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Neither Civil Nor Servant
Philip Yeo is unlike any civil servant. He prefers action over talk,
cartoons over words and speed over due process. The maverick was blunt, direct and not afraid to challenge the status quo, earning him a reputation not only as one of Singapore’s most accomplished government officials, but also among its most colourful bureaucrats.
Neither Civil Nor Servant captures the half a century career of the former Economic Development Board chairman, telling the stories of brilliant achievements almost unparalleled in the history of the Singapore civil service. Yeo was the man who turned Batam into a household name in Singapore, created Jurong Island from seawater and put the country on the biomedical map globally with its iconic Biopolis. The famous rule breaker bulldozed his way through the bureaucracy he was a part of, blazing new paths in a manner more akin to an entrepreneur than a civil servant. In the process, he offended
more than a few and was never afraid to challenge naysayers publicly, regardless of status and background.
In the hands of acclaimed journalist and author Peh Shing Huei,
this authorised biography brings out Philip Yeo the private man behind the public figure and uncovers the behind-the-scene stories of some of Singapore’s biggest post-independence military, economic and political adventures. Neither Civil Nor Servant is an engaging and enthralling book, offering fascinating insights
cartoons over words and speed over due process. The maverick was blunt, direct and not afraid to challenge the status quo, earning him a reputation not only as one of Singapore’s most accomplished government officials, but also among its most colourful bureaucrats.
Neither Civil Nor Servant captures the half a century career of the former Economic Development Board chairman, telling the stories of brilliant achievements almost unparalleled in the history of the Singapore civil service. Yeo was the man who turned Batam into a household name in Singapore, created Jurong Island from seawater and put the country on the biomedical map globally with its iconic Biopolis. The famous rule breaker bulldozed his way through the bureaucracy he was a part of, blazing new paths in a manner more akin to an entrepreneur than a civil servant. In the process, he offended
more than a few and was never afraid to challenge naysayers publicly, regardless of status and background.
In the hands of acclaimed journalist and author Peh Shing Huei,
this authorised biography brings out Philip Yeo the private man behind the public figure and uncovers the behind-the-scene stories of some of Singapore’s biggest post-independence military, economic and political adventures. Neither Civil Nor Servant is an engaging and enthralling book, offering fascinating insights
228 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
55 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
March 30, 2017
Best book this year. Philip Yeo is such an inspiration and Singapore is indeed lucky to have him. Damn the critics. They have not done even an iota of what he has achieved for Singapore. Mind you, I was not a fan before reading this book.
August 24, 2017
The hottest book ever in NLB perhaps with a waiting list even longer than that for a Hermes handbag I supposed. Obviously an exaggeration but you get what I mean.
Entertaining book with enough stories to keep you occupied. Perhaps the more important point that people seem to be missing was that he had bosses who trusted him! If his bosses didn't trust him, we probably wouldn't even know he exists. He was lucky enough to meet Dr Goh and LKY who let him do whatever he did. Hard to imagine any civil servant doing this right now cos no politician would even give them the leeway to do so.
Entertaining book with enough stories to keep you occupied. Perhaps the more important point that people seem to be missing was that he had bosses who trusted him! If his bosses didn't trust him, we probably wouldn't even know he exists. He was lucky enough to meet Dr Goh and LKY who let him do whatever he did. Hard to imagine any civil servant doing this right now cos no politician would even give them the leeway to do so.
March 24, 2017
Fast-paced and engaging, I felt a quick personal connection to the man just by from reading alone. Commendations to the author!
I would highly recommend this book to Singaporeans for two main reasons. One, regarding Philip Yeo's brand of leadership. Two, on the importance of not sitting around and waiting for the perfect analysis. Both points are key for Singapore to achieve the dynamism for our future.
The last key takeaway is to never think that the leader should prioritize himself more because he "made it possible". Ultimately this train of thought is unsustainable in any organization. I do observe peers and many others who believe that for some reason they deserve more than others because the system or some other authority has indicated that they are "leaders". Hmm.
I would highly recommend this book to Singaporeans for two main reasons. One, regarding Philip Yeo's brand of leadership. Two, on the importance of not sitting around and waiting for the perfect analysis. Both points are key for Singapore to achieve the dynamism for our future.
The last key takeaway is to never think that the leader should prioritize himself more because he "made it possible". Ultimately this train of thought is unsustainable in any organization. I do observe peers and many others who believe that for some reason they deserve more than others because the system or some other authority has indicated that they are "leaders". Hmm.
July 4, 2021
Paralleling Philip Yeo's life, this book moves at a breakneck pace as well. From his early years to present, Neither Civil Nor Servant paints an excellent picture of the life of the 'rule-breaker'. From the onset, I was introduced to Philip Yeo's hectic yet downright thrilling life of building the Singapore economy. Navigating through many different industries and improving them, the 'do-er' is personified. The process of ideation to actualization was simply invigorating, and to view the fruits of his labour throughout travelling Singapore made me further appreciate his efforts.
It is a timely read for everyone, as we always seek motivations in whatever we do. Philip Yeo's motivations are made known this book. But more importantly, we also understand his discipline in maintaining his everlasting passion for progressing the nation. This is the foremost takeaway, leaving me to reaffirm my own passions and ambition. I left the book contemplating on the next frontiers of Singapore, with difficult questions that I hope to seek answers to in the future.
It is a timely read for everyone, as we always seek motivations in whatever we do. Philip Yeo's motivations are made known this book. But more importantly, we also understand his discipline in maintaining his everlasting passion for progressing the nation. This is the foremost takeaway, leaving me to reaffirm my own passions and ambition. I left the book contemplating on the next frontiers of Singapore, with difficult questions that I hope to seek answers to in the future.
May 27, 2017
Bumped it up to 4 stars because there will not be another civil/public servant like anyone from the old(er) guards generations anymore. As a seasoned former public servant, what Philip Yeo did and accomplished are fantasies of the current civil/public servants. Achievements aside, whatever he managed to get away with are what most would like to be able to do but weren't brave and empowered
enough. The government now is also very different from then, so are citizens. If Philip Yeo were to do whatever he did so many years back now, I bet the current generations of citizens will question a lot of his moves and ask him to be accountable for all of the $$ and decisions. What he did worked then, but doubt they will work now. Nonetheless, a good book for those who are in civil and public service - many need to look at processes with a new eye and not be complacent.
enough. The government now is also very different from then, so are citizens. If Philip Yeo were to do whatever he did so many years back now, I bet the current generations of citizens will question a lot of his moves and ask him to be accountable for all of the $$ and decisions. What he did worked then, but doubt they will work now. Nonetheless, a good book for those who are in civil and public service - many need to look at processes with a new eye and not be complacent.
December 8, 2018
Good biography on Philip Yeo. It recounts his work and contributions to Singapore and reveals his work ethics. He highlights the importance of cultivating relationships that will affect work and getting the job done. His determination and tireless devotion to his job also reminds us of the hardship it takes to be successful.
April 28, 2017
It is not difficult to understand how this man is able to have a long list of impressive achievements. He is clear in what he wants, and wastes no time in making things happen. He may be arrogant and insubordinate at times, but at the end of the day, he still delivers the results, what can you say! One thing I'm skeptical about is when the politicians who are interviewed in the book say yes Singapore needs more Philip Yeos, and I wonder, are these leaders even walking the talk? Aren't they exactly the kind of civil servants that Philip Yeo is digging at? In the book, we've seen how Singapore tackles the challenges from MINDEF, to Jurong Island, Batam, Biopolis, and to A*STAR. What's next for Singapore now? I presume it's Smart Nation, but do we have the right people with the right qualities in the right working environment to lead the push? I think this book is excellent for us to reflect on the current state of our Civil Service, and think about what are the kind of leaders we want to nurture to lead Singapore for the next 50 years.
July 21, 2017
Good read. Philip Yeo is a very practical man. We need people like him to lead Singapore.
September 29, 2017
Started on this book because I registered for a talk by Philip Yeo so it might be a good idea do some prior reading up first.
For a non-reader, I have to concur that this book was an easy read, especially so as it was sprinkled with a dash of wit and humour by the man himself from the QnA segments.
This was a delightful read also because I was instantly drawn by the spirit of Philip Yeo, particularly the can-do spirit which charges him through his work as long as he sees meaning and importance in it. For me as a civil servant, it hits closer to home as I reflect on the practices in our workplace and our own working styles, and spurs me to think if how we do the work we do are always the most ideal to value-add to the end goal in mind, that is the larger Singapore story (this is despite the fact that I may/ may not agree with some of the methods he used to get his way). For some of us holding leadership positions, this book reminds us how it's always about 3 Ps - passion, purpose and people. The biography transits smoothly to an ending with a personal touch, that despite the fierce, aggressive and impatient public persona that Philip Yeo displays to get his work done, the core in him really is still about his staff, the people around him, and his country.
Most importantly, I am grateful. I've grown up hearing only of a few familiar names when I learn about the success of Singapore, but a young Singaporean like me has never heard of Philip Yeo until this book. While many of our pioneer leaders have been the visionaries behind the Singapore story, the country's transformation from Third World to First would never have taken place as such speed without the hands of the doers like Philip Yeo. To learn about the contributions of Philip Yeo towards many aspects of Singapore's development, I can't help feeling grateful for all that we enjoy as a nation. Thanks Peh Shing Huei for this book.
Truly inspiring and refreshing! A must read not just for all in public service, but also every Singaporean.
For a non-reader, I have to concur that this book was an easy read, especially so as it was sprinkled with a dash of wit and humour by the man himself from the QnA segments.
This was a delightful read also because I was instantly drawn by the spirit of Philip Yeo, particularly the can-do spirit which charges him through his work as long as he sees meaning and importance in it. For me as a civil servant, it hits closer to home as I reflect on the practices in our workplace and our own working styles, and spurs me to think if how we do the work we do are always the most ideal to value-add to the end goal in mind, that is the larger Singapore story (this is despite the fact that I may/ may not agree with some of the methods he used to get his way). For some of us holding leadership positions, this book reminds us how it's always about 3 Ps - passion, purpose and people. The biography transits smoothly to an ending with a personal touch, that despite the fierce, aggressive and impatient public persona that Philip Yeo displays to get his work done, the core in him really is still about his staff, the people around him, and his country.
