The Leader, the Teacher and You: Leadership Through the Third Generation
Lim Siong Guan & Joanne H. Lim
London: Imperial College Press, 2013
ISBN: 9781783263776

Former Head of the Singapore Civil Service Mr Lim Siong Guan now shares his diverse experiences and fresh insights on leadership in his exclusive new book, The Leader, The Teacher & You. As a former Permanent Secretary in ministries, including the Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Finance, and former chairman of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board, the indefatigable public servant has contributed greatly to Singapore's success, introducing innovative policies and practices at each turn, which have greatly enhanced drive and performance across the board. Most notably, he is known for his pursuit of excellence, especially in spearheading the Public Service for the 21st Century (PS21) movement, to develop organizational excellence. From Singapore's early years of government to its emergence as a prosperous metropolis, Lim has served the nation tirelessly through the years.

In The Leader, The Teacher & You, Lim puts forth a fresh take on the notion of leadership as other-centered, with the focus on enabling others to be the best they can be. This noble vision of leadership is elaborated and built upon through the sharing of his experiences, in particular the memorable lessons and deep-seated convictions he has had while serving under Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister, and Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore's First Deputy Prime Minister. Different types of leadership, such as personal and position leadership are touched upon as the author encourages leaders to take an active role in empowering those they lead and spurring them on to excellence. Coming from a man who has helmed many distinguished organizations, Mr Lim's insights on core values essential for organizational excellence are also not to be missed. The book offers practical and down-to-earth advice for leaders in all walks of life. For leaders who genuinely care for the people they lead and hope to make a difference in their lives, this book will be a crucial guide.

The 1963 Operation Coldstore in Singapore: Commemorating 50 Years
Poh Soo Kai, Tan Kok Fang, and Hong Lysa (eds.)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, 2013
ISBN: 9789670630106

Operation Coldstore remains the most contentious event in the history of postcolonial Singapore. Despite attempts by the state to silence ex-detainees, by warning that they would not be permitted to rewrite the state's official version of history, the authors in this volume have done just that.

They have placed on record their own perspective of events. The autobiographical element in the narratives brings to life what these individuals went through as left-wing political actors who responded to the call of anti-colonialism and the challenge of shaping a new society. Their accounts of life in prison are a sober reminder of the deprivations and tortures inflicted to break their spirit. These stirring accounts are supplemented by academic contributions that provide contextual depth to the historical events and a critique of history writing in Singapore.

Diary of an Expat in Singapore
Jennifer Gargiulo
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2013
ISBN: 9789814408578

This hilarious new book records the tongue-in-cheek journey of an expat in Singapore, told through vignettes, snapshots and Top 10 lists: "10 sure signs you're in a Singapore taxi"; "Things first-time visitors to Singapore say"; "10 signs you've overstayed"; "Politically-incorrect expat profiling by nationality"; and many more. Based on the author Jennifer Gargiulo's popular blog of the same name, Diary of an Expat in Singapore packs in a wealth of quirky observations, witty one-liners, and laugh-out-loud misunderstandings as the author tries to adjust to life in a strange new land and raise two kids while at it. You may marvel as Jennifer enlists the help of her young son, Alexander (who learns Chinese at school), to find out what her hairdressers are saying about her at the salon! Expats will share many of the experiences of the author told in this book, but few will have heard them told with more humour and flair. And Singaporeans will also find much to enjoy and laugh over, when local customs and foibles are seen anew through the author's eyes.

The Swiss in Singapore
Andreas Zangger
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2013
ISBN: 9789814385688

Since the founding of colonial Singapore, the Swiss have been active on the island, whether as traders, naturalists, or tourists fascinated by the exoticism of the East. Discover the stories of Swiss-made sarongs, of Swiss Nobel laureate Hermann Hesse’s time in Singapore and of the evolution of the longstanding Swiss Club from its early days as the Swiss Rifle Shooting Club. Historian Andreas Zangger also provides the background to the close economic and diplomatic relationship between the two countries today. This fascinating history is accompanied by an assortment of contemporary and archival images, photographs and documents. The Swiss in Singapore is the perfect guide to the past, present and potential of the small but important Swiss community in the country that is often described as the 'Switzerland of the East'.