What do you think?
Rate this book
If I Perish
Ahn E. Sook stood alone among thousands of kneeling people. Her bold defiance of the tyrannical demand to bow to pagan Japanese shrines condemned her to a living death in the filth and degradation of a Japanese prison. This brave woman remained faithful to Christ in the face of brutality, oppression, and ruthlessness of her captors. The story of how she won many of her fellow prisoners to Christ in the most deplorable conditions is an inspiration to all.
277 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 10, 2011
This is the story of a Korean lady who suffered under Japanese rule during the world war II. At that time Koreans were forced to bow to the Japanese temple called shinto. When Korean Christians refused to bow to the Japanese temple, they were imprisoned and suffered torture and death. Ms. Ahn went to Japan to warn them of God's impending judgment if they do not repent. Later she was imprisoned. Initially she was imprisoned together with more than 40 Christians leaders, but when the war was over after 7 years only 14 survived from the imprisonment.
What is remarkable was her life in prison. Though she was confined in prison, her compassion for others didn't diminish. She showed her love and affection to several fellow prisoners who were prostitutes, murderers, thieves, and trouble makers. Through her love and Bible teaching, many of them were changed dramatically. By reading her story, one can tell that God is living and God loves sinners. Also I learned that I need to love and obey God absolutely.
What is remarkable was her life in prison. Though she was confined in prison, her compassion for others didn't diminish. She showed her love and affection to several fellow prisoners who were prostitutes, murderers, thieves, and trouble makers. Through her love and Bible teaching, many of them were changed dramatically. By reading her story, one can tell that God is living and God loves sinners. Also I learned that I need to love and obey God absolutely.
October 18, 2009
Wow this book was powerful! My eyes were opened to the reality of persecution during WWII, as well as to the reality of God's all sufficiency. Reading this book made me realize that God does not always spare us from trials, even intense, painful trials. Sometimes we feel like losing hope, (who could know this more than Ahn?!) but in the end God always keeps his promises. He has a plan and we just have to wait- even if it means sitting in a literally frigid prison cell with little or no food. This is not an easy message. This is not a message for the faint of heart. God demands total surrender, no matter the cost, the pain, the persecution. Wow!
September 14, 2019
I had no idea of the persecution Korean Christians suffered at the hands of the Japanese during their invasion. I knew only that Japan is not Korea's favorite country. I felt proud of the author for not bowing at the shrine and wondered why all the others bowed. I was amazed that she was not tortured but experienced so much favor, but I wonder why she was treated more kindly than the other imprisoned Korean Christians. Why did the Lord provide her with special protection? I don't know, but I don't doubt He had a specific reason and plan.
I appreciated the author's candidness in revealing her constantly changing emotions - happy, sad, happy, sad. That wouldn't be easy to admit, but she feels like a real person because of it.
Because of her submission and obedience to the Lord and her testimony - the way she lived - she was used by Him to share the gospel with many and many believed. Look what is possible, Susan! See what the Lord can do if you listen and follow. I desire to see people respond so quickly and so favorably to the gospel.
The ending was a little abrupt and made it seem like getting to America was the end goal, which I know it was not. I wish she had written a little bit about her future plans - what was the goal of going to America after finishing her three-month tour?
This is the third missionary autobiography I've read in the last few days and all seem to be saying the same thing: be surrendered, pray, listen and obey and watch the Lord do greater things.
I appreciated the author's candidness in revealing her constantly changing emotions - happy, sad, happy, sad. That wouldn't be easy to admit, but she feels like a real person because of it.
Because of her submission and obedience to the Lord and her testimony - the way she lived - she was used by Him to share the gospel with many and many believed. Look what is possible, Susan! See what the Lord can do if you listen and follow. I desire to see people respond so quickly and so favorably to the gospel.
The ending was a little abrupt and made it seem like getting to America was the end goal, which I know it was not. I wish she had written a little bit about her future plans - what was the goal of going to America after finishing her three-month tour?
This is the third missionary autobiography I've read in the last few days and all seem to be saying the same thing: be surrendered, pray, listen and obey and watch the Lord do greater things.
