The French in Singapore: An Illustrated History (1819-Today)
Maxime Pilon & Danièle Wieler
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2011
ISBN: 9789814260442

In 1819, when Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore, he was accompanied by two French naturalists. Ever since, French missionaries, merchants, planters and other pioneers have contributed to its economic, educational and cultural development. Be inspired and entertained by the colourful stories of personalities, such as J. Casteleyns (who built the first hostelry, the Hotel de l'Europe, in 1857), Father Jean-Marie Beurel (who constructed the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and St Joseph's Institution) and Alfred Clouët (who started the well-known Ayam Brand canned sardines business). Amply illustrated with photographs, paintings, sketches, old documents and maps, The French in Singapore is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to discover the little-known history of the French in the Singapore we know today.

A Nation Awakes: Frontline Reflections
Tan Jee Say (ed.)
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810710378

Few nations if any, have ever held two national elections in a span of four months. Fewer still are key players who took part in both. This book is the story of extraordinary men and women who fought Singapore's 2011 General Election in May and the Presidential Election in August. Together with their loyal and dedicated supporters, they displayed great courage and conviction, and in so doing changed the political landscape forever.

The writers of this book represent a broad spectrum of Singapore society - student, teacher, university researcher, social worker, doctor, economist, lawyer, advertising, media and IT personnel, blogger, housewife and retiree. They cut across all age groups from their twenties to their sixties. They have come together in this book to relate and share their personal journey with Singaporeans. Unlike most post-election commentaries written by third-party observers, this book is unique as it allows readers to hear from the horse's mouth how in four short months, Singapore's single dominant party system has given way to the emergence of a politics of diversity with positive implications for the country's future system of government.

Reflections & Memories of War, Volume 1: Battle for Singapore: Fall of the Impregnable Fortress
Stanley Tan Tik Loong, Michelle Tay Huiwen, Donald Koh
Singapore: National Archives of Singapore, 2011
ISBN: 9789810848576

This book reveals the remarkable insights from before the War through to the fall of Singapore, includsing an extensive coverage of SIngapore's brave last stand, and the courageous story of the Malay Regiment's valient resistance against the Japanese invaders at Bukit Chandu or Opium Hill. The battle for Singapore in World War II began when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded Malaya in December 1941. Discover history as the story is unveiled in this book through vivid personal accounts, photographs, documents,  oral history and images.

My Lifelong Challenge: Singapore's Bilingual Journey
Lee Kuan Yew
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2011
ISBN: 9789814342032

My Lifelong Challenge: Singapore's Bilingual Journey is the story of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's 50-year struggle to transform Singapore from a polyglot former British colony to a united nation where everyone, while knowing English, knows also at least one other language, his own mother tongue.

The founding prime minister of Singapore tells of why he did away with vernacular schools in spite of violent political resistance, why he closed Nanyang University, why he later started Special Assistance Plan schools, and why he continues to urge all ethnic Chinese Singaporeans today to learn the Chinese language.

Along the way, we learn not only of the many policy adjustments but also the challenges he encountered - from Chinese language chauvinists who wanted Chinese to be the pre-eminent language in Singapore, from Malay and Tamil community groups fearing that Chinese was being given too much emphasis, from parents of all races wanting an easier time for their school-going children, even from his own Cabinet colleagues questioning his assumptions about language.

We learn that there were four changes at the helm of the education ministry in four months in 1975. We learn that there were Chinese-medium schools in Singapore right up to the mid-1980s. We learn of the pain of "teachers who had to switch from teaching in Chinese to teaching in English almost overnight", and likewise that of students who were "caught mid-stream" in the transition from a Chinese medium of instruction to an English one. We learn why the National Day Rally of 1986 was a milestone and why he "was a proud man that day": For the first time since Singapore's independence 21 years earlier, the emcee for the event did not have to use three languages - Chinese, Malay and Tamil - to lead the audience, as finally, English had become a language understood by all Singaporeans.

My Lifelong Challenge is also the story of Mr Lee's own personal struggle to learn the Chinese language, which began when he was six years old and his Hakka maternal grandmother enrolled him in a Chinese class with fishermen's children. In evocative detail, the man born to English-speaking parents recounts his own feelings of rebellion and humiliation at different points in his life, when faced with the Chinese language and his own inadequacy in it.

This book describes in matter-of-fact yet vivid fashion his steely determination to improve his Chinese and reclaim his Chinese heritage, right up to the present when he is well into his eighties. In this book, we learn of Mr Lee's belief in a fundamental difference between the Chinese-educated and the English-educated and how it came about. He describes a scene of English-speaking students at the University of SIngapore hostel revelling in party games even as Chinese-speaking students in the Chinese High School nearby were locked in a deadly face-off with the police in 1956, and gives the dire warning that "if Singapore students all turned out like those in the university hostel, Singapore would fail." Finally, Mr Lee distils his experiences of 50 years into eight precepts which he spells out at the end of his narrative.

The second half of this book is a compilation of essays by 22 Singaporeans. They include Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the current prime minister and son of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and Ms Stephanie Sun, the well-known pop star. In these essays, the 22 recount their own language journeys, imbuing flesh and blood meaning to cold policy measures wrought over more than four decades.

This book is essential reading for anyone wanting to find more about Singapore's bilingualism policy and its chief architect. It breaks new ground by putting into the public domain information about education matters that has never been publicised. It is also an invaluable resource for all who are interested in the primeval interplay between language and politics.

Behavioural Economics and Policy Design: Examples From Singapore
Donald Low
Singapore: World Scientific, 2011
ISBN: 9789814366007

Analysts of government have frequently noted how Singapore's policies are grounded in rigorous economics thinking. Policies are designed to be economically efficient even if they are not always popular. This pioneering book takes a different approach. It aims to demonstrate how successful policies in Singapore have integrated conventional economic principles with insights from the emerging field of behavioural economics even before the latter became popular. using examples from various policy domains, it shows how good policy design often requires a synthesis of insights from economics and psychology. Policies should not only be compatible with economic incentives, but should also be sensitive to the cognitive abilities, limitations and biases of citizens. Written by policy practitioners in the Singapore government, this book is an important introduction to how behavioural economics and the findings from cognitive psychology can be intelligently applied to the design of public policies. As one of the few books written on the subject, it promises to stimulate wider interest in the subject among researchers, policmakers and anyone interested in the design of effective public policies.

Making Singapore Safe: Thirty Years of the National Crime Prevention Council
Susan Sim
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814361286

This is the story of how the NCPC has quietly worked with grassroots organisations, industry and the government to transform an apathetic public into a proud movement of community activists. It explains how this bold experiment in harnessing the community complemented the Singapore Police's "radical" move to neighbourhood policing, allowing a zero-tolerance approach to crime that is governed by public consensus, not fear. The NCPC story is also about how vulnerable groups - the old, the young, the guest worker - are being empowered to fight back against crime, whether it be molestation, snatch thefts, phone scams, robberies or cyber predation. It is the story of how the Council caused the ban on bar-top dancing to be lifted, and why every fifth-grader will soon be playing computer games in school. This book also tells the NCPC story in images familiar to all Singaporeans.

The Causeway
Singapore: National Archives of Malaysia and National Archives of Singapore, 2011
ISBN: 9789814266895

The Causeway highlights the close social, economic and political links between Singapore and Malaysia through the history of the Causeway. Close to 240 images - which include photographs, maps, newspaper articles and archival documents - tell the human story behind the building of the Causeway and the people who use it, demonstrating the Causeway's role as a people connector between the two nations. This book is another milestone in the close relationship and collaboration between the National Archives of Malaysia and the National Archives of Singapore.

Urban Sketchers Singapore: Volume 01: A Book of On-Location Sketches and Drawings Documenting the Singaporean Urban Landscape
Zaihan Kariyani (ed.)
Singapore: Tia Boon Sim, 2011
ISBN: 9789810892920

This inaugural compendium of sketches documents the escapades of the locally based Urban Sketchers Singapore group while reflecting on urban context and city planning through the eyes of a diverse group of artists and sketch hobbyists.

Anchored by the work of the earliest members, the book aims to represent the island city-state through a varied selection of sketches that show off the wide spectrum of skill, techniques and experience found amongst the urban sketchers of Singapore.

This maiden showcase of work hopes to encourage emerging artists to get involved in the local art community and grow with their peers.

Some notable Singaporean scenes captured in sketches include the spice streets of Little India, the landmark Sultan Mosque, nostalgic old Queenstown and the revitalised skyline of the Marina Bay Waterfront, organised into sections detailing the civic setting of each location.

Criminal Intent II: True Stories From Changi Prison
Wong Kim Hoh
Singapore: Singapore Prison Service, 2011
ISBN: 9789810880026

Criminal Intent II is a second collection of another 14 riveting interviews with offenders who are serving time in prison and ex-offenders who are re-building their lives after their release. The offenders' and ex-offenders' frank accounts of what went wrong and how their lives - and those of their loved ones - have been affected make compelling reading and offer life lessons for all.

Mel & Joe: I Play & Sing: Celebrating a Musical Journey in Singapore Spanning 40 Years
Mel & Joe Ferdinands
Singapore: Candid Creation Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789810891374

Stalwarts of the local music scene, Mel & Joe have played, sung and done it all. Household names since they first appeared on television in 1971, Mel & Joe are not only two of Singapore's best-loved musical talents, they are living proof of our rich musical past and vibrant present. From the early days of Talentime and the black-and-white broadcasts of RTS (Radio Television Singapore) to their glorious heydays with one of Singapore's top bands, Gypsy, they continue to rock on with passion.

Moving Words 2011: A Poetry Anthology
Alvin Pang (ed.)
Singapore: The Literary Centre, 2011
ISBN: 9789810703561

This anthology is culled from almost 2,000 poems submitted by the Singapore public in an open poetry competition Moving Words 2011 in Singapore. Moving Words 2011 used the SMRT train network as its media platform. It was conceived to share some of the many gems that were contributed by Singaporeans in this competition and is an introduction to contemporary Singaporean verse written by aspiring poets, young and old.

Any of these poems can be enjoyed on its own, in no particular reading order. Nevertheless, many of the poems share common themes, images or techniques and resonate with each other, almost as if they were in conversation.

The poets may be housewives, students, professors or professionals. They are also our fellow travellers, citizens, friends and neighbours. The poems speak for and among themselves; all of them have an equal voice, regardless of where they come from. Like the city we call our home, this book is a tribute to the music that can happen when we put all our shared voices together - each speaking from our own deep, authentic experiences, all of us singing of home.

These moving words are the heartfelt, courageous gifts of our fellow Singaporeans.

Nightingale Songs: Survival Stories From Domestic Violence
Kendra
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814328890

In Nightingale Songs: Survival Stories From Domestic Violence, Singapore-based counsellor and mental healthcare professional, Kendra, speaks to survivors of abuse and the professionals who help those impacted by violence in the home. The diversity of stories reflects Singaporean society, illustrating that this social problem is not limited to one class or ethnic group but crosses all boundaries of race, religion, education and socio-economic background.

Private stories are revealed for the purpose of raising public awareness about violence in the home. Kendra presents domestic violence as a social issue needing to be understood and addressed at the community level.

This book provides useful information for those considering working in the field of domestic violence, especially the importance of self-care, and will resonate with anyone whose life has been personally touched by this issue.

Prime: Pride of Passage: The Story of Ocean Financial Centre
K.K. Seet
Singapore: Keppel Land Limited, 2011
ISBN: 9789812481894

Every building tells a story or two. Few, however, can do it from the vantage of a hundred and fifty years.

The Ocean Financial Centre is a history-making landmark. It has had three incarnations: the 1864, 1923 and 1974 Ocean Building, the latter two designed by Swan & Maclaren. Now, at the very same confluence of Raffles Place and the new business and financial district at Marina Bay, stands the 21st century development designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli.

The narrative begins at the present building, then retraces its steps to the previous three incarnations. Throughout, Dr KK Seet reinforces the notion that Ocean Building has remained prime with each incarnation. Highlighting the architectural features and the position of the building within the business, cultural and geographical landscape, he lets its tenants through the ages, from 1864 to 2011, relate how each edifice, in its own time, contributed to Singapore's skyline and commercial hub.

Singapore Correspondent: Political Dispatches From Singapore (1958-1962)
Leon Comber
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2012
ISBN: 9789814361200

Singapore Correspondent covers five years of Singapore's colourful political past - a period of living turbulently and sometimes dangerously.

The collection of eye-witness dispatches, sent from Singapore to London, spans a time when Singapore was emerging from British colonial rule and moving forward to self-government and independence. Many of the early struggles of the People's Action Party (PAP) are described, as the focus is on the political struggle taking place in which the PAP played a major part. Many important events which have long been forgotten are brought to life by the writer.

These dispatches prove that political history need not be dull, and indeed they can sometimes be entertaining and lively if Singaporeans want to learn something about the beginnings of the present-day Republic of Singapore.

Eight Plays [The Woman in a Tree on the Hill / Three Fat Virgins / Playing Mothers / Love Calls / Breastissues / Life Choices / The Silence of the Kittens / Hitting (On) Women]
Ovidia Yu
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810884680

Celebrated playwright Yu dissects all things female - from breasts, to virginity, to lesbian love. This collection of her finest works includes The Woman in a Tree on the Hill, which won the Edinburgh Fringe First Award.

The Immolation
Goh Poh Seng
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810899356

Regarded as one of the pioneers of Singapore literature, Goh Poh Seng takes on larger-than-life themes in his most ambitious novel, which is set in post-war Vietnam. In The Immolation, Goh's take on issues of national identity, war, and self-discovery has contemporary relevance not just to Asian readers, but an international audience.

Glass Cathedral
Andrew Koh
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810899325

Winner of the 1994 Singapore Literature Prize Commendation Award, Glass Cathedral's sensitive depiction of homosexuality in conservative Singapore is a landmark in local literature. This novella was part of a small wave of gay and lesbian-themed drama and fiction that appeared in Singapore in the early 1990s.

Scorpion Orchid
Lloyd Fernando
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810899332

An exciting first novel set in pre-independence Singapore, Scorpion Orchid follows the lives of four young men - a Malay, an Eurasian, a Chinese and a Tamil - against a backdrop of racial violence and political factions struggling for dominance. Excerpts from classical Malay and colonial English sources appear throughout the narrative, illuminating the roots and significance of this period in history.

The Scholar and the Dragon
Stella Kon
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810899318

As good as historical fiction gets - The Scholar and the Dragon immerses the reader in the Singapore of the 1910s, where overseas Chinese fought for revolution to bring down the Qing Dynasty. Stella Kon's tale is spell-binding, with turns and twists, and the feel of an epic movie.

The Adventures of Holden Heng
Robert Yeo
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810899349

Enter the world of Holden Heng, the not-so-lucky-in-love protagonist of this comic realist novel that documents the social currents transforming the Lion City in the 1970s. Described as the most Singaporean of Singapore writers, Robert Yeo presents an immensely entertaining story of a typical Singaporean man's escapades with three very different women. Will he ever find true love?

The Eu Yan Sang Way: Renewing a Century of Heritage
William Koh
Singapore: Cengage Learning Asia, 2011
ISBN: 9789814369534

The Eu Yan Sang Way traces how one man, with a deep belief in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), embarked on a mission to transform the company set up by his forefathers, and make TCM relevant in the 21st century. Richard Eu took over the helm of Eu Yan Sang in 1989 and began the arduous journey of growing the company into a household name in Singapore and Asia.

This book provides insights into Richard Eu's leadership motivation and drive, and his courage and vision in turning Eu Yan Sang into a leading TCM company, and making its products relevant to modern day consumers. It also looks at the importance of effective human resource management and having the right organisational structure and culture to support business growth.

The key engine of growth at Eu Yan Sang is innovation, manifested in the form of its trusted health care products, the professional marketing of such products through the company's retail outlets and the provision of TCM clinical services at the same time.

