HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle

The Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il: Q&A with Michael Malice

Views: 977
Kim Jong Il, who was the supreme leader of North Korea until his death in 2011, was a leading authority on gymnastics, cinema, literature, war, cooking, and the arts. He wrote 1,400 works when he was in college, including a senior thesis that was an achievement comparable to Columbus' discovery of America. He revolutionized the opera, personally discovered that Paleolithic man originated on the Korean Peninsula, and came up with a theory of art that was as impactful on modern culture as the Copernican Revolution. Why did the supreme leader always wear sunglasses? That's because his eyes were constantly bloodshot from staying up all night figuring out ways to help his country.

These are details from celebrity ghostwriter (and former editor of Overheard in New York) Michael Malice's new book Dear Reader: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il, a strange, tragic, and humorous first-person account of the supreme leader's life. On March 18, 2014, at an event held at New York City's Museum of Sex and sponsored by the Reason Foundation, The New York Times columnist John Tierney sat down with Malice to discuss the book.

Highlights from the event included a discussion of how Malice came to write Dear Reader (1:28); why Kim Jong Il is despised by North Koreans (7:00); how North Koreans are forced to engage in regular self-criticism sessions in which they're denounced by their peers (9:00); why it was a surprise that Kim Jong Il succeeded his father, Kim Il-sung (12:00); why there's no hope that political change will come to North Korea anytime soon (20:20); Ayn Rand's influence on Malice (23:20); why Kim Jong Il hated the Mona Lisa (27:15); an example of a North Korean joke (29:15); why Malice thinks the media's coverage of Dennis Rodman's relationship with Kim Jong Un is deplorable (31:35); the story behind the 1987 bombing of Flight 858 by North Korean agents (33:20); the originis of the Korean famine (41:00); Kim Jong Il's "spot on critiques of U.S. foreign policy" (42:00); why North Korea allows its citizens to reunite with family members from South Korea (43:30); the relationship between China and North Korea (50:00); and North Korea's nuclear capabilities (51:15).

For more on Malice's time in North Korea researching the book, read his account from the August/September 2013 issue of Reason.

About 54:30.

Shot and edited by Jim Epstein.

Go to http://Reason.com/reasontv for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new material goes live.
@ReasonVidsfollow
Thumbnail for Philly Artist Fights City Hall Over Eminent Domain Abuse4:38
Philly Artist Fights City Hall Over Eminent Domain Abuse
ReasonVids
967 views
Thumbnail for The Most Haunted Place On Earth: Iraq War Part 3 of 3 | Live From The Lair34:53
The Most Haunted Place On Earth: Iraq War Part 3 of 3 | Live From The Lair
Terrence Popp
1128 views
Thumbnail for Independents Day is June 28! Pre-Order Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch's libertarian manifesto today!1:26
Independents Day is June 28! Pre-Order Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch's libertarian manifesto today!
ReasonVids
918 views
Thumbnail for Judge Andrew Napolitano: President Trump Obstructed15:29
Judge Andrew Napolitano: President Trump Obstructed
ReasonVids
878 views
Thumbnail for 1965 Oldsmobile Starfire Commercial with John "Shorty" Powers of NASA1:03
1965 Oldsmobile Starfire Commercial with John "Shorty" Powers of NASA
bestofpoal
1605 views
Thumbnail for KD DA KID - GET IN WITH ME FREESTYLE (Official Music Video) 1st DAY OF SCHOOL | KD Da Kid 3:46
KD DA KID - GET IN WITH ME FREESTYLE (Official Music Video) 1st DAY OF SCHOOL | KD Da Kid
invidious
184 views
Thumbnail for A Great Year For Pot, Freedom, and Ending the Drug War: Q&A with MPP's Rob Kampia5:10
A Great Year For Pot, Freedom, and Ending the Drug War: Q&A with MPP's Rob Kampia
ReasonVids
917 views
Thumbnail for DSP Tries It - Low Sales, Spamming Videos, The Crew 2 and E3 Coverage Incoming (Watch Me!)11:38
DSP Tries It - Low Sales, Spamming Videos, The Crew 2 and E3 Coverage Incoming (Watch Me!)
memology101
1269 views
Thumbnail for Radley Balko on the Militarization of Police11:57
Radley Balko on the Militarization of Police
ReasonVids
851 views
Thumbnail for Should the Supreme Court Allow Us to "Go to Hell"?17:19
Should the Supreme Court Allow Us to "Go to Hell"?
ReasonVids
653 views
Thumbnail for Want to Buy Stock in Your Corner Bistro? The Gov't Opens Venture Capital Markets to the Masses3:23
Want to Buy Stock in Your Corner Bistro? The Gov't Opens Venture Capital Markets to the Masses
ReasonVids
909 views
Thumbnail for Ron Bailey: Seven Surprising Truths about the World5:32
Ron Bailey: Seven Surprising Truths about the World
ReasonVids
828 views
Thumbnail for Richard Epstein on Barack Obama, his former Chicago Law Colleague12:31
Richard Epstein on Barack Obama, his former Chicago Law Colleague
ReasonVids
1023 views
Thumbnail for Where are the Jobs? The Parallels between Today and the Great Depression6:41
Where are the Jobs? The Parallels between Today and the Great Depression
ReasonVids
960 views
Thumbnail for The perfect union0:56
The perfect union
bestofupgoat
45 views
Thumbnail for High School Journalism Teacher Suspended After Standing Up for Student Reporters' Free Speech Rights7:05
High School Journalism Teacher Suspended After Standing Up for Student Reporters' Free Speech Rights
ReasonVids
891 views
Thumbnail for  Mom isn't the first word out of this kid, wait for it.0:31
Mom isn't the first word out of this kid, wait for it.
bestofpoal
4476 views
Thumbnail for That's not how video-conferencing is supposed to work.0:29
That's not how video-conferencing is supposed to work.
publicfreakouts
801 views
Thumbnail for THE CHEMICALS IN THE WATER TURN THE FREAKING DINOSAURS GAY0:35
THE CHEMICALS IN THE WATER TURN THE FREAKING DINOSAURS GAY
bestofvoatxyz
507 views
Thumbnail for Dave Weigel on Presidential Politics4:15
Dave Weigel on Presidential Politics
ReasonVids
893 views
Thumbnail for Joe Kennedy: Not a Bootlegger or a Nazi, But a Hardcore Non-Interventionist8:03
Joe Kennedy: Not a Bootlegger or a Nazi, But a Hardcore Non-Interventionist
ReasonVids
919 views
Thumbnail for How the Feds' Subpoena of Reason and Gag Order Went Public10:04
How the Feds' Subpoena of Reason and Gag Order Went Public
ReasonVids
854 views

points

Permalink
Reply
kim jong-il (film producer), north korea (country), michael malice, john tierney, dennis rodman, kim jong un, reason foundaton, museum of sex, reason tv, reason magazine, libertarian, ayn rand
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle