What does Kim Jong-un read at night?

Bedtime reading with the three best books on running a dictatorship

It’s a strange but irresistible question: What books occupy the nights of North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un?

Is he buried deep in strategy and authoritarianism, learning new ways to tighten his grip on power, or does he indulge in something more unexpected? Let’s investigate by reviewing three seemingly fitting books found in his speculative nightstand—and whether these heavy reads match Kim’s tastes.

1. Strategies of Authoritarian Survival and Dissensus in Southeast Asia

This book by Sokphea Young dissects how Southeast Asian regimes survive, balancing repression and concession in the face of civil unrest​. One might think this is the ultimate guide for Kim, with its detailed case studies on leaders' creative ways to cling to power by co-opting civil society. Young’s advice:

• Control information flow and media. Tighten control over both traditional and digital media to manage public perception. Censor dissenting opinions, promote state-approved narratives, and deploy misinformatio…