Three Burgees: A History of The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club
Peter Dunlop
Singapore: Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, 2010
ISBN: 9789814266635

The story of yachting in Singapore is as long as that of the country's modern history and is intertwined with that of Singapore's founders, governors, administrators and businessmen.

The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club and its members have been involved in every aspect of the development and administration of sea sports, from the Olympic Games in Rome, the formation of SingaporeSailing, to the international Singapore Staits Regatta.

Three Burgees is a lavishly illustrated book with extracts from Singapore's first newspaper, yacht racing engravings from the 1860s and sepia-toned photographs of the 1920s, to the colours and contrasts of the yachts of today.

Landmarks: 50 Years of Real Estate Development
Tan Su Yen
Singapore: Far East Organization, 2010
ISBN: 9789810850029

Far East Organization, together with its Hong Kong-based sister company Sino Group, is one of Asia's largest real estate groups. Far East Organization and Sino Group have a combined annual turnover of US$5.5 billion, total assets valued at over US$40 billion and more than 13,000 employees in the region and beyond.

Far East Organization is the largest private property developer in Singapore. Its operations span the full spectrum of the real estate market, covering the residential, hospitality, commercial, retail and industrial sectors. It is also the largest corporate housing landlord in Singapore and one of the largest owner-operators of hotels. The Organization comprises privately-held development and investment companies, as well as two public-listed companies, Orchard Parade Holdings Limited and Yeo Hiap Seng Limited.

Far East Organization is the only developer in the world to have won five internationally acclaimed FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Awards, underscoring its unique achievements in the international real estate arena.

Singapore's Heritage: Through Places of Historical Interest (revised and updated ed.)
Dhoraisingam S. Samuel
Singapore: Dhoraisingam S. Samuel, 2010
ISBN: 9789810866518

Singapore Heritage: Through Places of Historical Interest is a useful collection of history and stories behind the places of historical interest in Singapore. Many of the historical places are iconic landmarks which are an integral part of our collective history and rich culture.

As Singapore progresses, it is important for us to understand our heritage so that we can better appreciate the strides that we have made. The ethnic and cultural diversity of the places of interest in this book reflects how our forefathers came from other parts of the world and built Singapore into what it is today. It also represents how diverse communities were able to live harmoniously and this contributed to Singapore's peace and social harmony, which in turn provided the strong foundation of our economic growth.

Tales of Old Singapore: The Glorious Past of Asia's Greatest Emporium
Iain Manley
Hong Kong: Earnshaw Books, 2010

ISBN: 9789881866738

The popular "Tales" series sets sail for the Lion City. Old Singapore was an eclectic trade emporium, where an ethnically and culturally diverse populace coalesced, and sometimes clashed, under the aegis of Britain's Empire. It was a fascinating world filled with traders of all nations, bands of cut-throat pirates, murderers running amuck and the occasional man-eating tiger. Using a patchwork of words and images from Singapore's residents and visitors of yesteryear, author Iain Manley brings old Singapore's colourful colonial past back to life with striking clarity.

20 Under 45: The Next Generation
Wong Yuun Chii (curator)
Singapore: Urban Redevelopment Authority, 2010
ISBN: 9789810838607

The "20 Under 45: The Next Generation" is an initiative of the Architecture & Urban Design Excellence (AUDE) programme of the URA.

It presents the works of the selected young Singaporeans architects under the age of 45. The architects are selected, based on their dossier of works, by a panel of assessors drawn from the architectural profession, the professional board, the real estate industry and institutions of higher learning.

More than a collection of excellent buildings, the selection of the architects is based on their overall achievement in architectural design, ideas and leadership. The works also collectively highlight the state of architectural culture and discourse in Singapore.

This initiative is a second instalment of the very successful inaugural event in 2004.

