Tapestries: A Teaching Life
Mrs Toh Kah Beng
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2014
ISBN: 9789810934736

Mrs Toh Kah Beng -- a teacher's name which brought both fear and respect into the hearts of generations of students from one of Singapore's top schools.

Growing up in the early years of post‐war Singapore, Mrs Toh experienced hardship and poverty, but also learnt discipline and perseverance, which she brought to the classroom when she became a teacher; she sought to imbibe in her students at that stage of their young lives.

Tapestries is a collection of reflections by Mrs Toh on her life, her principles, her (at times) harsh actions and outlook on dealing with life and young lives in a country coping with the throes of change. Whether in the area of politics, public service, medicine, engineering, real estate or others; students from the schools where she taught never forgot the stern discipline or quiet compassion which she demonstrated as a teacher.

Many are now top political leaders, policy makers, leading professionals and leaders in their industries. Arguably, the lessons they learnt from those years have been formative in shaping their own careers and attitudes to a life of service.

Immigration in Singapore
Norman Vasu, Yeap Su Yin, & Chan Wen Ling (eds.)
Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2014
ISBN: 9789089646651

This study traces the socio-political effects of immigration on Singapore and its population, a topic that has been the subject of intense debate in the nation as its population grows increasingly diverse. Beyond the logic of economic imperatives, the book aims to explore the larger consequences of taking in large number of immigrants, and its analysis should appeal to scholars of migration, social change, and public policy.

Singapore's Dunkirk: The Aftermath of the Fall
Geoffrey Brfooke
South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military, 2014
ISBN: 9781473822917

When Singapore fell so ignominiously to the Japanese in February 1942 many tens of thousands of men, women and children were left to their own devices. It was truly 'every man for himself'. To stay in Singapore meant certain captivity and every probability of barbarity at the hands of the Japanese that so many tried to escape. This book tells of some of the remarkable and shocking experiences that lay in store for those who chose this option. The only way out was by sea and every sort of craft was pressed into service. Ahead lay terrible dangers; storm, shipwreck, piracy, capture by a merciless enemy, starvation and death through lack of water to name but some. This is a shocking and inspiring book that embraces great courage, extraordinary endurance, appalling atrocities and even cannibalism.

One Fierce Hour
Alfian Sa'at
Singapore: Landmark Books, 2014
ISBN: 9789814189552

One Fierce Hour is Alfian Sa'at's first and breakout work. It was hailed as 'truly a landmark' for Singaporean poetry when it was published in 1998. The collection, which has entered the canon of Singapore literature, contains the anti-anthem "Singapore You Are Not My Country". Alfian remains an intelligent writer with an unabashedly social and political voice. He has written 37 plays, 3 works of prose and 2 poetry anthologies.

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Walter Woon
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2014
ISBN: 9789814561020

After the British surrender, life has to go on for the inhabitants of Japanese-occupied Singapore. Dennis Chiang finds himself in the Kempeitai dragnet during the Sook Ching operation but is unexpectedly freed by one Captain Takeda -- whom he thought an innocuous barber but turns out to have been a high-ranking Japanese intelligence officer -- and taken under Akihiko's wing as a writer for a propaganda magazine.

Meanwhile, ghosts from his past reappear. Communist agitator Siew Chin seeks sanctuary with the Chairman of the Malayan Communist Party, while his previous solicitor boss, Clarence d'Almeida poses as a Malay driver and takes a job with Akihiko. Dennis finds himself teetering on the edge of a samurai sword between the devil and the deep blue sea. All while trying to find Daphne, his missing lady-love.

Things come to a head when the Japanese surrender. Dennis finds himself accused of collaboration and is targeted by the Communists. Must he throw in his lot unequivocally with the Japanese to survive?

Part of The Advocate's Devil series, this exciting installment fills the gap between The Devil to Pay and The Devil's Circle.

Daniel Boey: The Book of Daniel: Adventures of a Fashion Insider
Daniel Boey
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2014
ISBN: 9789814516631

He's been anointed the "Godfather of Singapore fashion" and "Singapore's Fashion Royalty" but Daniel Boey is not a fashion designer.

Just who exactly is he and what does he do? On the cusp of his 50th birthday, and several months shy of his 25th anniversary in fashion, we take an unabashed, no-holds-barred look at his colourful life in the industry. From his clueless early days as a shy kid through the time he picked up his first fashion magazine (not Vogue), his early dalliances with fashionistas, packing his bags for an uncertain future in the West to his rise into the realms as a feared industry personality and eventual mentor to many of Singapore's top fashion labels and models, Daniel takes us on a dizzy roller-coaster ride through his tumultuous time in a tough, unforgiving, unpredictable, cut-throat, often superficial industry.

This is the untold story of a man who refused to confirm, who went from a glittering life to a shocking knock on death's door, and who still continues to write his own rules.

With forewords by Singapore's top couturier, one of the nation's most beloved actors, two of Singapore’s most popular radio personalities and a bevy of supermodels, the book is a fantastical journey of one singular sensation.

