Those Who Can't, Teach
Haresh Sharma
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2010
ISBN: 9789810855109

Those Who Can't, Teach turns the spotlight on the mapcap lives of teachers and students in a typical secondary school in Singapore. As the teachers struggle daily to nurture and groom, the students prefer to hang out and "chillax". With upskirting and facebooking, griping and politicking, school takes on a whole new meaning as the colourful characters struggle to prove that those who can, teach.

Pioneers Once More: The Singapore Public Service 1959-2009
Chua Mui Hoong
Singapore: Straits Times Press and Public Service Division, 2010
ISBN: 9789814266581

"The story of how Singapore overcame the odds is a familiar one. Less familiar is the role of the Singapore Public Service, which has operated in the background, and in partnership with the political leadership, developed and implemented the policies and plans that have helped to make Singapore what it is today. This book is the first about the Singapore Public Service as a whole, and tells the story of the Public Service from the time Singaporeans took over the reins of self-government from the British in 1959.

The book focuses on governance and public administration, and touches on the social, environmental, economic and security issues of the day. We hope that it will provide you with a glimpse of who we are and what we do, through the stories of our people.

Fifty years on, the Singapore Public Service has matured in tandem with Singapore. Today's officers operate on a strong foundation built by preceding generations. The values of commitment, pragmatism and excellence that define the Singapore Public Service will be as important today as they were in the beginning.

Going forward, the Singapore Public Service will have to learn to better deal with the strategic disruptions and discontinuities that characterise the uncertain and unpredictable world we live in today. We will have to learn to manage complexity and change. We will have to learn to manage risks intelligently. Maintaining a first-class Public Service, worthy of Singapore, is a journey without end. I am proud to invite you to take this journey through the eyes of officers of the Singapore Public Service."
-Peter Ho, Head of Civil Service

The Sikhs in Singapore
Arunajeet Kaur
Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2010
ISBN: 9789814279925

This book attempts to understand the arrival, settlement, and subsequent assimilation of Sikhs into the multiracial society of Singapore. It traces the story of the Sikh experience in Singapore from their arrival in the colonial Straits Settlements through to their recognition as a 'model minority' in the post independent republic. This multi-disciplinary narrative begins by exploring primary historical documents and continues with an ethnographic stance in describing the contemporary issues facing the Sikh community. In this approach the author presents a narrative that spans over a hundred years in an attempt to understand the changes and developments of the Singaporean Sikh community.

Phoenix Rising: Narratives in Nyonya Beadwork From the Straits Settlements
Hwei-Fe'n Cheah
Singapore: NUS Press, 2010
ISBN: 9789971694685

Intricate, meticulously crafted, and visually distinctive, Nyonya beadwork occupies a significant role in the cultural imaginary of the Peranakan Chinese, the acculturated descendants of Chinese migrants to the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago.

As an activity, beadwork was once an important part of a Peranakan Chinese girl's set of skills. As an object, carefully crafted Nyonya beadwork was used at weddings and other celebratory occasions, touching the lives of Peranakan men and women, young and old. In this way, Nyonya beadwork became entwined within the wider relationships of gender, generation, and social hierarchy in Peranakan society. The Peranakans also incorporated into their beadwork styles and motifs that reflected their changing ideals, aspirations, and lifestyles. Inscribed into the history of Nyonya beadwork is a narrative of the peranakan Chinese community's cultural transformations.

Don't Gamble Your Life Away!: Help for Pathological Gamblers
Wong Kim Eng, Raphael Lim, Thomas Lee Kae Meng
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2010
ISBN: 9789814266550

Gambling is a recreational activity common in cultures all over the world. For most people, gambling is a relaxing pastime with few negative consequences. The problem starts when gamblers lose control and bet money they cannot - and in the process sacrifice their job, family, friends, and even their life.

When does gambling become a problem? What are the warning signs to look out for? Can a gambling addict recover and take control of his life again?

This book, the first written locally on problem gambling, addresses the concerns of gamblers and their families, with comprehensive sections on:
-Understanding pathological gambling
-Treatment methods
-Impact on the family
-Community resources and helplines

This book also contains real-life stories of people who have battled gambling addiction and are making their journey towards recovery.

The Sacred Hill
Joan Yap
Singapore: Joan yap, 2010
ISBN: 9789810842468

Seven hundred years ago, Sang Nila Utama stepped on the shores of a forgotten sea town called Temasek. It was believed that he saw a lion and named the island Singapura, the Lion City. Henceforth, Sang Nila Utama and his descendants, the legendary five kings of Singapura ruled the kingdom from a palace on Bukit Larangan, the Forbidden Hill.

