Keeping the Faith: Syed Isa Samait, Mufti of Singapore, 1972-2010
Syed Zakir Hussain
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2012
ISBN: 9789814342087

Syed Isa Semait worked as a typist, welder, bookseller and marriage registrar before being appointed Mufti of Singapore in 1972 at the age of 33. He soon found his decisions aimed at improving the religious life of Singapore’s Muslim community challenged by many. Some called him a government lackey. But backed by his peers and older religious leaders, he persevered and gradually won the hearts and minds of many Muslim Singaporeans round to what he was convinced was the best way for them to organise their religious affairs in the midst of rapid development.

Keeping the Faith tells the story of Syed Isa, the Mufti of Singapore for almost 40 years, and how with his guidance, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis, or Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura) oversaw improvements to the collection and administration of zakat or tithes, the fixing of Islamic calendar dates, the administration of wakaf or endowments, and the revamping of religious education to keep up with changing times. By the time he stepped down from the post of Mufti at the end of 2010, Syed Isa had helped see to a more confident and progressive Muslim community that was no less religious but more conscious of the role it could play in a cosmopolitan, multi-religious Singapore. As an active member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Syed Isa also led the way in fostering friendships with leaders of the various faiths in Singapore.

Keeping the Faith shows how Syed Isa applied his knowledge and convictions to help shape what he believed would lead to the best outcomes for his community.

Green House: Sustainable Design at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Patrick Bellew, Meredith Davey, & Paul Baker
Novato, CA: ORO Editions, 2012
ISBN: 9781935935568

The book explores the sustainable design principles and innovative engineering behind the development of two of the world's largest conditioned public conservatories or biomes. Nestled within waterfront gardens, the biomes are the centrepiece of a development that will define Singapore as the world's premier tropical garden city: gardens that are on track to become a national and international exemplar of sustainable practice.

Through a combination of photographs, graphics and narratives, the book explores the challenges of building two huge enclosures to recreate, in Singapore's naturally sunny, hot and humid environment, the ideal growing conditions for plants from cool-dry Mediterranean regions and the cool-moist conditions of tropical mountain regions.

While the thrust of the narrative will consider the environmental design and engineering approach of Atelier Ten, three other voices reflect upon the landscape, architectural and structural engineering issues that confronted the core members of the integrated design team. As environmental engineers Atelier Ten developed highly innovative passive and active environmental strategies for controlling conditions within the conservatories, while minimising energy demand to exemplar levels. Outside the Biomes the unique Supertree structures house components of the systems that provide cool and dry air to the biomes and also incorporate photovoltaic panels to generate power. The systems run mainly on tree-thinnings - waste material generated by Singapore's National Parks maintenance programme - which are being diverted from landfill to be used as a source of biomass to generate energy and heat. The landscaping incorporates extensive natural water treatment devices to control, attenuate and cleanse the enormous flows of water from the biome roof areas and the hard landscaping areas during tropical storms. These have been seamlessly integrated into the hard and soft landscaping which comes to life during the frequent deluges that are characteristic of the tropical climate. In addition, Atelier Ten have developed sustainable management matrices to establish agreed principles of design and construction to exceed benchmarks establish by LEED(TM), Singapore's BCA Green Mark scheme and One Planet Living approaches.

Tales of Old Singapore: the Glorious Past of Asia's Greatest Emporium
Iain Manley
Hong Kong: Earnshaw Books, 2012
ISBN: 9789881998408

Old Singapore was an eclectic trade emporium, where an ethnically and culturally diverse populace coalesced, and sometimes clashed, under the aegis of the British Empire.

It was a fascinating world filled with traders of all nations, roving bands of pirates, murderers running amuck and even the occasional flesh-hungry 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.

Private Lives: An Expose of Singapore's Rainforests
Wang Luan Keng
Singapore: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, 2012
ISBN: 9789810724733

The latest in this brilliantly done series of interesting books about Singapore's nature and biodiversity. It covers maybe the most important habitat of all: the tropical rainforests, which still cover small sections of the island. Packed with new information and new stunning photography of charismatic animals and plants that will surprise you. Great souvenir and gift item as well as important reference for serious students of tropical ecology.

Singapore Childhood: Our Stories Then and Now
Jamie Koh
Singapore: World Scientific, 2012
ISBN: 9789814390774

The political, economic and social changes that have occurred over the past 60 years have shaped and transformed the childhood of children in Singapore. This book explores this transformation through anecdotes and memories through interviews with individuals hailing from different races and age groups, together with related archived materials from different sources. The components of childhood birth, home, play, school, health and welfare are revisited so as to provide useful insights about the past to young readers and at the same time serve as a nostalgic read for older readers.

Written in a simple and accessible manner and filled with numerous photographs and specially commissioned cartoons, this book will be of interest to anyone who is interested in knowing about childhood as it was and is being experienced in Singapore.

The Istana
Leong Ching
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2012
ISBN: 9789814351553

As a working palace, the Istana is tradition firmly rooted in the present. It has links with Singapore's colonial past, being first a nutmeg plantation owned by a British businessman, then office to the colonial government and then to Singapore's first President after independence.

Today, it houses the offices of the highest office holders in Singapore - the President and the Prime Minister. It is also a place where ordinary Singaporeans celebrate extraordinary achievements - scholarships, awards for teachers and nurses as well as community leaders, artists and musicians.

The grounds of the Istana reflect Singapore's vision of its future as a city in a garden, flowing from its old rain tress, orchids, spice shrubs and formal gardens. From its slight hill, the Istana looks out into the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore's prime shopping and city belt, a vital part of the country's heartbeat.

50 Greatest Moments in Singapore Football
S. Murali (ed.)
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2012
ISBN: 9789814342254

From the glory days of the Malaysia Cup to the current Malaysian Super League featuring the Lions XII, The New Paper has covered it all. In fact, no newspaper has given as much coverage on Singapore's own domestic league, the S-League.

So when the Legion of Lions, helmed by Leong Kok Fann, Lau Kok Keng and Ian Mullane, was looking to produce a book on the greatest moments in Singapore Football history, they naturally came to The New Paper to bring it to life.

50 Greatest Moments in Singapore Football pays homage to the homegrown football warriors who have given Singapore much to be proud of over the years.

A slice of history plus more than 50 essays: The project team pored over SPH's newspapers from Singapore's pre-independence years to the present.

They took on board the views of football fans and the players themselves. After much debate, they came up with these 50 Greatest Moments. Every one of them is supported by photographs, headlines, news clippings – and a completely new essay that tells the story behind it all. Fresh interviews were conducted, and new facts emerged from the players, coaches and fans: the very moment a spectacular goal was scored, or one missed; the legendary coaches; even the referees.

Singapore Pioneer Poets: The Best of Robert Yeo
Robert Yeo
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2012
ISBN: 9789810718404

Robert Yeo is a poet, playwright, novelist and librettist. Regarded as a pioneer of Singapore literature, he was honoured with the prestigious South East Asian Writers Award in 2011 for literary excellence in the ASEAN region.

Featuring over 100 poems personally selected by Yeo, including some of his uncollected poems, this volume presents the best of his work and also includes one previously unpublished libretto, Kannagi.

This book is part of the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series. A showcase of the best works by local literary giants, the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series is a must-have collection for all Singapore literature fans, old and new.

Singapore Pioneer Poets: The Best of Kirpal Singh
Kirpal Singh
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2012
ISBN: 9789810718411

Kirpal Singh is a poet, literary and cultural critic. An internationally recognised scholar, he was the first Asian director for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and also the first Asian and non-American to be made a director on the American Creativity Association's board.

This collection, handpicked by Singh himself, features seminal works They Say and Creative Thinking as well as many others, and is essential reading for anyone interested in Singapore's literary heritage.

This book is part of the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series. A showcase of the best works by local literary giants, the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series is a must-have collection for all Singapore literature fans, old and new.

Singapore Pioneer Poets: The Best of Edwin Thumboo
Edwin Thumboo
Singapore: Epigram Books, 2012
ISBN: 9789810718398

Edwin Thumboo, Emeritus Professor and Professorial Fellow, National University of Singapore, has been involved in Singapore's literary developments since 1951. A recipient of the Cultural Medallion and numerous other awards for his poetry, Thumboo remains one of Singapore's most distinguished and widely acclaimed poets to this day.

Here, for the first time, is a definitive collection that gathers the best of Thumboo's work. Including his most prominent poem, Ulysses by the Merlion, this collection of over 150 poems personally selected by Thumboo celebrates the landmark contribution he has made to Singaporean literature.

This book is part of the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series. A showcase of the best works by local literary giants, the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series is a must-have collection for all Singapore literature fans, old and new.