50 Things to Love about Singapore

by Susan Long (Editor)

As Singapore marks 50 years of independence, The Straits Times (ST) has put together a book about love. This intimate study of the things we know and love about Singapore is written by some of ST’s most authoritative beat reporters. It is a dossier of modern Singapore halfway through her first century, an often surprising composite portrait of the little quirks, incongruities and rhythms of life in Singapore, which we chortle, ruminate and worry over, with familial affection but sometimes also exasperation.

It delves into the ironies of nanny state policies and political instincts that die hard among rulers and ruled alike, pricey cars and real estate, a land-scarce city which prizes greenery to the point of fashioning vertical gardens, Singapore’s prowess at the most oddball sports and penchant for setting all manner of world records, her own brand of guided multi-racialism, her citizens’ preference to complain rather than protest, the fast-growing global cult that is Singapore maths, and the skilful code switching that makes it so natural for Singaporeans to eat across many cultural and culinary cost divides.But enduring love is not blind. The writers do not flinch from looking at where Singapore is showing her age and what she has had to leave behind in the quest for her next edge.

There is much to love about Singapore at 50. But this has been no easy ask-no-questions, take-her-as-she-is love.

248 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2014

Reviews

[NJ Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a commemorative book published by Straits Time Press to celebrate Singapore's 50th year of independence. It contains 50 articles on Singapore idiosyncrasies such as Singlish, COE (certificate of entitlement) etc, written by various Straits Times journalists and compiled and edited by Susan Long.

Actually, I didn't find any of the 50 articles particularly note worthy. This is probably because as a Singaporean, I am already living and breathing the things documented in this book, and the articles do not - on the main - provide additional illumination or elucidation on the topics they cover. However, the articles are well researched and quite in depth, and this may be useful for non-Singaporean readers who want to know a little more about the country.

Compilation books like this are actually a bit like mini-wikis, because each of the 50 topics are written just like encyclopedia entries. Because of this inherent structure, there is no connecting thread that leads each preceding chapter to the next. In this day and age, encyclopedia style books are best published as digital offerings instead of physical books.

This book would work better if it did not limit itself to just 50 chapters, or if the subjects were better grouped/arranged. There are quite a lot of books (50 Philosophy Ideas, 50 Economic Ideas etc) around, and those books are much better arranged than this one.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been one of my 'bathroom books' for the past eight months, and today I finally finished it! It was ideal bathroom reading, because it is divided into fifty chapters, each one a free-standing short article about some aspect of life in Singapore. A lot of it was about things that are very familiar, which made it interesting for finding out a little more and hearing a local perspective. The book was published to mark the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence, so it is pretty upbeat and 'party line'. It is packed full of positive patriotic superlatives - the best, the first, the biggest, smallest, tallest, wealthiest, smartest, most amazing ever whatever, which was somewhat wearing, though in the context of SG50, understandable. I'm sure there are other places and contexts for more serious critique. In the meantime this book was entertaining and informative and mostly enjoyable.