Who was Sang Nila Utama? Where did he come from? Did he actually see a lion? Why did the kingdom come to an end? What happened to the last king?

The Sacred Hill gives a fresh view of the myths and legends of Singapore. Read the story with an open mind, be transported to the time of a bygone era and enjoy the discovery of old world charm and mystique.

The Accidental Conductor
Toh Ban Sheng
Singapore: Armour Publishing, 2010
ISBN: 9789814270861

The Accidental Conductor is about the story of a self-made musician. The Young Artist Award recipient of 2006 started out his music career without any formal training until he reached 30 years of age. Although he majored in Physics, his passion for music drove him to take chances with each little opportunity that came his way. He was, perhaps, the only conductor whose choirs have twice won the highest national accolade of Best Choir of the Year without him having a single piano lesson in his life.

This book tells of how he grew up in a conservative average family, took a unique path to his tertiary education, and eventually became a full-fledged musician in the choral world - although it was a slight deviation from his childhood dream of becoming an opera singer.

The History of Singapore: Lion City, Asian Tiger
Discovery Channel
Singapore: John Wiley & Sons, 2010
ISBN: 9780470823200

This colourful introduction to the history of Singapore is based on the highly acclaimed television series by Discovery Channel. Vividly narrated and beautifully illustrated throughout, Discovery Channel's The History of Singapore: Lion City, Asian Tiger, brings to life the dramatic story of this remarkable city state from its founding father Sir Stamford Raffles, to its independence and development under first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.

Everything But the Brain
Jean Tay
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2010
ISBN: 9789810855116

What do physics, three bears, and a stroke have in common?

In this poignant, heartwarming play about father and daughter, a middle-aged Physics teacher, Elaine Lim, explains the theory of relativity using a metaphor that calls upon three bears and a train. Elaine then devises a plan to turn back time and save her ailing father from physical deterioration.

Penned by Singaporean playwright Jean Tay, Everything But the Brain is a tale that touches on family, death, and the laws of the universe. It won Best Original Script at The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards in 2006.

The Story of Harry's
Mohan Mulani
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2010
ISBN: 9789814276429

August 1992. From out of nowhere, a new burst of energy brightened up the Singapore riverfront and quickly became an enduring icon in the country's bar and music scene. Welcome to Harry's - jazz bar extraordinaire!

Known for its music and a concoction called Bank Breaker (after a particularly notorious customer), respected for its admirable record of community involvement, and loved for its friendly ambience, Harry's is a story that shows the little guy can make it big.

In this book, CEO Mohan Mulani takes us on a journey through the history and growth of the bar - from a single venue to 31 today - recounting the difficulties he encountered through tough times and how he overcame them.

From brand building to creative financing, The Story of Harry's offers valuable lessons on running and growing a business successfully in a uniquely Singaporean context.

More Than Half the Sky: Creative Writings by 30 Singaporean Women
Leong Liew Geok (ed.)
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2009
ISBN: 9789812618931

More Than Half the Sky, first published in 1998, is the first comprehensive anthology of women's writing in English in Singapore. This facsimile volume of the first edition features the writings of thirty women - seven playwrights, ten poets and thirteen fictionists.

With altogether forty previously unpublished works and excerpts, More Than Half the Sky takes a good look at what women in Singapore are writing and thinking about: themselves and other women; men; sexual politics; children; work; love; marriage; freedom; their society. The poems, plays and stories collected here are not only readable and entertaining, they are also thought-provoking and engaging in their variety.

Rice Bowl
Suchen Christine Lim
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2009
ISBN: 9789812618962

A powerful story of young love and idealism set in Singapore in the 1960s, a time of political uncertainties and economic insecurity.

Young, passionate and idealistic, Sister Marie rejects the conformity of her first love, a Singaporean police inspector, and embraces the liberalism of her second love, an American missionary. Fresh into university and daring to be different, she leads a group of students to question the values of a nation gripped by fear of the government and loss of their rice bowl. They organise a protest march against the Vietnam War, which leads to a riot, detention and deportation of the workers they try to help. And in the midst of this, a student, the daughter of a prostitute, meets a tragic death, while a lecturer and a suspected Communist agent provocateur goes crazy in his attempts to radicalise the students-workers' movement.