I Read
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Soul of Ink: Lim Tze Peng at 100 by Woon Tai Ho (2022)
I befriended Tai Ho through Mr. George Yeo when we met to talk about the latter’s biography. Tai Ho is the author of the three series. At another occasion at Tai Ho’s house, he presented me a copy of his award-winning book–Soul of Ink: Lim Tze Peng at 100. The said book had won the…
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Lessons From the Edge–Learning Self-Mastery, How to Lead Others and Resilience by David Lim (2023)
I’ve known David Lim-the Everest Guy–since JC at Hwa Chong. He was my direct senior at A14 and was our X-country Assistant Coach in our second year. He is also a popular motivational speaker in the world currently. So, while learning to be a professional speaker, I met up with him. It was at the…
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The Paradox of American Power: Why the World’s Only Superpower Can’t Go it Alone by Joseph S. Nye Junior
I pick up this old book on America as the only superpower in the world after seeing her “stuck” in the Middle East with Israel against Iran currently. The late Joseph S. Nye Junior was my Dean at the Harvard Kennedy School when I was a postgraduate student there from 2002 to 2003. In fact,…
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The Cockroach Way: How to Survive, Adapt, and Thrive in a BANI World by Sebastian Chen (2025)
I received a request from Sebastian Chen (one of the founders of SG60 Voices from the Heart) in end Mar 2026 to read and do a review of his book, The Cockroach Way. I agreed and below is the said review, which is unique in two ways from my previous book reviews. First, Sebastian sent…
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Still Relevant in the Age of AI? A Practical Career Guide for PMETs by Dr Nik Chong (2025)
In Feb 2026, I attended the SG60 Voices From the Heart session at the Harbourfront Library. There, I met the founder/organizer of the event, Dr Nik Chong. At the event, he was also promoting his book, Still Relevant in the Age of AI? Subsequently, I read the book and agreed to his request to do…
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Up Your Service! Insights by Ron Kaufman (2005)
I had received this book FOC from Mr Kaufman himself in December last year when he turned up unexpectedly as part of the closing session of the Get Paid to Speak workshop at MBS. That evening, he gave a short but great speech. And I had the chance to ask the first question from the…
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Wee Kim Wee: Glimpses and Reflections (2004)
One of the favourite autobiographical books that I have read is that by the late President Wee Kim Wee. It is personal, sincere and narrative. Being a journalist for a long time, his book is also both simple and readable. Former President Wee Kim Wee gives candid and rare glimpses of his extraordinary and fulfilling…
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The Warren Buffett Way (Third Edition) by Robert G. Hagstrom (2014)
This is the first investment book that I have read in my life. It was both refreshing and daunting to read this book. Warren Buffett (WB) invests by owning companies and own substantial shares in companies. I invest by owning very limited retail bonds and funds based on stocks and bonds. Thus, a direct comparison…
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Conserving the Past, Creating the Future–Urban Heritage in Singapore by Lily Kong (2011)
This carefully researched and compelling book written by Lily Kong brings the reader through the changing landscapes of Singapore from its early colonial roots (Raffles Town Plan), its overcrowded squalor and its aggressive demolition-and-rebuilding phases to the greater sensitivity that characterises urban planning today, acknowledging the place of history, memory and heritage in the making…
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Goh Chok Tong Biography: Volume 1 (2019) & 2 (2021) by Peh Shing Huei
I first read the biography of Goh Chok Tong in 2019-2021, and reread both volumes in 2025. In both cases, like the person, the biography came across simple, clear and sincere. This also very much sums up the 14 years (from 1990 to 2004) for Singapore when Goh was the Prime Minister. Of course, his…