Singapore Chronicles: Diplomacy
Evelyn Goh & Daniel Chua
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814747080

Diplomacy has been crucial for Singapore's success abroad over the past 50 years. This book describes the many daunting challenges Singapore faced: separation from Malaysia; uncertain independence; tensions with its immediate neighbours; wars in Southeast Asia; oil shocks and financial crises; the waxing and waning power of the United States and China; and new security threats, including global terrorism, pandemics and trans-boundary pollution. The book demonstrates that Singapore's diplomacy has distinctively combined the characteristics of overcoming vulnerability; linking national security with economic development; playing a proactive role in international affairs; and emphasising cooperation with multiple partners. International events will continue to be unpredictable, and this book derives lessons from the past that can help Singapore develop even more agile diplomatic responses and far-sighted strategic planning.

Singapore Chronicles: Presidency
Thio Li-Ann
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814747011

The Elected Presidency represents one of the most distinctive institutional innovations that Singapore has made to the constitutional order in the first 50 years of its existence. Its original primary intention was to serve as a check on a powerful Parliament that could bankrupt the national reserves either through buying votes, fraud or sheer incompetence. However, experience has shown that the elected President has evolved in ways unanticipated by its original design. This book traces the fascinating twists and turns of the relatively short history of the Elected Presidency in Singapore and how it has reached a new equilibrium.

What's Inside the Red Box?
Phua San San
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642279

This is a story about a box that holds big dreams for a little country.

There is a man whose red box is always by his side. What's inside the red box? Three children are determined to find out.

This book is inspired by Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his red box, which he used while he was in political office. It contained his work -- papers, speech drafts, letters, readings, notes and cassette tapes with his recorded instructions.

Today, the red box has become a symbol of his unwavering passion for and dedication to Singapore.

What's Inside The Red Box? gives children a peek into the big dreams Mr Lee had for the nation.

Heart of Public Service: Our Institutions / Our People
Prime Minister's Office
Singapore: Prime Minister's Office, 2015
ISBN: 9789810946883

Heart of Public Service is a two-volume book-set that honours the institutions and officers of the Singapore Public Service. Touching on key milestones in our history, Heart of Public Service brings alive Singapore's development via 11 chapters on our institutions and 50 compelling human-interest stories. Featuring stellar archival and contemporary images, Heart of Public Service is an eloquent testament to the relentless effort to build the best Public Service for the nation.

Reflections: The Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew
Yang Razali Kassim (ed.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814723886 / 9789814723879

Reflections: The Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew is a collection of essays reflecting Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's immense contribution to nation-building and the idea of development, including its various models -- from government and statecraft, leadership and governance, to economic development and the management of plural societies. The essays are written by an array of authors who had worked closely with, for, or grew up under Lee Kuan Yew. As thinkers, scholars and researchers across generations, they provide different perspectives on the multifaceted and impressive legacy of Singapore's first Prime Minister. The insights offered will be of great value in future when scholars studying Singapore in particular, and nation-building in general, look back to assess what made modern Singapore so successful despite being a tiny polyglot nation-state.

LKY on Governance, Management, Life: A Collection of Quotes from Lee Kuan Yew
Janice Tay (ed.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642347

Politician, prime minister, statesman, husband, father: Lee Kuan Yew was all these things and more in a life spanning 91 years and a political career that lasted more than half a century. In that time, he and the other first-generation leaders of Singapore catapulted the country from the backwaters of the Third World into the ranks of the First.

This three-volume set brings together quotations from Lee's speeches, books and interviews that sum up his views on subjects ranging from the political to the personal.

Little White Books: Quotations From Lee Kuan Yew serves both as an introduction to the man widely regarded as Singapore's founding father, as well as a reminder of what he stood and fought for. It aims to be most accessible compendium ever published on the man, capturing his most piquant aphorisms and views on governance, management and life. For every section, relevant photographs of Mr Lee are also featured alongside the quotes.

50 Years of Singapore and the United Nations
Tommy Koh, Li Lin Chang, & Joanna Koh (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814713047 / 9789814713030

In 2015, Singapore marks the 50th anniversary of its independence, and the United Nations (UN) the 70th anniversary of its founding. This book celebrates 50 years of a mutually beneficial relationship between Singapore and the UN.

In the early years of Singapore's independence, the UN system provided Singapore with many benefits which were helpful in Singapore's journey from the Third World to the First. As Singapore has made progress in its developmental journey, it is now able to give back to the international community through programmes such as the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), under which officials from developing countries are offered training in areas which are beneficial to their countries. Singapore has actively contributed to improving global governance and strengthening institutions that are important to the management of global issues at the UN, IMF, World Bank, IMO, etc. The Singapore Government has also sent its soldiers and police officers to participate in UN's peace-keeping and peace-making operations.

This volume brings together 45 essays by Singaporeans who have made or are making important contributions to the work of the UN system. The reader will be able to learn about the UN as seen through the eyes of Singaporeans who have served as Ambassadors to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, the World Trade Organization, or as professional staff in the various specialised agencies, programmes and funds that are part of the UN. We hope that the life stories and experiences shared by the essayists will remind readers that although Singapore is a very small country, we are a good global citizen and have tried to make this a better world..

The Politics of Defeat: Preliminary Chapters and the Secret Diary of Francis Thomas
Margaret Thomas (ed.)
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2015
ISBN: 9789810961527

It was a diary that had first sat at the back of a locked steel cabinet for two decades and then in a taped box for close to another four decades.

A secret diary, kept by Cabinet Minister Francis Thomas, of the discussions and decisions that went on behind the scenes and determined the path of Singapore's political development during the late 1950s. It was a tumultuous time that saw the People's Action Party come into power because of the ineptitude -- or, in the words of Lee Kuan Yew, the corruption and stupidities -- of the Labour Front government.

The diary was kept by Francis Thomas, an Englishman who made Singapore his home and played a key role in the dying days of the Labour Front government. The Politics of Defeat is his inside story of those days.

Vintage Lee: Landmark Speeches Since 1955
Lydia Lim (ed.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642460

In his 60 years as a politician, 31 of them as Prime Minister, Mr Lee delivered thousands of speeches. This book contains 33 that stand out because they are the clearest and most hard-hitting on issues he considered of fundamental importance -- race, language, good government, defence, talent and succession. Some mark milestones on Singapore's journey to independence and success. Others are plain inspiring because Mr Lee speaks of facing life with courage and fighting for what one believes in. This selection was made after consulting SPH editors past and present, including Cheong Yip Seng, Patrick Daniel and Han Fook Kwang.

PM Lee Hsien Loong said his father was often "spoiling for a fight". Indeed, Lee Kuan Yew seemed energised by opposition and his election rally speeches make for compelling reading precisely because they showcase him at his combative best. In Parliament too, or during National Day Rallies, Mr Lee thrived on the challenge of winning people over on hard policies that most other politicians would have shied away from. He was always very clear about the message he wanted to get across and tailored his speeches to his audience, exploiting the power of words and stories, marshalling facts and figures and putting his own reputation on the line so as to win the argument.

Lee's Legacy
Fiona Chan (ed.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642309

Compiled for the first time in Lee's Legacy, this selection of incisive viewpoints displays a wide range of perspectives on Mr Lee's contributions to Singapore and beyond, spanning the sustainability and applicability of the "Singapore model" to Mr Lee's influence on the policies of foreign countries. The result is a thought-provoking anthology that presents a balanced overview of the complex and far-reaching legacy of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Elections in Singapore: 1948-2011
Chiang Hai Ding
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642163

This is a brief history of political elections in Singapore. It is especially timely as a general election has to be held about five years after the 2011 general election.

The book sets the backdrop for the forthcoming general election. How will the political process evolve in the post-Lee Kuan Yew era?

This book is written for the citizens, voters, students of history and politics, and all who have an interest in the governance of Singapore.

It traces the evolution of the political process in Singapore after World War II, from Crown Colony to self-governing state, to a state within Malaysia, to an independent and sovereign Republic, up till the two elections in 2011.

It discusses the reasons for the PAP’s dominance in Parliament.

Lee Kuan Yew: Blazing the Freedom Trail
Anthony Oei
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2015
ISBN: 9789814677776

It was the 1950s, a tumultuous time for post-war Singapore. Disgruntled with the British ruling power, anti-colonial forces comprising nationalist freedom fighters and communists were calling for independence. The main contenders for ruling power were the People's Action Party, led by nationalist Lee Kuan Yew, and the Communist Party of Malaya, headed by Chin Peng.

Displaying their calibre and political acumen, Lee Kuan Yew and his team overcame all adversities. Lee, who became Singapore's first Prime Minister in 1959, orchestrated the movement to build a prosperous and peaceful Singapore, and to mould a new Singaporean. In one generation, they elevated the nation from Third World to First World status.

This updated edition of the book, first published in 2005, explores the leadership of Lee during Singapore's first 31 years. He is a symbol of Singapore's success. When he stepped down in 1990, he left "gold standards" — a clean and efficient government, world-class infrastructure and a business-friendly economy.

The success story of Singapore as an independent nation is a saga worth telling and preserving for posterity. The point at issue is whether Singapore could have achieved as much without Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father and master craftsman of modern Singapore.

George Yeo on Bonsai, Banyan and the Tao
Asad-ul Iqbal Latif & Lee Huay Leng (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814520508

Since his undergraduate days in Cambridge, George Yeo has spoken and written much in and out of government. Many remember the things which he said or wrote years ago. This book is a compilation of some of his best speeches and writings which were selected by Asad Latif and Lee Huay Leng in consultation with him.

The book has a rather unusual title because there are many aspects to George Yeo which makes him difficult to classify. As a student leader, he was radical but conciliatory. In the Singapore Armed Forces, he was atypical, moving from the Army to the Air Force before becoming Director of Joint Operations and Planning. In politics, he is fondly remembered by artists, journalists, doctors, businessmen and foreign diplomats, and by his colleagues and constituents. His own staff said he had a curious mind. They complained that he rarely used the drafts which they had prepared for him.

George Yeo describes himself as a Taoist even though he is a Roman Catholic and is now on the Papal staff. Buddhists are surprised he championed the revival of Nalanda University as an international project. He remains close to Singaporeans of different races and religions even though he has a deep sense of his own ancestral roots and religion. In politics, he has been described both as a liberal and a conservative. In his Parliamentary maiden speech, he spoke of the importance of democracy but has repeated many times that democracy is only a means and not an end in itself. He has a deep interest in history which partly explains his seeing the re-emergence of China and India earlier than most others.

The bonsai and the banyan are metaphors he uses for Singapore. Singapore is a city-state and must never have an inflated view of itself. The bonsai describes Singapore modestly, but he adds that the bonsai can be intensely interesting and valuable. The banyan provides shade and we are grateful for it, but too much makes us weak. As for the Tao, that perhaps is what gives unity to his many interests.

Founding Fathers
The New Paper
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642156

Founding Fathers, which was previously published in a box set of 10 individual titles, will be published into a single volume. This latest edition features up-to-date information on the 10 men whose hard work, persistence and dedication built the foundation for Singapore to develop into a successful metropolis.

Each chapter has:

• the story of one Singapore founder and his contribution in the endeavour 
• details on his growing-up days 
• surprising things we never knew about the man 
• what others say about him 
• snapshots linking the past to present-day context 
• rarely seen pictures from family archives

Fifteen reporters from The New Paper worked for more than a year on this publication, interviewing people, distilling chunks of old news archives and trawling through information to bring readers the most significant, accurate and concise information on the 10 notable Singaporeans and their journey in building Singapore.

Lee Kuan Yew: A Tribute
Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642125

Lee Kuan Yew: A Tribute is a keepsake collection of stories on Singapore's first prime minister, initially published in The Straits Times from 23 to 27 March 2015.

It captures Lee Kuan Yew's impact on Singaporeans and on the geopolitical stage, in tributes from his colleagues, family and friends, and essays by the newspaper's most seasoned political journalists.

The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew [Student ed.]
Lee Kuan Yew
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2015
ISBN: 9789814677660

The Singapore Story (Student Edition) is primarily for the student as part of National Education. It is also for the general reader who wants a shorter, more digestible version of the original unabridged first volume The Singapore Story.

