In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom

by Yeonmi Park

And as I began to write my own book, I came across a famous line by Joan Didion, “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.”

When you have so little, just the smallest thing can make you happy—and that is one of the very few features of life in North Korea that I actually miss.

had been taught to believe lies all my life, and it had become a dangerous habit.