The Devil's Garden: Love and War in Singapore Under the Japanese Flag
Nigel Barley
Singapore: Monsoon Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789814358422

Gardens are magical places - images of Nature and Culture, models of paradise, spaces where plants live in war and peace, co-operation and competition. It is 1942 and Singapore is Syonanto, part of the Japanese Empire, where violence and starvation stalk the streets, but in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a bizarre tranquility reigns between warring nations and even love awakes as old identities melt away in the heady atmosphere of the Orchid House.

From its unique perspective and with a mixture of humour and romance, The Devil's Garden pictures a formative moment in the emergence of Singapore, where loyalties are less secure than those of the official histories and truth is anything but simple.

Traveler's Tale and Other Poems
Damon Chua
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810898793

Spanning time, geography and metaphysics, Traveler's Tale and Other Poems is a personal journey that is at once unique and universal. From a Singaporean childhood, through military service, to a life abroad, these poems open a window to an existence viscerally connected to nature and the world at large. Like all journeys, there are twists and turns, triumphs and setbacks, and unexpected, intimate moments. The spelling of "Traveler" offers a clue to the direction of the author's journey. Yet, sometimes, it is not the destination that matters; it is the act of getting there.

Singapore at Random: Facts, Figures, Quotes and Anecdotes on Singapore
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2011
ISBN: 9789814260374

An illustrated collection of Singapore trivia, Singapore at Random contains anecdotes, statistics, quotations, diagrams, facts, recipes, advice, folklore and other unusual and often useful tidbits. This veritable treasure trove of information on Singapore is arranged, as the title suggests, randomly, so that readers will come to expect the unexpected on each page. Designed in a charmingly classic style and peppered with attractive illustrations, Singapore at Random is a quirky and irresistible celebration of everything you didn't know about Singapore.

Singapore at Random has been researched and compiled by a dedicated team of writers, researchers and editors at Editions Didier Millet. Having unearthed an abundance of Singaporean trivia, the team has discerningly selected thousands of interesting nuggets of information into separate entries, producing an entertaining and revealing guide to the island. From taboos to outstanding individuals and the unique Singaporean linguistic (i.e. Singlish) landscape, the entries covered in Singapore at Random are as varied and boundless as the diversity that makes Singapore unique.

Yellow Ribbon: True-Life Accounts of Ex-Offenders and Their Second Chance at Life
Shawn Wee & Looi Wan Teng
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814328739

Drug abuse, peddling, smuggling, and even murder: what happens after those convicted of these crimes are released? They have done the time and paid the price, but can they really change?

Upon release, many ex-offenders struggle with the stigma of having done time. They are released from prison or drug rehabilitation centres, only to find themselves imprisoned by something far more intimidating than steel bars, barbed wires and towering walls - prejudice. Viewed with suspicion, they face difficulties in securing jobs and reconciling with their loved ones. But all they need is a chance to prove themselves.

Yellow Ribbon is a book that chronicles the lives of eleven ex-offenders in Singapore who have managed to break free of the "second prison". Through their own determination, the support of those around them, and initiatives like the Yellow Ribbon Project, they have managed to overcome the odds and secure for themselves, and their families, a better, brighter future.

That's How It Goes: The Way of the 90-Year Life Journey of a Singapore Eurasian
F.A.C. "Jock" Oehlers
Singapore: Select Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789814022828

In this engrossing and heartwarming autobiography, Jock Oehlers brings readers with him on his life's journey, from a carefree young boy growing up in Colonial Singapore, through the terror and hardship of the Japanese Occupation, to becoming a respected Professor of Oral Surgery and successful oral surgeon in modern-day Singapore. Memorably, Jock relates how, with fortitude, compassion and resourcefulness, he and his family survived the arduous ordeal of the Bahau Catholic Colony. His recollections are a timely reminder that an honest, decent and kind man can have a successful and happy life and be a valued member of the community. This is a moving and inspiring account of the life of a Singapore Eurasian.

Polite Fiction
Colin Cheong
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814351546

From the award-winning author of The Stolen Child, Tangerine and The Man in the Cupboard comes a new novel of gratuitous sex, casual violence and twisted motivational messages.

What's a girl to do? Smart, athletic and obscenely wealthy, Yuki Moh is the embodiment of girl power and looks like she's got it all. She also has an insanely possessive and protective father who wants to keep her in the family money-laundering business. Luckily for Yuki, she's got friends who owe her favours. But with her lover's mother dying from cancer and her best friend gang-raped, she's got more on her mind than freedom.

Polite Fiction is about the rude reality behind the stories we tell about ourselves. Colin Cheong's latest work weaves a central story through the lives and issues of a cast of characters hiding behind their own polite fictions. Each chapter sends sanitized fairy tales back to the realm of shadows where they lie in wait - to remind us of just how much we lie.

Liu Kang: Colourful Modernist
Yeo Wei Wei (ed.)
Singapore: The National Art Gallery, 2011
ISBN: 9789810886745

This monograph positions Liu Kang, one of Singapore’s first generation artists, as observer, commentator, and visionary of modernity in Singapore art history. The contexts in which his works were created consist of a colourful map of diverse cultures, places, influences, from China, Europe and Southeast Asia.

The cross-cultural richness in Liu Kang’s way of seeing and art making are explored in four essays by curators and art researchers. These essays present fresh insights about the artist’s engagement with European and Chinese modernisms in a Singaporean context.

The book also contains close to 200 colour illustrations and archival photographs as well as an index and a glossary.

In Memory of Madam Kwa Geok Choo, 1920-2010
Morgan Chua
Singapore: Sang Kancil Publications, 2011
ISBN: 9789810879723

Madam Kwa Geok Choo was great in many ways - as a legal luminary, as a mother of an illustrious family, and more than that, for her stoic presence next to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew during times of turbulence and tension in the many years of his political struggle. She was always by his side, giving him her full support in his chosen path in politics, sharing his preoccupation with the good of Singapore before anything else. She was his companion, confidante and counsel.

As she walked that long road with Mr. Lee, she made quiet but important contributions to Singapore, many of which younger Singaporeans only came to know about, after she passed away in October 2010.

This publication of sketches by Morgan Chua presents the milestones in Madam Kwa's life in a light-hearted manner. I hope that it would stir interest among younger Singaporeans to get to know this remarkable lady better.
-Foreword by Mr. S.R. Nathan

A Gentle Journey: A Personal Poetry Collection
Tan Jing Quee; Tan May Yun (compiler and editor)
Singapore: May Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789810893521

A Gentle Journey is a private and thoughtful collection of poems by Singapore-born poet Tan Jing Quee (1939-2011). A lawyer and former political detainee with a strong interest in politics, history and literature, his poems tell a story of his gentle life and reflections at each turn.

Covering streetscapes from his early childhood in Singapore, to his detention under the ISA, London days as a Law student and subsequent travels far and wide, these poems offer glimpses into his deep insights and tender moments with his family.

The title of this book is adapted from his last poem written just six months before his demise, in which he vividly described his gentle departure from this world, with a refrain "I Shall Go Gently". It has served to provide a source of comfort and strength to his loved ones.

Beyond the Myth: Indian Business Communities in Singapore
Jayati Bhattacharya
Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011
ISBN: 9789814311366

This book is a macro-study of Indian business communities in Singapore through different phases of their growth since colonial times. It goes beyond the conventional labour-history approach to study Indian immigrants to Southeast Asia, both in terms of themselves and their connections with the people's movements. It looks at how Indian business communities negotiated with others in the environments in which they found themselves and adapted to them in novel ways. It especially brings into focus the patterns and integration of the Indian networks in the large-scale transnational flows of capital, one of the least studied aspects of the diaspora history in this part of the world. The complexities and overlapping interests of different groups of traders and businessmen form an interesting study of various aspects of these trading bodies, their methods of operation and their trade links, both within and outside Singapore. The book also charts their mobility and progress, in terms of both business and social status. The research aims to construct linear threads of linkages through generations and situate them in the larger framework and broader paradigms of business networks in Singapore.

In shedding light on aspects of Indian connectivities to Southeast Asia, the narrative is particularly relevant in the context of India's economic rise. This study raises economic, social and cultural issues regarding the transition.

Financial Services and Wealth Management in Singapore
Tan Chwee Huat
Singapore: NUS Press, 2011
ISBN: 9789971695767

During the last decade, many changes have taken place in the Singapore financial marketplace. The Montary Authority of Singapore has implemented numerous reforms to liberalize the financial services sector. Since 2002, two new laws have come into effect. The Securities and Futures Act and the Financial Advisors Act have important impact on the financial community. Institutions must hold the Cpaital Market Services (CMS) licence and the Financial Advisors licence and their representatives must pass the CMFAS examinations. This book discusses the changes in detail. Part A provides details of the reforms and discusses the impact of the new laws and regulations. Part B highlights the wide range of financial services and products provided by the institutions. In this edition, two new chapters have been added. They focus on issues related to wealth management which has become the recent focus of many banks that provide services to high net worth individuals or HNWIs. This book should be of interest to all financial institutions and professionals. It is also a must-read for investors who have to choose from a wide range of financial products.

An Unexpected Journey: Path to the Presidency
S R  Nathan with Timothy Auger
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2011
ISBN: 9789814260732

Once a teenage runaway, living rough in a colonial port city, S R Nathan rose to become two-term president of prosperous, independent Singapore. In this exceptional book, he shares the story of his personal journey, set against the backdrop of modern Singapore history.

He tells his own story, simply and vividly: Accused of theft at the age of 16, he ran away from home. Living by his wits through war and occupation, he found new self-belief in unexpected sources, and experienced the political awakening that shaped so many of his generation.

Rejected for years by the family of the girl he was to marry, Nathan worked hard to better himself, serving as a junior clerk in the Johore civil service and joining the pioneer batch of Singaporeans to study social work at the University of Malaya in 1952.

The story of the struggle between the left and right wings of the student and labour movements comes alive in Nathan's retelling of his experiences as an activist, social worker and unionist. In 1965, with Singapore's unexpected separation from Malaysia, S R Nathan joined the fledgling Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and came to hold a number of senior civil service positions, including a term as director of intelligence.

Throughout the book, he describes vividly and frankly the momentous events he witnessed, casting new light on many decisive moments in the Singapore story. Here we read about his experience of ethnic violence during the war; of his working relationships with Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, S. Rajaratnam and Devan Nair; negotiating with terrorists during the Laju hijacking; sensitivities with Malaysia; and the dilemmas facing the Singapore media.

In 1999, Nathan was elected president of Singapore. In the book's last chapter he takes the reader behind the scenes in the Istana, and describes his duties and responsibilities as elected president, and how he worked to develop the office and institution.

S R Nathan's compelling story depicts more vividly than ever before the people and circumstances that have made Singapore what it is today.

Heart Work 2: EDB & Partners: New Frontiers for the Singapore Economy
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2011
ISBN: 9789814342018

Heart Work 2 continues the narrative from where Heart Work (published in 2002) leaves off, into the unfamiliar challenges that EDB encountered during the first decade of the 21st century, in its effort to chart new frontiers for Singapore's economic development.

Fifty years is a solid milestone for any organisation. For the Singapore Economic Development Board, it is a time to recharge for the challenges ahead, but also to reflect on core values and the course of its evolution. The agency's drive and determination are derived from a resilience embedded in its organisational culture – in particular, the exercise of leadership at all levels, from the formulation of strategy to adroitness on the ground in anticipating and meeting the needs of investors and rallying the necessary partners from all quarters. Looking to the next half-century, as new frontiers are crossed, the focus shifts to fostering an even deeper connectedness to Singapore. The city-state is being enhanced, in every  way feasible, as a "home" in Asia, in all its senses, for business, innovation and talent. The Republic's well-honed and well-known key attributes of trust, knowledge, connectedness and high standard of living make it very well-placed to be a "living lab" to develop new sustainable solutions for tomorrow's global opportunities in emerging areas such as the urban environment, health and wellness, lifestyle and entertainment.

Singapore is aiming to equip itself to be always ready to be a home for the high-growth industries of the future. And, so long as the EDB and its partners keep in touching distance of the most promising new frontiers, Singapore should remain "future-ready".

Singapore: From Place to Nation [2nd ed.]
Lee Soo Ann
Singapore: Pearson Education, 2011
ISBN: 9789810686840

This book chronicles Singapore's tumultuous journey from a newly established British settlement to the developed city-state as it is today. With a particular focus on Singapore's economic development, this book is divided into two parts: Understanding the Present by examining the history leading up to Singapore's independence, and Living for Today, which chronicles the country's post-independence growth.

The book covers topics such as the growth of commercial banking and currency use in 19th century, commodity exports, nationalisation and industrialisation in the post-World War II era, the history of the Singapore dollar, as well as the push for manufacturing growth and welcoming multinational companies in Singapore. 

This is a useful reference volume about Singapore’s modern history, written in an easy-to-read and succinct manner that is appealing to educators and students alike.

Trees of the Istana: Treasures in the Domain
Wong Tuan Wah
Singapore: National Parks Board & Suntree Media, 2011
ISBN: 9789810874810

Commissioned by President Nathan, Trees of the Istana features over 70 species of trees out of some 150 species found at the Istana. It provides readers with a glimpse into the greening of the Istana domain since its completion in 1869 and how it has been lovingly nurtured into a stately arboretum that has welcomed foreign dignitaries, statesmen, royalty, and local visitors. The Istana domain is also a flourishing sanctuary for wildlife including birds, butterflies, squirrels, dragonflies and more.

Some of the interesting trees featured in the book include an unusual nutmeg tree which has produced several fruits with 'twin' seeds instead of one seed, the Pride of Burma tree which produces beautiful orchid-like flowers, and Heritage trees that have grown into majestic giants.

Singapore Biodiversity: An Encyclopedia of the Natural Environment and Sustainable Development
Peter K.L. Ng (ed.)
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2011
ISBN: 9789814260084

Amidst Singapore's glistening urban landscape there is an amazing diversity of life - wildlife that continues to thrive and flourish in spite of multiple threats to the island's fragile ecosystem. This groundbreaking encyclopedia represents the first-ever comprehensive guide to nature in Singapore and is written by the city's foremost authorities on the natural environment, who describe in detail more than 40,000 species of flora and fauna that make up the island's biodiversity. The encyclopedia comprises two parts: the first is a fine collection of essays outlining issues relating to biodiversity, ecosystems and sustainability; the second part of the book is a comprehensive A-Z directory of over 1,500 entries, covering virtually every known organism found in Singapore. This unique reference work is not only academically rigorous - based as it is on the latest cutting-edge data and fieldwork - but its richly illustrated presentation is eminently suitable for a wider, non-specialist readership.

Politics and Governance in Singapore [2nd ed.]
Bilveer Singh
Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education (Asia), 2011
ISBN: 9780071081108

This revised and updated edition aims to make the book relevant and useful for the changing times as Singapore's politics evolves, matures and moves ahead. The rise of new issues, especially relating to housing, 'foreign talent' and migration are covered as are those relating to political change in the PAP and the Opposition. How Singapore's politics will look ahead in the coming years, especially in the context of changes to the composition of the Parliament, announced in May 2009, expanding the number of seats for the Opposition, will also be discussed. Is the ruling party preparing for the rise of more Opposition in Parliament or is this a measure to contain it, is something worth analyzing.

Politics and Governance in Singapore is written in response to the dearth of a comprehensive and succinct summary of the ins and outs of Singapore's politics. With the increasing importance of Singapore studies in national education, this book is an invaluable read for the specialist, student and any interested member of the Singapore public. Couched in layman's language, the book also gives an outsider an easy grasp of Singapore's politics, and is a convenient tool to examine the past, present and future of Singapore.