Teaching Science in Culturally Relevant Ways: Ideas From Singapore Teachers
Teo Tang Wee & Khoh Rong Lun (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2014
ISBN: 9789814618175

This book encapsulates the vision of Singapore science educators to bring the local elements of the country to bear in the science curriculum. In experimenting with familiar materials used and consumed in our everyday lives, and applying scientific knowledge to analyse and provide explanations of the observed phenomena the editors and contributing authors hope to introduce culturally relevant science activities for enactment in the formal and informal science curriculum. This work is premised on the collective belief that learning science in culturally relevant ways underscores the importance of ones culture embodied with funds of knowledge to make the learning of science meaningful. They see this as a step toward achieving the broader and long-term goal of developing a scientifically literate citizenry.

Cases That Touched Our Lives
S. Chandra Mohan, Low Kee Yang, & Bryan Tan
Singapore: LexisNexis, 2014
ISBN: 9789814406987

This book contains a compilation of cases that have been selected to portray how the law affects various aspects of the lives of Singaporeans and those who work and live in Singapore. The aim of this book is to make the judgments of the Singapore Courts more accessible to the public. Even though the reading of judgments is part of the day-to-day work of lawyers and those in the legal field, the public seldom gets a chance to experience reading the judgments of the courts. Even when they do, it is quite a challenge to locate the more interesting cases to read.

This book contains an eclectic mix of cases. They were selected so as to cover as many issues with regard to the man in the street. This way, we hope, that by reading the judgments, you can gain more insight and understanding to the legal system here in Singapore

25: Histories and Memories of the Singapore International Film Festival
Ben Slater (ed.)
Singapore: Singapore International Film Festival Ltd., 2014
ISBN: 9789810933234

The first edition of the Singapore International Film Festival was held in 1987. It was the first major 'film' showcase to take place in Singapore and it was truly independent, created by a small group of passionate people who wanted to expand the horizons of cinema for local audiences. As the 25th edition of the festival looms, this publication takes a clear look back -- through articles, interviews and images -- on the festival's past, gathering together histories and memories, stories and insights into how the festival came to be, its growth, the spaces and places it inhabited, the struggles that were part of its existence, and the profound impact it had on both cinema-going and film-making in Singapore.

Sayang Singapura: Re-Imagining Singapore's Past and Present
Lee Xin Li
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2014
ISBN: 9789814561075

Inspired by Hergé, the creator of Tintin, Lee Xin Li blends Hergé's playfulness with meaningful nostalgia for Singapore's iconic past.

The historic Adelphi Hotel, the iconic Great World Amusement Park, the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the former National Library at Stamford Road are among the nostalgic locales and moments in time lovingly depicted in beautiful and imaginative detail.

Xin Li has captured these cherished memories and immortalised them with his drawings even as Singapore continues to undergo intensive restructuring and makeovers, and heritage buildings of yesteryears make way for new and ever-modern architecture.

Singapore 365: A Retrospective on 2013
Amin Zainotdini and Dominique Husken-Ulbrich
Singapore: Husken-Ulbrich Books, 2014
ISBN: 9789810776985

Singapore 365 is essential reading for anyone interested in Singapore. Based on interviews, illustrations, maps, articles, pictures, and infographics, this first annual edition of Singapore 365 looks back at the main events of 2013, and thereby witnesses history in the making on the eve of Singapore's 50th birthday. Singapore 365 is designed to give a comprehensive view of the city-state's dynamism on politics, society, business, culture, sports, and sustainable development. It aims to provide an up-to-date image of Singapore today in a way that will both inform and entertain.

Sarong Kebaya: Peranakan Fashion in an Interconnected World 1500-1950
Peter Lee
Singapore: Asian Civilisations Museum, 2014
ISBN: 9789810901462

This book traces the history of the costume of Peranakan women; specifically, the sarong, kebaya, and baju panjang. The sarong kebaya is only a starting point, however, for a rich history of language, women, trade, slavery, community formation, and education. Profusely illustrated with a wealth of historical photographs and beautiful images of sarongs and kebayas from a large donation to the Peranakan Museum, as well as those in a private collection, the book will become a valuable reference. Independent scholar Peter Lee has amassed impressive documentation from primary and secondary sources in this highly readable, visually stunning book.

The Singapore House: 1819-1942
Lee Kip Lin
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Asia, 2015
ISBN: 9789814634014

The Singapore House is a comprehensive study of the various domestic architectural styles that thrived in Singapore from 1819 until the outbreak of the Pacific War, from English, Georgian, Victorian, Eclectic, Edwardian, Baroque, Arts and Crafts and Modern International to the home-grown Coarsened Classical. Beautifully illustrated, The Singapore House marks a major attempt to document a rich and beautiful architectural legacy. The over 400 illustrations include rare historical materials, remarkable photographs and fascinating architectural drawings.

Quest for Political Power: Communist Subversion and Militancy in Singapore
Bilveer Singh
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2014
ISBN: 9789814634069

The history of communism in Malaya (including Singapore) almost coincided with the rise and fall of communism worldwide, best epitomized in Europe by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Operating through the Malayan Communist Party, communism posed an existential threat to Malaya. While the communist threat in peninsular Malaya was manifested dramatically in armed struggle with guerrillas in the jungle, in Singapore it was primarily in the form of united front subversive activities, interspersed with episodes of violence and assassinations.

