Encounters with Singapore Legal History: Essays in Memory of Geoffrey Wilson Bartholomew
Kevin Y.L. Tan & Michael Hor (eds.)
Singapore: Singapore Journal of Legal Studies, 2009
ISBN: 9789810820169

Even though Singapore's recorded legal history is brief - starting as it does from the time of British colonization in 1819 - it is a fascinating one. From its earliest days, Singapore's rulers - colonial and post-colonial - have seen law as an instrument for social change and transformation. The structure of the modern Singaporean family has been shaped by law, as has its built environment and heritage.

Despite this legacy, legal history is one of the most neglected facets in the education of the Singaporean lawyer. Regrettably, many see history as a series of dates and events about things they don't care and about and people they have never heard of. Yet, lawyers constantly search through databases and law books of a bygone era for suitable precedents with which to argue and win their cases, constantly tapping into this aquifer of historical and judicial wisdom.

This collection of essays is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Geoffrey Wilson Bartholomew, the most important post-War historian of Singapore's legal history. Starting out primarily as a commercial lawyer, Bartholomew became fascinated by the question of the reception of English law in Singapore and thereafter, tracing the applicable laws of the land. Even though he spent only 13 years living and teaching in Singapore, Bartholomew spent a life-time studying Singapore's legal system and history.

Men For Others: A Portrait of the Josephian Over the Years
Warren Fernandez
Singapore: Straits Times Press, 2009
ISBN: 9789814266192

St. Joseph's Institution (SJI) has been educating young people from all segments of Singapore society since 1852.

The school is rooted in the teaching traditions established by the Brothers of the Christian Order, founded by John Baptist de La Salle in France in 1680.

Its mission: to imbue young boys drawn from families of all backgrounds with a sense of faith, service and community, moulding them into "Men of Integrity and Men for Others".

This book is a story about that mission. It sketches how the school came to be set up in Bras Basah Road, where it stood through ups and downs for over a century, before moving to its present home in Malcolm Road. It also reveals how the new SJI International, to be opened officially in May 2009, came into being, and the drive of the Brothers and old boys who helped bring it to life.

The SJI story is inextricably tied to that of its students, and this book is a collective portrait of the Josephian. It profiles 50 men and women who graced the school corridors over the years and grew to share in its mission and beliefs, and looks at how they are striving to keep that spirit alive by living it out in their everyday lives - as professionals, in business, in politics and public service, or simply as good fathers, husbands, sons and friends.

Light On the Lotus Hill: Shuang Lin Monastery and the Burma Road

Chan Chow Wah

Singapore: Khoon Chee Vihara, 2009

ISBN: 9789810826741 

Light On the Lotus Hill documents the life and history of Venerable Pu Liang, the 10th Abbot of Shuang Lin Monastery, who was also the chairperson of the Singapore Chinese Buddhist Association from 1937 to 1942.

In 1935, Venerable Pu Liang initiated the 2nd restoration of the Shuang Lin Monastery but when the Sino-Japanese war erupted in 1935, he stopped the restoration project and supported the China Relief Fund founded by Tan Kah Kee.

After the fall of Singapore, Venerable Pu Liang was arrested and executed by the Japanese. It is reasonable to believe that if Venerable Pu Liang had survived the war, he would have restored the Shuang Lin Monastery.

For a Better Age: Musings of a Teacher
Eugene Wijeysingha
Singapore: Candid Creation, 2009
ISBN: 9789810813147

It was not by design that Eugene Wijeysingha became a teacher. Set on continuing his education beyond secondary school but devoid of the financial means to do so, he settled for a teaching bursary. This required him to teach for at least five years upon graduation. Beginning as a teacher in a demanding classroom setting, he then traversed the educational hierarchy before ending up as principal. In the process, the enthusiasm and passion for sharing in the lives of young people gathered momentum. For 35 years, he walked with them, shaping and nurturing the best in them. He never looked back, nor did he regret the way his destiny unfolded. Today, in retirement, he relishes the thought of a life well-spent and the untold rewards that were garnered throughout his career in education.

English as it is Broken 2
Singapore: EPB Pan Pacific Education, 2008
ISBN: 9789812802859

English As It Is Broken 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the bestselling first book. Based on the phenomenally popular online version on STOMP, this sequel sees the English Language Panel answering more of your queries about the mind-boggling intricacies of English language usage.

Singapore Houses
Robert Powell
Singapore: Periplus, 2009
ISBN: 9780804840514

The houses in this book epitomise cutting-edge residential architecture in Singapore at the beginning of the twenty-first century. They demonstrate a remarkable surge of design exploration in the city-state. Architects in Singapore are producing work with a level of refinement and sophistication that is comparable with the best in the world and one would be hard pressed to find a nation of similar size with such an abundance of accomplished young designers who have built independently.

Raffles: The Definitive Biography
Maurice Collis
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2009
ISBN: 9789812617736

Time and perspective have increased the stature of Sir Stamford Raffles, from whose work grew the modern Far East. Maurice Collis's biography gives both a clearer and more human portrayal of this great administrator, humanitarian, pioneer orientalist and collector of animals and plants.

Singapore: The Little Red Book
Luca Invernizzi Tettoni
Singapore: Talisman, 2009
ISBN: 9789810814687

Singapore is a microcosm of the many and varying cultures found in Asia. Everywhere you look you see a different face, another style of dress, a different building style: it's a layered country, full of contradiction, yet homogenised. Like the country this new book showcases these particularly Singaporean sights: the contrasts and contradictions as well as the parallels.

Singapore Chic [new ed.]
Adrianna Tan
Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2009
ISBN: 9789814217866

Unlike other cities in Asia, Singapore is a city that is comfortable with the past, always keeps an eye on the future and yet remains firmly grounded in the present. From historic Chinatown to the designer boutiques of Orchard Road; from bumboats on the Singapore River to the skyscrapers that form the backdrop of a modern metropolis hosting the world's very first Formula One night race, this bustling island-state is a mixture of style, sophistication and high-octane energy.

Singapore Chic introduces its reader to the glamour and excitement that is Singapore. Showcasing local designers in traditional shop-houses beside shining new developments such as the casinos of the state-of-the-art Integrated Resorts, the chapters of the book are arranged by districts and reflect the eclectic mix of East and West that is unique to Singapore

Stylish international hotels and elegant boutique hotels will be profiled alongside the country's best restaurants, shops, spas and nightspots. Each profile is supported by a fact box summarising key information, contact details and the distinct features of each establishment so that readers can make a choice that caters best to their particular needs.

Singapore Chic is the new 'must-have' accessory for today's modern traveller planning to discover the true delights of a vibrant city that is revamping itself before the eyes of Asia and the world.

The Hung: Chinese Secret Societies in Malaya & Singapore
Leon Comber
Singapore: Talisman, 2009
ISBN: 9789810814670

This new volume is a collection of two groundbreaking publications from the 1950s by Dr Leon Comber; Introduction to Secret Societies and Traditional Mysteries of Chinese Secret Societies in Malaya. The books initiate lay people to the mysterious world of Chinese secret societies. Secret societies were originally founded on the bedrock of blood ties, kinship, mutual help and rebellion against repressive regimes and especially relevant to the immigrant communities of the Nanyang (overseas) Chinese as they integrated into new homelands. To that extent, many of their rituals, codes of conduct and history held true to original ideals. Over time however, many secret societies later turned to crime and have become synonymous with criminal organisations serving their leaders and gang members' purposes rather than the wider community.