in the West.

Have you ever met someone who makes all sorts of unsubstantiated, sweeping generalizations about groups of people at parties because he thinks it's entertaining? Reading this book is kind of like getting stuck with that person all night.

The second chapter is literally a laundry list of adjectives describing articulating Breen's perceptions of Koreans. However, Breen declines to provide research or evidence to support his views. Rather, he provides a few humorous anecdotes to entertain his audience, subsequently distracting the reader from unwarranted claims.

A long one, sure, but every page was full of genuine, page-turning material that begs to be read over again. Breen is British, but as an American, I was 100% to follow his train of though - he is a very conscious, diplomatic writer (he better be for a news writer +__+)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. anyone who is already familiar with the basics of Korean history and culture looking for a little bit more advanced, but not unapproachable book, you found it. My understanding of Korean culture (and particularly history) has increased tenfold. Okay enough, go get it.

In a few brief words: Mr. Breen "gets it."

I bought three books about Korean culture before I came to live here. This was the last of the three, because, frankly, I was a little put off by the pompous title. But right from the start I could see that he knew his stuff. And now, it's easily my favorite of the three.

What makes this book different is its courage. Other books on Korea are too apologetic for some of the less savory aspects of Korean culture. For example, in the other books I read there was far too much "Yes, Koreans do X and X, but you have to understand that it's just differences in culture." Mr. Breen's observations, on the other hand, eschew all of these niceties and cut through to the whys and hows. It's not that he has a negative view of the culture, far from it. It's simply that he tells it like it is.

It's also a funny read (for example, the observation that when Koreans have no one to talk to they have a tendency to fall asleep).

If there's one criticism, it's that the book is a little to Seoul-centric. There are other places beyond the capital city that are not very well represented. There were times when I was reading when I said "that's not how it is in Busan."

Aside from that, it's a keen look into Korean culture. It doesn't necessarily paint a rosy picture, but "The Koreans" is honest and it's a fun read. You will definitely learn a lot about Korea reading this book.

After university, I moved to Seoul where I taught English, studied Korean, climbed mountains, and drank OB Lager for twenty months, attempting (in vain), to figure out the country in which I was living. I should have read this book, although unfortunately it wasn't available at the time. Breen isn't a Koreaphobe; not at all (on the contrary, he seems to like the place), but he can't help but be perplexed by its idiosyncrasies as well as the archaic mindset vs. what appears to be a modern, thriving society. Anyone who has lived in Korea will invariably find himself nodding in agreement at commentary regarding some of the recurring themes here: xenephobia, fever-pitch nationalism, narrow-mindedess, more xenephobia, and so on and so forth. The Koreans are not the fuzziest, warmest people on the planet. They can be (and usually are) downright obtuse not to mention exceedingly intolerant. Just about every Western person I knew who lived there (including females) were verbally abused AND physically assaulted by random people on the street at least once, usally several times. During the days leading up to the Asian Economic Crisis, I was taunted and accosted pretty much daily. This is a nation where police used to tail an elite class of rich young people because (wait for it) they weren't employed. Rather, they drove around all day hitting coffee shops, movie theaters, and bars. Imagine. For those wishing to understand why the Koreans are the way they are, or why they despise outsiders like they do (apart from the fact that they're juiced up on rice wine much of the time) Michael Breen's THE KOREANS is a solid reference. He takes us through their history and penetrates their psyche. He admits that he (and every expatriate he knows) still has trouble deciphering this unique nation. But read his book, and you'll have deciphered a great deal. For an account of what it can be like to live or work as an English teacher in Korea, kindly see my own book.

Troy Parfitt, author of NOTES FROM THE OTHER CHINA
Notes from the Other China - Adventures in Asia

Michael Breen does an excellent and hilarious job describing the South Koreans, their culture, habits, and history. This is simply the best and most accurate book on the South Korean people I've found. Everything he writes is not rosy and great, but his observations are spot on in my opinion, and I have lived in Korea for about 10 of the past 20 years.

Also, if you are looking to learn about North Korea this is not a good book since it focuses almost entirely on South Korea. Michael Breen also wrote the book "Kim Jong-Il: North Korea's Dear Leader", which I hoped would complement "The Koreans" but which, unfortunately, was a medicore book at best.

This book provided an excellent series of insights into Koreans and their culture, exactly as the subtitle suggested. In many places I found myself nodding emphatically at the descriptions of Korean culture and personalities. I have passed this on to a friend interested in doing business in Korea, as I believe that it provides an excellent starting point.

The only weakness I felt, was that I would have liked to have seen more on 'Where Their Future Lies'.

I understand that he, as a journalist, have seen and experience much from the Korean life. However, the book is just full of sterotypes and negative image building, he includes a 10 page summary on Korean history and a personaly visit to a mountatin in seoul (which somehow validates that Korean history is fake). Although, he makes crucial points on business ethics and economic systems, the very purpose of the book seems to undermind the cultural and social aspects of Korea. He gives personal examples and "suggestions" on how Koreans live. I don't know about this book, but if you want to learn about any Korea or any country you should go there and live it. I find it a good easy read but it sounds like a another book written by a westerner bashing the east.

My interest in Korea stemmed from a possible job opportunity in the country. I had little to no knowledge about the country's history, it's people, or it's culture, and I knew I would need a book that could give me a proper introduction without overwhelming me. I selected this book, and I was not disappointed.

Breen is a self-educated man when it comes to Korea. His writing takes on a narrative tone that is both personal and candid, and I suspect that this is a direct influence of him being a journalist. After the first chapter, I was drawn into this world that was miles away from my own, and yet I felt as if I were visiting it personally thanks to Breen's descriptions and insights.

The only drawback of this book was the chapters dealing with business and economics. Though this is a very crucial aspect to Korean culture, the text tended to be heavier than previous chapters. The pages didn't turn as easy, and I believe that the reader would have been better served had she not been submerged into numbers, statistics, and percentages.

Other than this, Breen provides an excellent introduction into a country that most Americans know little about, and thanks to this book, I plan on investigating more on the topic.

My interest in Korea stemmed from a possible job opportunity in the country. I had little to no knowledge about the country's history, it's people, or it's culture, and I knew I would need a book that could give me a proper introduction without overwhelming me. I selected this book, and I was not disappointed.

Breen is a self-educated man when it comes to Korea. His writing takes on a narrative tone that is both personal and candid, and I suspect that this is a direct influence of him being a journalist. After the first chapter, I was drawn into this world that was miles away from my own, and yet I felt as if I were visiting it personally thanks to Breen's descriptions and insights.

The only drawback of this book was the chapters dealing with business and economics. Though this is a very crucial aspect to Korean culture, the text tended to be heavier than previous chapters. The pages didn't turn as easy, and I believe that the reader would have been better served had she not been submerged into numbers, statistics, and percentages.

Other than this, Breen provides an excellent introduction into a country that most Americans know little about, and thanks to this book, I plan on investigating more on the topic.

This book is what it is -- a broad brushstroke of Korean society based on one man's experience. Breen's observations are insightful, entertaining and witty (as are all Englishmen?); however, at times he betrays a paternalistic attitude toward Korean society (as do all Englishmen?). This is not a scholarly book nor a history text (Hallelujah!), yet it provides a clear and concise account of Korean history. If you want a dissertation, go to a university. If you want a brief and readable introduction to Korean people, then start here. Just remember that stereotypes do not define everyone within a group, but often have an origin in truth.

As anyone who does business in Korea knows, understanding Korean culture is not only critically important, it is extremely difficult to achieve. Before reading this book, I would joke that I had a 25% understanding of Korean culture (this after more than ten years of handling legal matters there and of representing Korean companies in their legal matters outside Korea). About halfway through this book, I realized my understanding was really only at about 10%, but after reading it, I was back up to 25%. I have a number of Western friends who are fluent in Korean and have lived and worked there for many years. Without exception, their comments on this book are similar. They say that while not completely accurate (books like this do have a tendency to get out of date quickly), it is the best and the fastest way to get a decent understanding of Korean culture. For that reason, I heartily recommend this book.

The Koreans is a brilliant book about the character of the Korean people, and how they came to be that way. Korea is a fascinating country, full of contrasts that can delight or infuriate a foreigner. I definitely fall in the former group. I lived in Gumi, north of Daegu, for a year in 2001/2002 working as an ESL teacher. US military personnel aside, probably the majority of foreigners in Korea find themselves in this profession. I didn't read this book until well after I left, and I wish I had read it before I went to Korea in the first place. Anyone who has lived in Korea for any length of time (the author, Michael Breen, has lived in Seoul for many years) will find themselves nodding in agreement with many of Breen's experiences, and his explanation of them. Amongst other things Breen talks about the drinking habits, queue jumping, and the very bad driving that prevails the country, in a humorous and informative manner. He also discusses the conglomerates, the "company life" and the all important concept of saving face, in a country steeped in Confucian values. The love he has for his adopted country shines through the written text.

As well as serving as a social commentary on Korea, The Koreans also acts as a potted history of this turbulent county, which it needs to be to explain the Korean psyche. Korea has risen from a predominantly agricultural society at the time of the Korean War, to a modern day superpower, at the forefront of technological innovation. The Koreans discusses the rise of Korea from the ashes of the war to the bustling powerhouse it is today. It doesn't neglect more ancient history if it relates to a key discussion point - for example, Breen discusses the creation of the Hangul alphabet, a system of writing formed hundreds of years ago by a Korean king, which has ensured that the literacy rates of the general population are well above the world average. It is surprising just how much pride Koreans take in their written language even today. However, it has to be said that "The Koreans" is no substitute for a proper history of the country - try "The Two Koreas" if that is your interest.

First published in 1999, The Koreans has been updated to take into account some of the key developments on the Korean peninsular, particularly the ever so slightly warming of the South Korea/North Korea relationship, with South Korean conglomerates beginning to invest in North Korean ventures (although the more cynical of observers speculate this has more to do with a North Korean need for cash in its cash strapped economy than a genuine desire for reconciliation). The South Korean/North Korean relationship is debated at some length. Another key development since the first edition was of course the joint staging with Japan of the 2002 FIFA Football (Soccer) World Cup. The fervent passion shown by the Koreans, many of whom will have never shown any interest in the sport, helped propel their national team the Red Devils into a World Cup semi-final showdown with Germany, which they sadly lost. The whole month of June 2002, while the tournament absorbed the whole of Korea, is probably my personal highlight of my time in Korea. I recall vividly cheering on Korea in the round of 16 match against Italy amongst several Koreans gathered around a TV setup outside a 24/7 shop whilst eating watermelons that a seller passed around.

If you want to learn anything about Korea, this should be your first port of call. I particularly recommend it to all those seeking jobs in Korea as prospective ESL teachers as it will help your understanding in dealing with the people, but anyone intending to stay a while will get just as much out of it.

I am a Korean American, native of Seoul. I have read many books on Korea, purchased both in Korea and in the US. This book, by far, is the best I have read on the topic.

The author has done much research and is accurate on details. I was pleasantly surprised at the "history" section. He, unlike other authors, was able to communicate all the important events and the reasons thereof, without overwhelming the reader.

Other books were, in my opinion, read either like textbooks or too biased. The author does an excellent job of being objective while being respectful. There were opinions which were not necessairly complimentary. But, I thought they were carefully developed and presented.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Korea.