January 3, 2022
Kim's memoir of persecution under the Japanese occupation of Korea during WWII reads like many other classic Christian martyrdom account, though Kim survived to tell her tale. Like many other Christians around the world, Kim took the biblical Esther's words, "if I perish, I perish," as her motto. Since If I Perish is a good-sized modern memoir and not a brief ancient document, I did wish for a little more of Kim to come through the page. Often, her struggles are ended quickly by recalling a verse of Scripture, without offering any real insight into her interior life or the comfort she received from her faith. However, If I Perish is an important document in Korean church history and should be read alongside other narratives of Christians suffering and imprisoned for their faith.
Content warnings: violence and harsh prison conditions
Content warnings: violence and harsh prison conditions
September 16, 2016
THIS BOOK. If you want to be encouraged in your walk with Christ literally every page (once you are 1/3 of the way into the book that is) THEN READ IF I PERISH. Dead serious.
If I Perish is the story of Ahn Ei Sook, written by herself several years afterword. During the years where Japan controled Korea, she stoof up to the forced shrine worship. Ahn then flees into hiding to prepare herself for what she knows is coming for her: Imprisonment by the Japanese. That takes her on a huge crazy journey that is truly remarkable.
It is incredible reading of her happenings in prison. Not only did she touch so many lives of both prisoners and jailers, she touched my life as I read through her struggle and dependence on the Lord for all her strength as she was in Prison for those six years.
It's a autobiography. It jumps around a bit and can be bit confusing in the beginning, but you have to look at it with different eyes.
If you do, it's well worth it. :)
If I Perish is the story of Ahn Ei Sook, written by herself several years afterword. During the years where Japan controled Korea, she stoof up to the forced shrine worship. Ahn then flees into hiding to prepare herself for what she knows is coming for her: Imprisonment by the Japanese. That takes her on a huge crazy journey that is truly remarkable.
It is incredible reading of her happenings in prison. Not only did she touch so many lives of both prisoners and jailers, she touched my life as I read through her struggle and dependence on the Lord for all her strength as she was in Prison for those six years.
It's a autobiography. It jumps around a bit and can be bit confusing in the beginning, but you have to look at it with different eyes.
If you do, it's well worth it. :)
December 30, 2017
This story is incredible. It built my faith so much, to read about this woman who was in jail for 6 years because of her faith and how she endured horrific things and in the midst of it all praised God every day. The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars from me is because I struggled with the writing style. It may have been something lost in translation but it did not flow well. Regardless, I would highly recommend this!
July 16, 2021
What an incredible story of faith and dedication to the Lord in spite of persecution! True stories like this always challenge me in my own faith. We live such "easy" lives as Christians in America... It's good to be reminded of those who've given up everything just to follow Christ. Would highly recommend this book.
June 13, 2018
This was an amazing story! I've read quite a bit about World War II but somehow, I'd never heard of the Christian persecution that was happening in Japanese-occupied Korea. Knowing the "end of the story" so to speak, I was awed at the idea that God had not left Japan without a witness or a warning before the terrible devastation they experienced at the end of the war.
Miss Ahn presents a very realistic and humble testimony, and I appreciated that she was so honest and open about her doubts, her fears, and her ups-and-downs of faith. It was a very lifelike picture and a great reminder to me that even amazing, mightily-used saints still struggle to trust God sometimes even after knowing and seeing His power time and again. Her testimony was wonderful, and it was awe-inspiring to see the way God defended her and the way she was able to bring light to other prisoners and jailers during her years in prison.
This is a true story about a dark time and place in history, so there is definitely some disturbing content, although I never felt like it was made more graphic than necessary. Infidelity and other immoral relationships, unsanitary prison conditions, murder, and rape are all referenced but not dwelt on. The torture undergone by Christian prisoners gets a bit more attention only because it's very necessary to the story. The language is completely clean, although it's mentioned that jailers and other prisoners cursed.
There were a couple of times when I was concerned about the severity of the fasts she put herself through, and although her mother was a very godly woman, I was troubled by her opinions on a couple of subjects. Aside from that, though, I didn't have any theological problems with the book.
Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Asia in the World War II era or in the true story of a young woman with the courage to stand for God against a seemingly unstoppable nation.
