The Right Mistakes: My Life as a Singapore Gangster
Foo Yin Tung
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2011
ISBN: 9789814302951

"Today I am 22 years of age. I used to be a person who was working in the complex streets of Geylang and the black market. I was a gangster in three different criminal organizations. Robbery, assault, peddling drugs, extortion... At the end of everything I have done in the underworld, I have never brought goodness to anyone around me. People who know me and those who don't, I have never given them something pleasant to smile about."

As a child, Foo Yin Tung seemed to have a particular affinity for trouble. Despite his best intentions, his actions and decisions always seemed to land him on the wrong side of the law. Without the support of a loving family, Yin Tung was drifting and furthermore, angry - and he didn't know why. With his father in jail and his mother working tirelessly to provide for her only child, Yin Tung was left to his own to make sense of his world and fend for himself. The death of his beloved grandmother and constant teasing by peers over the absence of his father drove him to fill the void in his world with friends who gave him the support he never had, the security he never knew and worth he never felt. But this came with a price, and with eyes wide open, Yin Tung fell headlong into a secret, illegal world, where bravery and loyalty were valued above all. But eventually Yin Tung had to come face to face with the reality of his world and into confrontation with all that he had been running from.

With piercing honesty and brazen boldness of youth, Yin Tung recounts his experiences of being in a gang, his brushes with law and examines the events that brought him there. What made him who he is today? Was it his own choices, or the choices of others? And does he have the agency to decide what he will become? More than just a shocking story of a boy losing his way, The Right Mistakes is about a boy trying to make sense of his life and change it for the better.

The Adventures of the Mad Chinaman
Dick Lee
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2010
ISBN: 9789814328418

Written in an unpretentious style that is characteristic of Dick Lee and narrated in the first person, this book recounts the author's many escapades, adventures, trials and triumphs. It also provides a candid picture of his life, while showcasing the colourful facets of the Peranakan culture he was born into. The rebel-songwriter relives his varied career and traces the highs and lows of show business.

Contract Smart: Understanding Contract Law in Singapore
Tan Soon Meng
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Business, 2010
ISBN: 9789812618849

Whether it is an agreement between companies or a simple purchase of groceries from your local supermarket, contracts form a huge part of our daily lives. With its focus on the practical business aspects of contracts, Contract Smart is the ultimate guide for anyone who needs to understand Singapore contract law and make better contractual decisions.

Come Into My World: 31 Stories of Autism in Singapore
Brenda Tan
Singapore: Brenda Tan, 2010
ISBN: 9789810876364

My son's education costs me ten thousand dollars a month...
Nobody told me having children would be this difficult...
All three of my children have autism...
Doctors thought I was mentally retarded...

Many voices come together to form this collection of true autism stories in Singapore. This book was written not only to support the autism community. It aims, more than anything else, for the public to understand autism better so that our world would become a better place for autistic individuals and their family members.

Choi! Touchwood!: A Walk Through Singapore's Chinatown, a Journey in Chinese Traditions, Superstitions, Myths and Taboos
Liew Jie Ni and Jesvin Yeo (eds.)
Singapore: Basheer Graphic Books, 2010
ISBN: 9789810867102

Why are there bat motifs in a Chinese temple?

How is it you'll hardly find a cactus in a Chinese home?

Why are red dates and melon seeds must-haves at a Chinese wedding?

For many Singaporean Chinese, these are just some of the traditions, myths and taboos that shape daily life.

This book takes you on a whirlwind journey into the world of superstition at the heart of Singapore's Chinatown, complete with tips, trivia and a running commentary. Also, inside come with a pocket-sized guidebook that is your handy companion as you traverse the streets of Chinatown.

Chinatown Memories
Geraldene Lowe-Ismail
Singapore: Talisman Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789810861100

Chinatown Memories is both a memoir and a narrative guide to the vibrant spirit of a bygone Singapore.

Geraldene Lowe-Ismail is the much loved "walking treasure" and heritage pioneer in Singapore. Blessed with a rich trove of stories and personal knowledge stretching over 50 years Geraldene delivers a unique insight to the glory and past of one of South East Asia's truly original Chinatowns.

With Geraldene and her beloved Amah as your guide, Chinatown Memories will take you through the nooks and crannies, myths and legends of a Chinatown still there in spirit if sadly altered by the march of development and progress.