Serving a New Nation: Baey Lian Peck's Singapore Story
Ooi Kee Beng
Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011
ISBN: 9789814345422

The story of Dr Baey Lian Peck should be well known, but it is not. Not even among Singaporeans, and especially not among the young. This tells us a lot about a Singapore caught in pathological haste and prone towards ignoring values that do not add to the financial bottom line. The innovativeness of Dr Baey not only made him a very wealthy man before he was forty, it also made him an indispensable actor in the implementation of urgently constructed national policies. Political leaders such as Dr Toh Chin Chye, Lim Kim San, Chua Sian Chin, and Dr Goh Keng Swee picked him to solve pressing problems such as skyrocketing inflation in the early 1970s, the crisis in prisoner ward in the late 1970s, and the drug addiction epidemic in that same latter period. His one condition for taking on public positions was that he should not be paid. It was exactly this independent trait that made him so highly effective. This book tells his amazing life story, taking us into a surprising world where the qualities that make a good entrepreneur are exactly what make a good public servant, as long as he remains unbound by the bureaucracy.

Routes: A Singaporean Memoir 1940-75
Robert Yeo
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810875367

Routes: A Singapore Memoir 1940-75 is both a personal and public memoir; it is personal as it records part of Robert Yeo's life for the first thirty-five years, and it is public as it follows his response to some of the tumultuous events of the period at the local, regional and international levels. Personally, what happened to his family of five living in Hougang when his father passed away at a relatively young age? Publicly, where was he on the day Singapore separated from Malaysia on August 9, 1965? What was he doing in swinging London in the sixties? And on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok in the seventies?

In revealing skeletons in the cupboard through letters, diaries, extracts from his poems, plays and fiction, Yeo presents an unvarnished account of one person’s story of his country’s emergence from third to first world. The inclusion of more than a hundred illustrations enhances the intriguing prose.

The Short Stories and Radio Plays of S. Rajaratnam
Irene Ng (ed.)
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2011
ISBN: 9789810878481

The late Mr. S. Rajaratnam is probably best remembered by many as a founding father of Singapore and its first Foreign Minister. Some will remember him to be the man behind Singapore's National Pledge. Others will know he was the PAP's ideologue. Few, however, will remember or know that this fascinating man was once said to be among the world's top writers of fiction. Now, at last, his stories and plays have been diligently put together in a single volume by his official biographer, Ms Irene Ng.

This is a book to have and read and keep; it is a treasure trove for those who love fiction and literature. And for those who remember Mr. Rajaratnam, this book will serve as a wonderful testament to the man all Singaporeans admired and have been proud of.

British Policy and the Chinese in Singapore, 1939 to 1955: The Public Service Career of Tan Chin Tuan
Lee Su Yin
Singapore: Talisman Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789810866679

British Policy and the Chinese in Singapore, 1939 to 1955 examines the policies and methods employed by the British in their administration of the colony of Singapore during a period when dramatic changes were happening there. The transformations were brought about by events which included a worldwide economic depression, the Second World War, a tumultuous postwar recovery and the birth of a Chinese Communist nation. The Chinese constituted the most populous ethnic group on the island. Before the war, Chinese, who were members of the British empire because they were locally-born, were a minority. To bring both the local-born and China-born Chinese within the pale of British administration and jurisdiction, the authorities relied on intermediaries, that is, men who acted as the channel of communication between the British and the Chinese.

This new book, therefore, approaches the topic by focussing on the public service career of Tan Chin Tuan, the highest-ranking non-European government official and spokesman for Chinese economic interests in the Legislative Council until 1955. It is not intended to be a biography of Tan. Instead, the first objective is to analyse the ways in which the colonial authorities tried to maintain law and order in a colony dominated by a migrant population during a period of major political transformations. The second aim is to document and examine the dimensions of Tan's public service career before the colony was granted a measure of self-government in 1955. Through this, a valuable case study is developed of how British colonial power made use of Chinese community leaders to liaise with and promote its rule over the community.

Milestones of the China-Singapore Connection: Friendship and Cooperation: Growing From Strength to Strength, 1965-2010
Pitt Kuan Wah (ed.)
Singapore: National Archives of Singapore, 2011
ISBN: 9789810881009

This publication highlights major milestones in China-Singapore relations since 1965 and complements the exhibition, 'Milestones of the China-Singapore Connection: Friendship and Cooperation, Growing From Strength to Strength' that was jointly organised by the National Archives of Singapore and State Archives Administration of China in 2010 to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Tracing the growing and multi-faceted ties between China and Singapore, this publication hopes to contribute to a better understanding of China-Singapore relations from a historical perspective

Nanqiao Jigong: The Extraordinary Story of Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China During the Sino-Japanese War
Pitt Kuan Wah (ed.)
Singapore: National Archives of Singapore, 2011
ISBN: 9789810881016

"This publication complements the travelling exhibition, 'Nanqiao Jigong: The Extraordinary Story of Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics Who Returned to China During the Sino-Japanese War', which was jointly curated by the National Archives of Singapore, the State Archives Administration of China and the Yunnan Provincial Archives between 2008 and 2009.
...
The exhibition tells the poignant story of some 3,200 Nanyang Chinese who responded to calls to assist in China's defence against Japanese military aggression. The Singapore leg added a local perspective to the story of the volunteers. Drawing from its rich holdings of hundreds of hours of oral history interview recordings on the topic, the National Archives of Singapore incorporated the personal accounts of local volunteer drivers and mechanics into the storyline."

Nostalgia is the Most Powerful Seasoning
Joycelyn Shu
Singapore: Ate Media, 2011
ISBN: 9789810881528

"It is my grandmother who taught me that to eat well is to live well. Thus, knowing how to feed oneself and the people one cares about in a fine fashion is what gives real meaning to life itself. To nourish the body is to nourish the soul. This is the motto by which she comports herself; such is her devotion to her family and to cooking for them. This is the food of love. And surely a secret to happiness well worth telling on..."