If We Dream Too Long
Goh Poh Seng
Singapore: NUS Press, 2010
ISBN: 9789971694456

Widely regarded as the first Singapore novel, If We Dream Too Long explores the dilemmas and challenges faced by its hero, Kwang Meng, as he navigates the difficult transitional period between youthful aspirations and the external demands of society and family. Shy and sensitive, he feels detached from mainstream life and is unable to identify with the values that animate his friends. Kwang Meng takes refuge in dreams of exotic faraway places, and imagines merging himself with the sea, which he loves. Yet amidst this uncertainty, the reader feels that all is not lost, that the young dreamer will eventually find his way. Kwang Meng's experiences reflect the author's fascination with the question of self amidst the dreariness and aimlessness of an increasingly urbanised and materialistic Asian society. The book also provides a fascinating portrait of Singapore as it was in the 1960s, a landscape and society that have undergone many changes but remain faintly visible in modern Singapore.

Since its first publication in 1972, If We Dream Too Long has moved and delighted generations of readers. This much-loved novel has been used as a text in university literature courses in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and has been translated into Tagalog and Russian.

An Essential Guide to Singlish (Expanded Edition)
Samantha Hanna (ed.)
Singapore: Gartbooks, 2003
ISBN: 9789810861094

Singlish is one of the most entertaining of all the Asian Englishes and ought to be practiced by anyone visiting Singapore. Even a little knowledge of the language will help visitors to better understand local culture and learning to speak a few words or phrases can enhance the experience of dining out, shopping, and even getting about town. With hilarious illustrations by award-winning cartoonist, Miel, this book provides useful tips for bargaining, and a special section on shopping. There are also chapters about food, festivals and customs, and other insights that may coax readers into some very funny moments indeed.

An Introduction to Singapore's Constitution (revised ed.)
Kevin Y.L. Tan
Singapore: Talisman Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789810864569

Law is one of the most jargon-filled and least-understood of disciplines, and among its sub-branches, constitutional law is considered one of the most difficult and arcane. Yet, the Constitution affects every one of us in ways we seldom contemplate.

In this volume, the reader is quickly introduced to the basic concepts of constitutionalism, such as the separation of powers, the rule of law and the principle of judicial review. In twelve succinct chapters, this book covers the basic structure of government in Singapore as well as the fundamental liberties protected under the Constitution.

Written with a minimum of fuss and jargon, this book provides the high-school student and interested layperson with a compact and accessible guide to Singapore's Constitution. A comprehensive reading list, glossary and list of cases cited is included for those interested in a more in-depth exploration of this topic.

The Devil to Pay
Walter Woon
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2010
ISBN: 9789814302661

Set in the period just before the Fall of Singapore, this story - the second in the trilogy - unfolds in a time of great uncertainty as news of an impending Japanese invasion looms. Dennis Chiang returns as the young and eager lawyer at d'Almeida's law firm. But little does he know that his life would soon become a lot more exciting - and dangerous.

Roped in by the British Special Branch as an undercover operative to weed out Japanese agents subverting and undermining the morale of an Indian Army garrison sent to defend Malaya, Chiang finds himself going from criminal lawyer in a courtroom to an adept and rugged spy in the jungles of Malaya. This fast-paced and absorbing tale of adventure and espionage will get you hooked from the get-go.

The Advocate's Devil
Walter Woon
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2010
ISBN: 9789814302654

Dennis Chiang is a stranger in his homeland. Just returned to the Straits Settlements after spending half his life in England, the young lawyer is thrown into the swirling brew that is colonial society in 1930s Singapore. It is a society of tuans and towkays, of Babas and babus, where race is everything and even love cannot be wholly colour-blind.

As he juggles his career and personal responsibilities, Chiang encounters a life full of courtroom dramas, cultural prejudices and even communist intrigue. And never far away is his mentor, the unflappable d'Almeida. In public d'Almeida is a calm, efficient lawyer, but he possesses a shrewd investigative streak and uses unorthodox methods that result in his young protege being caught up in a succession of captivating adventures.

Welcome to the world of The Advocate's Devil, a humorous, fast-moving tale set against the backdrop of colonial Singapore and the Straits Settlements - a world that Dennis Chiang soon finds is full of excitement, disillusionment and danger.