Miss Ahn presents a very realistic and humble testimony, and I appreciated that she was so honest and open about her doubts, her fears, and her ups-and-downs of faith. It was a very lifelike picture and a great reminder to me that even amazing, mightily-used saints still struggle to trust God sometimes even after knowing and seeing His power time and again. Her testimony was wonderful, and it was awe-inspiring to see the way God defended her and the way she was able to bring light to other prisoners and jailers during her years in prison.
This is a true story about a dark time and place in history, so there is definitely some disturbing content, although I never felt like it was made more graphic than necessary. Infidelity and other immoral relationships, unsanitary prison conditions, murder, and rape are all referenced but not dwelt on. The torture undergone by Christian prisoners gets a bit more attention only because it's very necessary to the story. The language is completely clean, although it's mentioned that jailers and other prisoners cursed.
There were a couple of times when I was concerned about the severity of the fasts she put herself through, and although her mother was a very godly woman, I was troubled by her opinions on a couple of subjects. Aside from that, though, I didn't have any theological problems with the book.
Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Asia in the World War II era or in the true story of a young woman with the courage to stand for God against a seemingly unstoppable nation.
July 23, 2012
Esther Ahn Kim berichtet über ihre Erlebnisse während der Verfolgung der koreanischen Christen durch Japaner während des 2.Weltkrieges.
Zusammen mit einem Gemeindeältesten unternimmt sie eine Reise nach Japan, um Volk und Regierung Japans vor dem Gericht Gottes zu warnen. Sie wird inhaftiert und verbringt 5 Jahre in verschiedenen Gefängnissen. Sie erzählt, wie sie diese Zeit mit dem Herrn durchlebt, wie er sich um sie kümmert und ihr hilft, verschweigt aber auch Zeiten höchster Anfechtung und schlimme Erlebnissse nicht. Als nach der Befreiung von der japanischen Unterdrückung der Kommunismus über Nordkorea hereinbricht, flüchtet sie und emigriert in die USA.
Manche Berichte über übernatürliches Reden und Beauftragen Gottes in diesem Buch hat mich etwas irritiert, ohne dass ich es beurteilen möchte, weil es für mich nicht ganz nachvollziehbar war. Ermutigend ist zu lesen, wie in aller Anfechtung und Schwachheit der Herr ihr immer wieder Kraft gab und sie ermutigte und tröstete. Auf jeden Fall ein lesenswertes Buch, dass uns auch ein Stück hier weniger bekannter Kirchengeschichte nahe bringt.
Ich habe eine deutsche Ausgabe gelesen. Das Buch ist nicht mehr im Handel; es sind aber noch gebrauchte Ausgaben zu bekommen.
Zusammen mit einem Gemeindeältesten unternimmt sie eine Reise nach Japan, um Volk und Regierung Japans vor dem Gericht Gottes zu warnen. Sie wird inhaftiert und verbringt 5 Jahre in verschiedenen Gefängnissen. Sie erzählt, wie sie diese Zeit mit dem Herrn durchlebt, wie er sich um sie kümmert und ihr hilft, verschweigt aber auch Zeiten höchster Anfechtung und schlimme Erlebnissse nicht. Als nach der Befreiung von der japanischen Unterdrückung der Kommunismus über Nordkorea hereinbricht, flüchtet sie und emigriert in die USA.
Manche Berichte über übernatürliches Reden und Beauftragen Gottes in diesem Buch hat mich etwas irritiert, ohne dass ich es beurteilen möchte, weil es für mich nicht ganz nachvollziehbar war. Ermutigend ist zu lesen, wie in aller Anfechtung und Schwachheit der Herr ihr immer wieder Kraft gab und sie ermutigte und tröstete. Auf jeden Fall ein lesenswertes Buch, dass uns auch ein Stück hier weniger bekannter Kirchengeschichte nahe bringt.
Ich habe eine deutsche Ausgabe gelesen. Das Buch ist nicht mehr im Handel; es sind aber noch gebrauchte Ausgaben zu bekommen.
July 11, 2008
This was an inspiring true story of a young woman who stood against the forced idol worship the Japanese imposed upon the Koreans around the time of WWII. She told the Japanese that judgment would come upon if they did not repent. And she was thrown into a Japanese prison, where she stayed for many years. She refused to back down, and even among torture and hardships gave thanks to God. I wasn't sure about Miss Ahn and another man hearing "the voice of God." Otherwise, I might have given this book 5 stars.