Those who know her as the voice behind acclaimed food blog Kuidaore will already know Joycelyn Shu's present obsession with cooking and eating. In this book, the first-time author reveals not so much about what she cooks as why she cooks -- a documentation of the bits and bites in her days growing up that made her a passionate cook and gourmet. Discover here, the ideas and sentiment behind the essays first found an airing on her blog. And relive here, through her food memories, a little piece of Singapore's gastronomic heritage.

The Heritage of Hospitality: A History of the Singapore Hotel Industry
Singapore Hotel Association
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions for Singapore Hotel Association, 2011
ISBN: 9789814346436

The Heritage of Hospitality is published to mark the golden anniversary of the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA). Filled with interesting information, it is the first book to trace the development of the local hotel scene since the early days of Sir Stamford Raffles. Following events unfolding across the world, the industry has grown over the years and adapted and innovated according to changing trends and consumer preferences.

This lavish coffee table book is a record of Singapore's hotel industry through the years and includes a section on the factors and trends that have contributed to the shaping of the industry. Finally, it wraps up with a review of the achievements and activities of the SHA.

The AWARE Saga: Civil Society and Public Morality in Singapore
Terence Chong (ed.)
Singapore: NUS Press, 2011
ISBN: 9789971695514

In March 2009, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) was briefly taken over by a Christian faction. Their coup was overturned within a matter of weeks, but the episode highlighted a variety of issues, including the role of religion in civil society, sex education, homosexuality, state intervention and media engagement. Although the immediate issue was control of an activist group concerned with women's rights, it has implications for the agendas and concerns of NGOs, 'culture wars', the processes of citizenry mobilization, mass participation and noisy democracy, and liberal voices in contemporary Singapore.

In this book, academics and public intellectuals examine the AWARE saga within the context of Singapore's civil society, considering the political and historical background and how the issues it raised relate to contemporary societal trends. In addition to documenting a milestone event for Singapore's civil society, the authors offer provocative interpretations that will interest a broad range of readers.

Churchill and the Lion City: Shaping Modern Singapore
Brian P. Farrell (ed.)
Singapore: NUS Press, 2011
ISBN: 9789971695651 / 9789971695521

British imperialism profoundly influenced the development of the modern world order. This same imperialism created modern Singapore, shaping its colonial development, influencing its post-colonial reorientation. Winston Churchill was British imperialism's most significant 20th-century statesman. Churchill never visited Singapore, but their two stories heavily influenced each other. Singapore became a symbol of British imperial power in Asia to Churchill, while Singaporeans later came to see him as symbolizing that power. The fall of Singapore to Japanese conquest in 1942 was a low point in Churchill's war leadership, one he forever labelled by calling it "the worst disaster in British military history". It was also a tragedy for Singapore, ushering in three cruel years of occupation. But the interplay between these three historical forces -- Churchill, empire, and Singapore -- extended well beyond this most dramatic conjuncture. No single volume critically examines that longer interplay. This collection does so by analysing Churchill's understanding of empire, his perceptions of Singapore and its imperial role, his direction of affairs regarding Singapore and the Empire, and his influence on the subsequent relationship between them.

Goh Keng Swee: A Public Career Remembered
Barry Desker & Chong Guan Kwa (eds.)
Singapore: WOrld Scientific, 2011
ISBN: 9789814291385

A crucial founding father of independent Singapore, Dr Goh Keng Swee has his distinguished and unparalleled stint in public service hitherto reduced to dates and designations. The book is the first to collect and present a broad range of historical material commemorating Dr Goh's public career. This book is not a biography of Dr Goh's life. Instead, it commemorates his public career and attempts to portray a more personal and candid perspective of the principal architect of independent Singapore. This is done by pulling together a variety of historical sources, ranging from Dr Goh's public statements and speeches, and existing and fresh oral interviews with his former colleagues to archival documents and imagery. This book is an important contribution not only to Singapore's history in general, providing valuable historical context to the challenges of ensuring the sustainability and survival of a young nation at the highest levels of policy-making, but also a tribute to Dr Goh - how he is remembered, respected and revered by some of his closest peers and colleagues.

Fortress Singapore: The Battlefield Guide (Revised Edition)
Yap Siang Yong, Romen Bose, and Angeline Pang (Revised by Kuldip Singh, Lisa Lim and Germaine Foo)
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814351195

The strongest British bastion east of Suez falls to the Empire of the Rising Sun, after only 70 days.
 --The Mail, Feb 16, 1942

This and many other headlines greeted shocked readers all over the world on that fateful day. Singapore - the "impregnable fortress" with its massive fortifications and defended by over 100,000 men fell to the conquering Japanese forces in only a week.

Fortress Singapore: The Battlefield Guide captures the essence of what Singapore was like during World War II when desperate battles were fought throughout the island. Sirens, bombs, massacres, epidemics, shortages, concentration camps and POW centres were part of everyday life. Many of the original battle sites still remain in Singapore today.

This updated authoritative day-to-day account of the battle for Singapore includes two additional battle sites and numerous revised maps. More than 100 photographs capture the shock of war, the terror of occupation and the joy of liberation. A pictorial tour takes the reader to the war sites from battlefield to POW camps. It is through understanding what happened here that these sites come alive again, never letting us forget the brutalities of war; and the faith and inspiration of the people that laid foundations of modern Singapore. With information on how to visit these locations, this is the definitive guide to the Singapore battlefield.