This new book examines the MCP's quest for political power in Singapore in the midst of a raging Cold War between communism and the free world, with particular focus on events in the 1950s and 1960s. From its close collaboration with the two leading communist great powers (USSR and China) to its united front strategy of infiltrating student, trade union and political organizations, the MCP's activities are related here in a clear and engaging manner.

S R Nathan In Conversation
Timothy Auger
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2015
ISBN: 9789814610032

Few people have watched the development of today's Singapore as closely as President S.R. Nathan. Born into humble circumstances, he experienced destitution and the Japanese Occupation. After the war he embarked on a lifetime of public service. Having earned a university diploma as an adult student, he worked as a seamen's welfare officer, and then as a trade union mediator. There followed a very distinguished career as a civil servant, notably in the foreign affairs and defence ministries, and as a diplomat -- not to mention a spell as executive chairman of Straits Times Press. At an age when most people contemplate retirement, he served two full terms as President of Singapore.

In a series of informal, wide-ranging interviews conducted specially for this book, Mr Nathan reflects on modern Singapore, its history, and its extraordinary achievements. He shares vivid recollections of some pioneering nation builders, and warns of the real challenges that he sees confronting both government and people today.

Ho See Beng: The Washerwoman's Son
Ramachandran Menon
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2014
ISBN: 9789814342889

The Washerwoman's Son is the story of a Singapore hero who rose from abject poverty to co-found and lead a national trade union movement. When Ho See Beng dropped out of school to help his widowed mother, he saw how man's exploitation of man had snuffed out the life of his father, a rickshaw puller. Helping the downtrodden and the victimised became his personal calling.

Ho See Beng's journey takes us through the tumultuous years when Singapore workers were confronting employers for better pay and working conditions, and unions were torn by internal tussles for leadership control. In the battle for members between the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU), the scale of defections to SATU had Ho See Beng and his good friend Devan Nair fighting for NTUC's survival.

Following Singapore's independence in 1965, Ho See Beng recognised that the new era called for a reorientation of union activism, that the old confrontational attitudes had to be replaced by tripartite understanding and collaboration for the sake of economic growth. He was in the forefront of a dedicated band of labour leaders to ensure organised labour's support for the reorientation.

Intraco: Blazing a Trail Overseas for Singapore?
Faizal Bin Yahya
Singapore: World Scientific, 2014
ISBN: 9789814623865

Through the lens of the now-defunct Singapore government-linked company (GLC) called International Trading Company (INTRACO), this book offers a historical analysis of the country's economic development strategy. Since its Independence in 1965, GLCs like INTRACO were introduced by the former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, a pioneer of Singapore's remarkable transformation from Third World to First, to fulfil strategic economic objectives. As the country's "lifeblood" has been entreport trade, INTRACO was created to "blaze a trail overseas" by facilitating commercial ties behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. The eventual divestment of INTRACO highlights the same way in which the Singaporean state is acutely responsive to changing global economic and geopolitical trends. This book is useful to academics, students, and the interested lay reader for its insights into the role of the state in economic development in post-colonial countries.

Uncle Anthony's Hokkien Recipes
Anthony Loo Hock Chye & Samantha Lee
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2014
ISBN: 9789810797980

Enjoy the rich culinary heritage of the Hokkiens with this slim, elegant cookbook, which features over 80 authentic family recipes.

Besides Hokkien classics such as braised pork knuckle and bak kut teh, this book features many little-known traditional Hokkien dishes -- some even exclusive to the author's family, such as sticky mee sua soup and Grandma's stewed chicken in soya sauce.

Anthony Loo was born to a quintessentially Hokkien family in Singapore. His parents moved to Singapore from Xiamen, China, in the 1920s; it was from them he learnt the many heritage recipes compiled in this book. Growing up amongst the braises and stir-fries of the Hokkien diaspora, Anthony developed a passion for cooking which culminated in tzechar and hawker businesses. But his greatest joy comes from preparing Hokkien feasts for his friends and family, which he believes has the power to draw people together.

R!ot Recollections
Zakaria Zainal & Prabhu Silvam
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2014
ISBN: 9789810932381

The riot that struck Little India on 8 December 2013 was the worst outbreak of violence Singapore had experienced in four decades. Within minutes, updates -- and judgments -- poured in thick and fast from netizens around the island and beyond. Both mainstream and alternative media issued their own explanations of the events that unfolded that night. Issues of class, the treatment of migrant workers and the efficiency of the riot force, amongst others, were brought to light for scrutiny in the conversations that followed. When rioters were often simply referred to as a mob -- whether unruly and inebriated or as victims of xenophobia and slack legislation -- it is easy to forget that individuals were involved.

Riot Recollections brings us back to the ground and to the individuals who were in the thick of events at Race Course Road. As the noise from disgruntled and shocked Singaporeans die down, the witnesses now speak, offering a glimpse into a place that still carries the trauma of the riot long after all debris has been cleared.