May 20, 2012
It is a well-told biography, though sometimes I felt that it focused somewhere less interesting than it could have, from a storytelling point of view. It could have been written better, but many people will find her easy to relate to, and see her story as encouraging. Shows the terrible reality of religious persecution.
October 14, 2017
Very good book. I have never read any books about the Japanese takeover of Korea during WW2. Until now that is. This biography shows the horrors of the Japanese occupation and the faithfulness of God who never left the Korean Christians.
December 11, 2008
It's about the Japanese occupation of Korea before and during WWII and how Christians were persecuted. Not the best written book, but a very interesting memoir.
July 28, 2011
I read this book when I was 14 years old.
July 15, 2023
Great book! It’s amazing to see how God prepared and used Mrs. Ahn. It was encouraging that even through imprisonment and torture, the Lord sustained Mrs. Ahn and her faith preserved through it all.
October 21, 2023
I read this for the first time in sixth? grade, and it has stuck with me ever since. This is a tremendous testimony of faith in God’s salvation & provision. It has left me both challenged and encouraged. This isn’t the first time I’ve visited this book, and I doubt it will be the last.
January 27, 2024
Good book. I had a difficult time putting it down. Ahn's devotion to God was inspiring.
July 18, 2023
Such an inspiring story of endurance under severe trial, faith in the God of salvation, testimony in a milieu of apocalyptic chaos. Like her namesake, Esther Ahn Kim was a courageous witness to an evil empire of God's righteousness and supremacy. May the Lord raise up many "Esthers" in our own day and age.
March 11, 2016
This was an excellent, readable Christian biography. Some Christian readers may be uneasy with some of Kim's testimony that seems a bit fantastic (e.g., audible instructions from God on occasion). These don't bother me in this story because of the obvious emphasis and reliance of the author on the Word of God. The Bible was central to her life, and was the guiding reference point for her survival, not a dream or miracle. In fact, her mother rebuked her when one time she was searching for a sign. (You have been told what to do in God's Word. You don't need a sign; you need to obey.) Clearly, any miraculous events in her life were consistent with God's truth, and consistent with a biblical emphasis. (There's little reference to denominations in this book, but when Kim came to the US with her husband, they apparently became Southern Baptist missionaries.) Contrary to some reviewers' opinions, the editing of the book is fine. I've read poorly edited but inspiring Christian biographies, and they are filled with irrelevant details, awkward sentence structure, and no sense of unity in structure. If I Perish doesn't fit in this category.
(As a side note for parents, there are references to the torture that Kim experienced, and there are a couple of references to women who were raped at the end of the war. I am comfortable giving this book to my middle school children, but parents may want to preview the book if they are wondering if the book is appropriate for their children. If there is a concern, parents could read aloud the book, and simply skip any sentences that may be problematic. The book does have historical value and gives a hopeful response to a portion of history that is overwhelmingly dark. For a fictional book set in the same time period, consider When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park.)
(As a side note for parents, there are references to the torture that Kim experienced, and there are a couple of references to women who were raped at the end of the war. I am comfortable giving this book to my middle school children, but parents may want to preview the book if they are wondering if the book is appropriate for their children. If there is a concern, parents could read aloud the book, and simply skip any sentences that may be problematic. The book does have historical value and gives a hopeful response to a portion of history that is overwhelmingly dark. For a fictional book set in the same time period, consider When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park.)
January 22, 2014
Very interesting story dealing with the persecution of Christian Koreans by the Japanese during the WWII era, including the author's years in various prisons. Inspiring as well.
It could have used some editing to improve clarity at some points (such as with the timeline) and believability. With the latter, I'm not necessarily suggesting that any of the miraculous events didn't happen, just that they are sometimes written in a way that makes them sound fantastical. I think much of that is the result of the English-as-a-3rd-language issue (i.e. translation issues in terms of tone, word choice, etc), which is why I think more editing would have been of help.
Still a good book.
It could have used some editing to improve clarity at some points (such as with the timeline) and believability. With the latter, I'm not necessarily suggesting that any of the miraculous events didn't happen, just that they are sometimes written in a way that makes them sound fantastical. I think much of that is the result of the English-as-a-3rd-language issue (i.e. translation issues in terms of tone, word choice, etc), which is why I think more editing would have been of help.