The reader will discover a rich heritage of personalities and landmarks all beautifully brought to life by her long time collaborator, the renowned watercolourist Derek Corke.

Geraldene has dedicated this new publication of her classic book to all those, past and present, who have helped keep the Chinatown spirit alive - something she has dedicated her life to accomplish.

The Complete Eh, Goondu!
Sylvia Toh Paik Choo
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814328456

The Complete Eh, Goondu! brings together two of Singapore's best-selling humour titles Eh, Goondu! and Lagi Goondu!

Eh, Goondu! published in 1982 was the original book on Singlish. A compilation of local patois (English and vernacular dialects and languages), it was the first to put in print Singlish words that previously were only spoken.

Eh, Goondu! sparked national debate among Ministers, academics and the public. Eventually, it was accepted that Singlish was part of the Singaporean way of life.

Operation Matador: World War II: Britain's Attempt to Foil the Japanese Invasion of Malaya and Singapore
Ong Chit Chung
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, Editions, 2011
ISBN: 9789814328470

Operation Matador was the code-name for Britain's plan to defend Singapore during World War II.

When Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942, Churchill called it the "largest capitulation in British history." Till today, the myth persists that this was due to the British forces' being caught off-guard, with their guns facing the wrong direction, towards the sea.

In fact, the question of the landward defence of Singapore and Malaya was first raised as early as 1918, eventually taking the form of Operation Matador, the elaborate preparations for which amply demonstrate that the British fully expected the Japanese to attack Singapore from the rear, and had formulated a plan to stop the Japanese at the Kra Isthmus. Yet, when the Japanese forces landed, they found Malaya and Singapore defended by an emasculated fleet, obsolescent aircraft, inadequate artillery and no tanks.

In this classic volume, the author presents a gripping account of the events behind the scenes that delayed and effectively prevented the launch of Operation Matador.

The End of Char Kway Teow and Other Hawker Mysteries
Leslie Tay
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2010
ISBN: 9789810865153

Award-winning food blogger Dr. Leslie Tay's insatiable appetite for the best of the best hawker food in Singapore has unearthed much more than where to eat what. Come share a table with him as he peels away myths and reveals insights into our culinary heritage.

Like why is chwee kueh called chwee kueh? Or if "tariking" the tea makes any difference to its taste? Why should popiah be eaten whole? What came first, white or black carrot cake? How does Cantonese fish soup turn milky when no milk is added? What makes a majestic dum biryani? Where to find handmade ngoh hiang? And what is the handle on Singapore's red-hot chilli crab?

You'll find all the answers to these mysteries and to why these may well be the last days of char kway teow in the book. It is also an indispensable insider's guide to hawker food and includes Leslie's top picks.

Colony, Nation, and Globalisation: Not at Home in Singaporean and Malaysian Literature
Eddie Tay
Singapore: NUS Press, 2010
ISBN: 9789971695439

The literature of Malaysia and Singapore, the multicultural epicentre of Asia, offers a rich body of source material for appreciating the intellectual heritage of colonial and postcolonial Southeast Asia. Focusing on themes of home and belonging, Eddie Tay illuminates many aspects of identity anxiety experienced in the region, and helps construct a dialogue between postcolonial theory and the Anglophone literatures of Singapore and Malaysia. A chronologically ordered selection of texts is examined, including Swettenham, Bird, Maugham, Burgess, and Thumboo. This genealogy of works includes colonial travel writings and sketches as well as contemporary diasporic novels by Malaysian and Singapore-born authors based outside their countries of origin. The premise is that home is a physical space as well as a symbolic terrain invested with social, political and cultural meanings. As discussions of politics and history augment close readings of literary works, the book should appeal not only to scholars of literature, but also to scholars of Southeast Asian politics and history.

Economic Diplomacy: Essays and Reflections by Singapore's Negotiators
C.L. Lim and Margaret Liang (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, 2011
ISBN: 9789814324632

Singapore, a small Southeast Asian country with limited resources, transformed itself from a trading post to a successful, cosmopolitan nation with one of the most impressive growth rates in the world. Less well known, however, has been its role in regional and global trade negotiations. This book is a collection of sixteen essays written by a group of diplomats, policy-makers, and professors who became involved in international economic affairs, notably in GATT/WTO, regional and bilateral free trade negotiations. Here, they reveal their thoughts about the world economy and trading system, reflect on their experiences, and explain how they promoted national interests while advancing the global trade agenda. This book will appeal not only to professional diplomats, but to anyone interested in how international economic diplomacy works and Singapore's role and perspective as an open trading nation.

The 2nd Decade: Nation Building in Progress 1975-1985: An Exhibition Catalogue
Gloria Chan, et al (ed.)
Singapore: National Archives of Singapore, 2010
ISBN: 9789810848583

In 1975, Singapore arrived at an enviable position after enjoying peace and rapid economic growth during its first decade of independence. Much had been done to put in place policies, systems and infrastructure to propel this new country from a time of uncertainty to a period of self-assured sovereignty. Yet fresh challenges abound for then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his cabinet, as Singapore braced itself for another decade of nation building.

As with its precursor, 10 Years That Shaped A Nation, The 2nd Decade: Nation Building in Progress 1975-1985 is organised into thematic sections (defence/internal security, foreign relations, economy, health & the environment, housing, sports & culture and education) chronicling the challenges and triumphs of the years between 1975 and 1985, which presented both obstacles and opportunities for a young and evolving nation.

The Singapore Shophouse, 1819-1942
Julian Davison
Singapore: Talisman, 2010
ISBN: 9789810597160

The Singapore shophouse is an architectural gem - a particular building form that is unique to the island. This book traces its development from rudimentary shop below, house above, through various incarnations - Chinese Baroque, Neoclassical, Jubilee-style, Edwardian, Rococo, Modern - all the while commenting on the various influences that fuelled its evolution. Each individual feature of the shophouse is examined, as is its change from rudimentary out-of-China structure to sophisticated dwelling house. Numerous examples of shophouse interiors today complete the odyssey - showcasing shophouse as temple, clan house, home, boutique hotel, shop, coffeeshop and more, we see how these heritage buildings continue to be relevant in the era of the skyscraper and shopping mall. Enlivened by colourful, deatiled photography by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni and informative, lively texts by Julian Davison, this book will appeal to architect and lay person alike.

The Theatre and the State in Singapore: Orthodoxy and Resistance
Terence Chong
London: Routledge, 2010
ISBN: 9780415584487

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the contemporary English-language theatre field in Singapore. It describes Singapore theatre as a politically dynamic field that is often a site for struggle and resistance against state orthodoxy, and how the cultural policies of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) have shaped Singapore theatre. The book traces such cultural policies and their impact from the early 1960s, and shows how the PAP used theatre – and arts and culture more widely – as a key part of its nation building programme.

Terence Chong argues that this diverse theatre community not only comes into regular conflict with the state, but often collaborates with it - depending on the rewards at stake, not to mention the assortment of intra-communal conflicts as different practitioners and groups vie for the same resources. It goes on to explore how new forms of theatre, especially English-language avant garde theatre, represented resistance to such government cultural control; how the government often exerts its power ‘behind-the-scenes’ to preserve its moral legitimacy; and conversely how middle class theatre practitioners’ resistance to state power is strongly influenced by class and cultural capital.

Based on extensive original research including interviews with theatre directors and other theatre professionals, the book provides a wealth of information on theatre in Singapore overall, and not just on theatre-state relations.

Singapore Stories: Language, Class, and the Chinese of Singapore, 1945-2000
Ernest Koh
New York: Cambria Press, 2010
ISBN: 9781604976779

This book examines the socioeconomic effects of English literacy among the Chinese of Singapore between 1945 and 2000. Through the use of oral history, it demonstrates how English literacy as a life chance has played a key role in shaping the class structures that exist among the Chinese in Singapore today.

Taking on the perspective of ordinary Chinese Singaporeans, this book bridges a considerable gap in the existing literature by providing a historical account that surveys the experiences of everyday life in Singapore through reminiscences provided by the citizenry. In doing so, it presents an account that more accurately reflects the nation’s nuanced past through defining eras in Singapore’s post-war history.

The history of Singapore has been widely conflated with the history of its economic success. From its heyday as a nexus of trade during the imperial era to the modern city state that boasts high living standards for most of its citizens, the history of Singapore is commonly viewed through the lens of the ruling elite. Published in two volumes in 1998 and 2000, Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs The Singapore Story epitomizes this top-down definitive narrative of the nation’s past. The history of post-war Singapore has largely been reduced to a series of decisions made by the nation’s leaders. Few existing studies explore the role and experiences of the ordinary person in Singapore’s postwar history. There are none that do this through ethnography, oral history, and collective biography.