The essentials of the original volume are retained with special regard to the material pertaining to the Singapore (and Malaysia) context. The book:

• traces Lee Kuan Yew's boyhood, his Japanese Occupation experience, his courtship of his wife-to-be, his student days at Cambridge University, his return to Singapore and the formation of the People’s Action Party
• describes the PAP's struggle with the communists within its ranks and the subsequent party purge of subversive elements
• details the early moves to merger with the Malayan Federation to form Malaysia, about the merger itself and the race clashes
• includes the emotive description of the momentous breakup of Malaysia that forced Singapore on its independent journey to nationhood.

Be at the table or Be on the Menu: A Singapore Memoir
S. Jayakumar
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642064

Be At The Table or Be On The Menu picks up where Prof Jayakumar's book Diplomacy left off. It gives the broad range of his experience as an academic and Dean in the Law Faculty, as Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and as a Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Senior Minister in the Singapore Cabinet, serving alongside Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsien Loong.

The book also offers rare glimpses of the child and the student that perhaps hinted at his future roles. This part of the book will surprise even those who think they knew him well.

The book's subtitle "A Singapore Memoir" is apt, because Prof Jayakumar's story is very much the story of Singapore's challenges since the early years of independence. Typically, Prof Jayakumar does not simply tell a story; his intention is to show why he and indeed all of us have a part to play in keeping the Singapore Story going.

Liveability in Singapore: Social and Behavioural issues
David Chan
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814667876

Cities and countries around the world are focused on enhancing their living conditions through ways that go beyond the brick and mortar of urban planning. Just like in other highly-urbanised cities, life and living in Singapore is highly dependent on many other dimensions such as health, access to various services, social interactions, inter-group relations and community bonds. Social and behavioural factors will need to be incorporated when designing and implementing policies and interventions to enhance liveability.

This invaluable book, based on the proceedings at the Behavioural Sciences Institute Conference 2014, documents an exchange of ideas among practitioners, academics and public intellectuals on liveability in Singapore. The book is organized into four parts. Part I provides an overview of liveability issues. Part II examines liveability from the perspectives of health and urban planning. Part III analyses the relationships linking quality of life to social class and social services. Part IV addresses specific questions on liveability in terms of public transport, cost of living, government's public communications, role of free market values in town planning, civil society, citizen well-being and whether there is a psychological gulf between government and people.

This book will provide the reader valuable perspectives, an increased understanding of issues related to the liveability in Singapore and many potential applications to reflect on.

Can Singapore Survive?
Kishore Mahbubani
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814342971

This book poses the question that Singaporeans must wrestle with: can we survive as an independent city-state? Kishore Mahbubani believes that Singaporeans must always ask the question because constant reflection and self-examination should be a part of the core DNA of all Singaporeans. His goal in this book is to create and enhance this culture of reflection among all Singaporeans. He gives three answers in this book: Yes, No & Maybe. With these answers, he attempts to sketch three different scenarios for Singapore's future.

There is logic behind this, as we cannot predict the future. We can, however, prepare for the future by telling stories about what the future could be like.

Besides his substantive introduction, this book offers some of Kishore's best essays on Singapore, taken from his Think-Tank and Opinion columns in The Straits Times, as well as contributions to Guardian News, The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, Davos World Economic Forum's Forum News Daily, and the "Innovations for Successful Societies" Oral History Project of Princeton University.

"Original Sin"?: Revising the Revisionist Critique of the 1963 Operation Coldstore in Singapore
Kumar Ramakrishna
Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2015
ISBN: 9789814620437

"Revisionist" or "alternative" historians have increasingly questioned elements of the Singapore Story -- the master narrative of the nation's political and socioeconomic development since its founding by the British in 1819. Much criticism focuses especially on one defining episode of the Story: the internal security dragnet mounted on 2 February 1963 against Communist United Front elements on the island, known to posterity as Operation Coldstore. The revisionists claim that Coldstore was mounted for political rather than security reasons and actually destroyed a legitimate Progressive Left opposition personalized by the charismatic figure of Lim Chin Siong -- rather than a dangerous Communist network as the conventional wisdom holds. Relying on both declassified and some previously unseen classified sources, this book challenges revisionist claims, reiterating the historic importance of Coldstore in helping pave the way for Singapore's remarkable journey from Third World status to First in a single generation.