Still a good book.
December 24, 2014
Truly a triumphant tale of all-enduring faith and love overcoming hardship, suffering and trial to bear witness of His goodness and grace. Nothing was more touching than these emphatic lines, summing up the core of Ahn's biography: "Everything on either side of the train was wrapped in shadows as black as an evil man's soul, but the sky was punctured with light as bright as ten thousand times ten thousand jewels gleaming with God's light. True faith should be like those stars, I thought, shining even brighter as the world becomes darker."
July 6, 2007
What an awesome book. Esther Ahn Kim, a young Korean christian faces imprisonment, persecution and even death all because of her belief in God and her faithfulness to him. After reading this account one can truly see that our God is the "God of the Impossible" and His ways are above ours. A must read for anyone seeking what our God can do for us in times of trials and hardships if only we believe and remain faithful.
May 30, 2012
Another book that changed my life. I believe the main reason is
that Esther's testimony helped me see God so much more as He is.
Almighty God with Whom nothing, I mean NOTHING is impossible, and
the Almighty God Who is always in control of EVERY event on this
planet, from world wars to my personal every day life.
Amazing story of this young woman who stood for Christ, for her
faith in a heavily idol-worshiping (forced by the Japanese) Korea.
that Esther's testimony helped me see God so much more as He is.
Almighty God with Whom nothing, I mean NOTHING is impossible, and
the Almighty God Who is always in control of EVERY event on this
planet, from world wars to my personal every day life.
Amazing story of this young woman who stood for Christ, for her
faith in a heavily idol-worshiping (forced by the Japanese) Korea.
February 28, 2013
Fascinating auto-biography of an ordinary young woman who remained courageous while enduring much persecution, earning the respect and admiration of so many of her enemies. Sometimes I found her tone to be a little whiny, but considering all that this woman endured, that tone added believability to her story. I can't imagine how whiny I'd be if sitting in a jail cell. Ordinary woman, Extraordinary God.
April 12, 2013
This is one of the best missionary books that I've ever read! (and I've read a lot) It was very eye-opening and thought-provoking. This young christian is imprisoned in a Japanese prison camp in Korea for her faith in 1939-1945. It isn't like she's a "super christian." She daily seeks to praise and worship God and witness to her jailors and other prisoners. I highly recommend this to every christian wanting to better understand what other people suffer for their faith.
January 24, 2014
The first 100 pages of this book were difficult for me. Not knowing Ahn Ei Sook's story, I couldn't get a feel for where the story was going, or why she focused so much on her fear of torture. After that, the story really came alive, and I found her narrative of evangelism in a Korean prison during WWII to be very compelling. Curious to know about the rest of her life after she escaped to South Korea and traveled to America.
September 6, 2016
Though published in 1977, this memoir of the author's WWII Japanese prison internment matches in importance and intensity that of Corrie Ten Boom's in The Hiding Place and Louis Zamperini's in Unbroken. I had never heard of Ahn Ei Sook and her story as a Korean Christian who refused to bow and worship the Japanese shrines and idols. So glad I picked out this paperback from the lending book shelf at the YMCA.
September 26, 2007
Although certain parts might not theologically jive with some more conservative people, i love this book not only because of personal ties but because of how through such a weak vessel, God was shown to be huge. How one little woman can stand up to high officials, and choose joy in times of unthinkable trials is amazing to me.
May 11, 2010
An amazing view at the persecution of one Christian woman in asia. As an American Christian I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to face the possibility of poverty and death for my beliefs. This book gave me a glimps and I will never again take for granted the freedoms that I have been given.
March 18, 2011
This testimony was AMAZING, FAITH BUILDING, EYE OPENING, HEART CONVICTING, COMPELLING, AND ENCOURAGING!
Topical Interest include: Martyrdom, knowing your purpose, hearing God's voice, being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Sabbath, weak faith, God's promises...to name a few!
I recommend this book as a "MUST READ" for anyone interested in faith.
Topical Interest include: Martyrdom, knowing your purpose, hearing God's voice, being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Sabbath, weak faith, God's promises...to name a few!
I recommend this book as a "MUST READ" for anyone interested in faith.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews