Singapore: A Portrait in Diversity
Tom Soper
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2015
ISBN: 9789810977177

Singapore is a melting pot of nations: people from all over the world come to this small island to live and work. Tom Soper captures 50 stunning portraits of people from 50 different countries, where they and Soper share their thoughts and feelings about Singapore, their home countries, photography and portraiture. A beautiful parting gift to the city-state on her 50th birthday, Singapore: A Portrait In Diversity is a photography project celebrating the incredible diversity within this pulsing, red dot.

It Changed My Life: Inspirational Stories
Wong Kim Hoh
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642286

Inspiring real-life stories by The Straits Times Senior Writer Wong Kim Hoh about lives that have been dramatically changed by events, people or circumstances.

The story of turning the other cheek: Her nose was hacked off 25 years ago by a man wielding a cleaver. Her attacker also chopped off her ears, hewed her cheeks and blinded her in the right eye by pouring boiling water onto her face. "The nurses had to cover all mirrors and reflective glass in my ward. I was hysterical. When my son saw me for the first time after the attack, he screamed and ran away and said I was a ghost," she recalls.

The story of piloting a nasi lemak business: He was unhappy when his dad asked him to give up his aviation dream. He relented after his father said: "If you go and pilot aeroplanes, who is going to pilot my stall?" Today, his nasi lemak is famous. The Sultan of Brunei requests his nasi lemak for breakfast each time he visits Singapore. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong served it to Indonesian President Joko Widodo when the latter visited the Istana.

The story of the girl with something special: Isabelle Lim weighs only 30kg, is deaf and has has just four fingers on each hand. She has Nager Syndrome -- of which there are only 200 documented cases worldwide -- and has undergone multiple operations.

... and many more stories that celebrate the human spirit, broaden the mind, encourage the weak and downtrodden, and instil greater hope and faith in the inner strength of humanity.

SG100?: Leading Thinkers Envision Singapore in 2065
Chua Mui Hoong (ed.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642514

Compiled into one exciting volume by Chua Mui Hoong, Opinion Editor of The Straits Times, leading thinkers give their take on trends that will shape Singapore in the next 50 years.

Will there even be a Singapore?
A Lee Kuan Yew-inspired New World Order?
How to face the 'Chinese dilemma' as China rises?
Politics in 2065: Primal or pragmatic?
Do you still need cows, if you can 3D print beef slices?
Can robot chefs serve quality char kway teow?
Cereal made from good bacteria, for your gut’s sake?
Will driverless cars become a reality?

Futurist guru Peter Schwart, leading "global city" sociologist Saskia Sassen, Prof Tommy Koh, Prof Wang Gungwu, diplomat Bilahari Kausikan, business guru Ho Kwon Ping and other opinion leaders explore the answers to these questions with thought-provoking musings that thrill, inspire and amuse.

The Ocean in a Drop: Singapore: The Next Fifty Years
Ho Kwon Ping
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814730181 / 9789814730174

Ho Kwon Ping was the Institute of Policy Studies' (IPS) 2014/15 S.R. Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore. This book contains the five IPS-Nathan Lectures he gave between October 2014 and April 2015, and highlights of the accompanying dialogue with the audience. In his lectures, Ho looks forward to the next 50 years, offering innovative ideas and robust views on how governance and key institutions can evolve to ensure the sustainable continuation of Singapore, the "improbable nation". This book illuminates Ho's vision of a cohesively-diverse Singapore lasting beyond the lifespan of his generation and aims to get the young to ponder and discuss what kind of home, and future, they want.

Under a Shadow
Rosaly Puthucheary
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2015
ISBN: 9789810964566

When Singapore surrendered to Japan in 1942, Rosaly Puthucheary was only six years old. Under A Shadow offers her personal account of what it was like growing up during those precarious years under the Japanese occupation. Despite the hardships of war, her childhood, as seen through the eyes of a precocious child, was not entirely marred and remained a relatively happy one. She still enjoyed the fun of pretend play with her sister Hazie and the excitement of witnessing her father's latest procurement of a new farm animal.

Unfortunately, as the occupation dragged on, it became inevitable for her family's living conditions to deteriorate. After an unpleasant incident with a Japanese officer, her family sold off almost all the farm animals and moved to a different home.

The fortune of her family runs a similar parallel to the difficulties which the people experienced during the fall of Singapore. With this memoir, Rosaly shares intimate details of her childhood and how it was affected living under an ever looming and threatening shadow.

50+ Things to Love About Singapore
Susan Long (ed.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642521

Hot on the heels of the success of 50 Things To Love About Singapore, which sold over 10,000 copies, comes this updated and abridged version in paperback.

50+ Things To Love About Singapore, edited by Susan Long and abridged by Linda Collins, welcomes you to a new view of Singapore, at 50.

It tells the quirky story of Singapore 50 years on, celebrating all its offbeat, unexpected and unheralded sides.

Prepare to be surprised as the best Straits Times writers such as political correspondent Rachel Chang and sports correspondent Rohit Brijnath give their fresh, witty insider takes on a country you thought you thought you knew so well.

Like Singapore's love for acronyms, world records and valiant-in-defeat footballers. Like its reverence for all things green, including the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which has been inscribed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like its peculiar brand of multi-racialism that is legislated, and trade unionism minus the strikes. Like its dubious honour of being the reigning world No. 1 for the highest obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) rates.

Be moved as a nation collectively mourns the death of its founding father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The ending? Not at all predictable.

It's an open invitation to scribble your own chapters and shape your very own Singapore story.

Singapore 2065: Leading Insights on Economy and Environment from 50 Singapore Icons and Beyond
Euston Quah (ed.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814663373 / 9789814663366

As Singapore enters its 50th year of independence, it is a time for introspection to look back at the successes and challenges of the past, but is also a crucial time to consider what the future holds for the nation.

Singapore 2065: Leading Insights on Economy and Environment from 50 Singapore Icons and Beyond is one such key contribution to the endeavour of thinking about what lies ahead. While many forthcoming projects and books take a more retrospective approach reflecting upon Singapore's past, this book adopts a forward-looking perspective, contemplating Singapore's distant future, which is important for posterity. This book is a collection of key insights from 50 iconic individuals of Singapore and beyond, and contains reasoned arguments, speculations and visionary expectations of Singapore's future in 50 years' time.

The book discusses the distant future of Singapore's economy and the environment. What will Singapore's economic and environment landscape be like 50 years from now? Are there trends or scenarios common to the various discussions contained in this book? If there are, how big would be the impact of some of these trends? What and how should the government respond to these projections, expectations and informed visions of tomorrow? In sum, what would Singapore's economy and environment be like in 2065? The book explores a range of possible answers to these questions and more.

Not only will the generations of today be able to gain much insight into Singapore's future by reading this book, but future generations, specifically 100 years after Singapore's independence, will be able to understand and affirm what and how today's generations think about their time. The book is a key contribution to envisioning Singapore's future, which is also vital for understanding what shapes Singapore's landscape today.

Battle for Hearts and Minds: New Media and Elections in Singapore
Tan Tarn How, Arun Mahizhnan, & Ang Peng Hwa (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814730006 / 9789814713610

This book examines the nexus between old and new media use, political traits, political participation and voting behaviour in the Singapore 2011 elections. It analyses the impact of media and the role of different players (parties and candidates, opinion makers, ordinary voters, youths); the consequences to the voter (their political knowledge, their perception of what issues are important, the manner in which they reconcile conflicting information, the perception of candidates and parties; and their voting behaviour); and the role of technology (social media, mobile telephony).

This book is the outcome of a project led by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), which brought together a dozen researchers from the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and foreign universities.

The book is a landmark study: Besides offering the first comprehensive survey of media's impact in a Singapore election, it also lays the groundwork for understanding the next election due in 2016 as well as serving as a valuable record of the state of affairs on the ground in the rapidly shifting dynamics of a Singapore political landscape that is undergoing a dramatic and unprecedented transformation.

My Life, My Story: Personal Narratives by Singapore's Seniors
Verena Tay (ed.)
Singapore: National Library Board, 2015
ISBN: 9789810960520

All of us have life stories to tell. But the elusive process by which those memories come together to produce a story that moves, entertains or provokes requires lots of hard work -- and the guidance of a good mentor!

The National Library Board is proud to bring you selected works from participants of a memoir writing workshop series it ran with author Verena Tay in 2015.

In this array of seven memoir pieces, you will get a glimpse into childhoods from bygone days, intriguing family histories, and brave personal journeys -- all of which, whether they make you laugh, cry or reminisce, show how unique our lives are in both their delightful and difficult moments, and yet how intertwined we are through the places and communities we share.

50 Years of Singapore-Europe Relations: Celebrating Singapore's Connections with Europe
Lay Hwee Yeo & Barnard Turner (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814675567

As Singapore enters its 50th year of independence, it is a good time to reflect on its past as well as look to the future. 50 Years of Singapore-Europe Relations: Celebrating Singapore's Connections with Europe is one such contribution to the wide collection of books commemorating Singapore's 50th birthday. The essays and articles in this edited volume capture historical moments, reveal the heartfelt wishes and thoughtful comments of Europeans who have made Singapore their home, chronicle some of the long-standing partnerships and ponder the future challenges of Singapore.

This unique book contains a wide range of essays and articles reflecting on the strong connections that Singapore enjoys with Europe, not only at the official level, but also through the contributions that Europeans and European companies have made -- and continue to make -- which enrich Singaporean society. These essays provide a kaleidoscope of views on Singapore -- they explore how close ties and partnerships are forged between nations, how businesses see Singapore as a trustworthy partner and place to invest and establish roots, and, at a more personal level, the articles also present different perspectives on the strengths, and at times, the weaknesses of Singapore as viewed through the eyes of Europeans who live and work in Singapore and consider it as their home.

In commemorating Singapore's 50th birthday, this book will add to the understanding of the richness and diversity of Singapore society, and help readers appreciate and reflect on how openness and connectivity have contributed to the success of Singapore in its first 50 years.

Multiculturalism through the Lens: A Guide to Ethnic and Migrant Anxieties in Singapore
Catherine Gomes
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2015
ISBN: 9789810943332

This book weaves together critical studies of Singaporean films, compelling personal reflections, and analysis of the contemporary socio-political discourse. It probes into issues that arise from the dilemma of globalization and transnational migration in cosmopolitan Singapore and examines the angst of contemporary Singaporeans against the prevailing political order beyond the veneer of multiculturalism and government-sanctioned displays of social cohesion, inclusion, and harmony.

Through analyses of Singaporean films, Catherine Gomes writes about Singaporean anxieties concerning race, ethnicity, and identity construction. She writes honestly of dealing with being Eurasian, the 'Other' in Singapore, where ethnicity becomes a defining label. Her book is a great read while dealing with important issues of labour migration and ethnicity. This book will prove engaging to all Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans.

Front Page: STories of Singapore Since 1845
The Straits Times
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814642231

We come to know a people through their stories: Stories of origin, adversity, failure and triumph. The daily newspaper has been an enduring chronicle of such stories, both everyday and extraordinary, that are close to people's hearts and minds.

Singapore's daily English-language newspaper, The Straits Times, has been reporting these stories since 1845. It has outlived empires and crises to offer readers a front-row seat to events unfolding in Singapore and the world.

Front Page: STories of Singapore since 1845 mines the 170-year-old archives of The Straits Times for articles, headlines and photographs, including never-before-seen pictures, to tell the familiar story of Singapore in a fresh way. It borrows its themes from sections of the newspaper and looks to Singapore’s past to contemplate its present and future.

Step through the pages of The Straits Times to explore where Singapore has been, how its people came to be who they are today, and where the country is headed next.

Eating Together: Food, Space, and Identity in Malaysia and Singapore
Jean Duruz & Gaik Cheng Khoo
Malaysia: SIRD, 2015
ISBN: 9789670630571

Accepting the challenge of rethinking connections of food, space, and identity within everyday spaces of "public" eating in Malaysia and Singapore, Jean Duruz and Gaik Cheng Khoo enter street stalls, hawker centers, markets, cafés, restaurants, "food streets," and "ethnic" neighborhoods to offer a broader picture of the meaning of eating in public places. This book creates a strong sense of the ways different people live, eat, work, and relax together, and it also traces negotiations and accommodations in these dynamics. Ultimately, the book traces the political tensions of "different" people living together, and the search for home and identity in a world on the move. Simply put, Eating Together is about understanding complex forms of multiculturalism in Malaysia and Singapore through the mind, tongue, nose, and eyes.

Our Lives to Live: Putting a Woman's Face to Change in Singapore
Kanwaljit Soin & Margaret Thomas (eds.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814663151

Our Lives to Live: Putting a Woman's Face to Change in Singapore explores how women's roles, choices and voices in Singapore have changed in the last 50 years; how women, from all sectors of society, have helped to shape the Singapore we know today. The 31 chapters, some with a more academic slant, others with a distinctly personal tone, reflect the rich diversity and depth of women's contributions to Singapore's evolution in the last half century, and also point to the problematical areas that still need attention.

The authors include some of Singapore's most accomplished women in many different fields, such as Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, political scientist and diplomat Chan Heng Chee, global women's activist Noeleen Heyzer, sociologist and politician Aline Wong, Singapore's food ambassador Violet Oon, sports legend Pat Chan, law lecturer and playwright Eleanor Wong, and novelist Meira Chand.

Living the Singapore Story: Celebrating Our 50 Years 1965-2015
Angelina Choy & Han Fook Kwang (eds.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2015
ISBN: 9789814342995

Living the Singapore Story is about Singapore, all 50 years of it as an independent nation. It is not a history book, or about its politics or its national leaders. It is about the people of Singapore and the stories they have to tell, in their own words.

They come from all walks of life -- policeman, soldier, doctor, nurse, car salesman, bus driver, teacher, businessman, architect and more -- reflecting the diversity that is Singapore. Some are well-known personalities you may recognise but many are ordinary folks.

These are personal stories, of the lives they led, the jobs they did, the challenges they faced, the things they enjoyed doing. Collectively, they tell the story of a people overcoming the odds to build a nation.

As Singapore marks its 50th anniversary, their stories, in this book commissioned by the National Library Board and produced by Straits Times Press, are worth celebrating.

People Matter: Essays By David Chan
David Chan
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814689021

This book is a collection of twenty-one essays by Professor David Chan, which first appeared in The Straits Times from October 2011 to January 2015. The essays discussed a wide range of topics including happiness and well-being, fairness perceptions, the immigration debate and population policies, social cohesion and integration, social mobility, trust in society, public expectations, rationality and emotions, approaches to policy making, modes of thinking, democracy, shared values and principles, and the social compact between people and Government in Singapore. A common theme that runs through these essays is what David calls "People Matter". "People Matter" refers to both the critical issues that matter to the people and the idea that the way people think, feel and act should matter to policy making and nation building in Singapore.

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.

We ♥ Chinatown
Urban Sketchers Singapore
Singapore: Wee Editions, 2015
ISBN: 9789810778231

Established by the colonial government, southwest of the Singapore River, to cater to Singapore's Chinese-majority immigrant population, Chinatown is today a bustling destination, much like its counterparts around the world. Designated a conservation area by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 1989, the neighbourhood is still referred to as "Niu Che Shui" -- literally "ox-cart water", a reference to how the area received its water supply -- by some.

The pre-war shophouses that once housed coolies, opium dens and letter-writers are now occupied by a mix of old and new: restaurants, souvenir shops, spas, bars and boutiques. The food stalls on Smith Street pay homage to hawkers of the past, and early malls like People's Park Complex have gone new age with rooftop gardens.

Reflecting Singapore's multi-ethnic nature, Chinatown also interestingly houses the country's oldest Hindu temple, and the prominent Jamae Mosque. We ♥ Chinatown offers a glimpse into this vibrant neighbourhood, as seen through the eyes of the talented artists from Urban Sketchers Singapore.

50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore
David Chan (ed.)
Singapore: World Scientific, 2015
ISBN: 9789814632607 / 9789814632614

The social context of Singapore is changing rapidly, and understanding how people think, feel and behave in various situations has become a key driver of effectiveness in addressing social issues. 50 Years of Social Issues in Singapore provides a comprehensive review and examination of various social issues at multiple levels of analysis including the individual, group and society.

This invaluable book adopts a translational approach to social issues in Singapore by explicitly bridging intellectual and practical perspectives. Contributed by a distinguished team of authors, the chapters examine the critical ideas underlying public debates of social issues and their policy and practical implications.

The book is organized into three parts. Part I examines issues of population and social fundamentals in Singapore such as ageing, marriage, urban planning, healthcare and racial and religious harmony. Part II analyses Singapore's social progress through issues of inclusivity such as social mobility, developing communities and marginal groups that deserve more attention. Part III focuses on core principles and social processes related to social justice, doing good, social media and approaches to understanding and addressing social issues in Singapore.

Most importantly, the chapters in this book clearly identify many of the critical, unresolved and emerging questions on various social issues that will guide the next generation of public discussion and policy deliberations on what matter in Singapore.