Most importantly, I am grateful. I've grown up hearing only of a few familiar names when I learn about the success of Singapore, but a young Singaporean like me has never heard of Philip Yeo until this book. While many of our pioneer leaders have been the visionaries behind the Singapore story, the country's transformation from Third World to First would never have taken place as such speed without the hands of the doers like Philip Yeo. To learn about the contributions of Philip Yeo towards many aspects of Singapore's development, I can't help feeling grateful for all that we enjoy as a nation. Thanks Peh Shing Huei for this book.
Truly inspiring and refreshing! A must read not just for all in public service, but also every Singaporean.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2023
Written well-enough and has a lot of fascinating material. But the author is a painfully mainstream journalist, which leads to two defects.
First, lacking a historian's instinct for providing context, he describes Yeo's life up-close, in the terms offered by his subject and his subject's allies. This leads to us knowing quite a lot of facts, but very little of their significance outside of the orthodox narrative of how he contributed to economic developmeny.
Second, while we keep being told that Yeo is divisive, the author seems intent on treating Yeo hagiographically, transforming all contestation into more evidence of his genius or being misunderstood. This is despite the author apparently being given access to personal archives that "showed [Yeo] in a less than flattering light."
The ultimate tragedy is that Yeo, who by all means sounds like a maverick in many ways, is made to fit into the same old story. For example, near the end, we are told Yeo was someone who always worked for the public good, and when he broke rules it was never "for the fun of breaking rules" (219). But in his speech to NUS students quoted in the very next page, Yeo claims the thing most memorable from his career was "the fun I had in all the jobs I have held!" (220). A more curious author might have held off from making neat divisions between public service or fun, or inquired more into Yeo's own constant insistence that he was more an entrepreneur than a civil servant (where did this division come from? Was this part of the growing managerial environment or a personal idiosyncrasy?) I get that there are probably complex political considerations behind the scenes, but perhaps it would be better to lay off writing if you can't write an adequately penetrating book.
First, lacking a historian's instinct for providing context, he describes Yeo's life up-close, in the terms offered by his subject and his subject's allies. This leads to us knowing quite a lot of facts, but very little of their significance outside of the orthodox narrative of how he contributed to economic developmeny.
Second, while we keep being told that Yeo is divisive, the author seems intent on treating Yeo hagiographically, transforming all contestation into more evidence of his genius or being misunderstood. This is despite the author apparently being given access to personal archives that "showed [Yeo] in a less than flattering light."
The ultimate tragedy is that Yeo, who by all means sounds like a maverick in many ways, is made to fit into the same old story. For example, near the end, we are told Yeo was someone who always worked for the public good, and when he broke rules it was never "for the fun of breaking rules" (219). But in his speech to NUS students quoted in the very next page, Yeo claims the thing most memorable from his career was "the fun I had in all the jobs I have held!" (220). A more curious author might have held off from making neat divisions between public service or fun, or inquired more into Yeo's own constant insistence that he was more an entrepreneur than a civil servant (where did this division come from? Was this part of the growing managerial environment or a personal idiosyncrasy?) I get that there are probably complex political considerations behind the scenes, but perhaps it would be better to lay off writing if you can't write an adequately penetrating book.
May 3, 2021
An exciting dive into how Singapore's economy developed through methods and processes that are probably unfathomable to the younger generation of Singaporeans and civil servants. Defying bureaucracy, ignoring standard operating procedures, and choosing to ask for forgiveness rather than permission, Philip Yeo exemplified himself as the fast-moving and go-getting maverick Singapore needed to transform from 'third world to first'. Philip understood that talent came with weakness, so he made sure to let his strengths in salesmanship, networking, leadership, and big-picture thinking outshine his acts of insubordination and weaknesses in "keeping it going" after breaking new ground. There's a lot of value in this book to both public and private sector leaders that flows from the life of Philip Yeo - a businessman and entrepreneur in his own right who grew into one of Singapore's most accomplished and controversial civil servants.
September 30, 2022
Having read quite a few biographies of founders of great companies, e.g., Home Depot, Nike. One thing I always wondered was how employees felt when reading them. Neither Civil Nor Servant was my turn, and I loved it. I related much more to this.
Best line in the book for me was - "You have to be prepared to live with someone else's weakness to access his strengths". Philip Yeo is clearly an amazing executor (honestly some of his achievements were seriously seriously tough), but he was also clearly a rule bender, or in Mark Zuckerberg's terms - move fast and break things kind of guy. I can imagine his time to be very different if not for the complementary strengths offered by LKY and Dr Goh. Nevertheless, I did gain a LOT of insights into industries, resources, talents etc from this book. Deep respect for him - Singapore wouldn't be the same without his contributions.
Best line in the book for me was - "You have to be prepared to live with someone else's weakness to access his strengths". Philip Yeo is clearly an amazing executor (honestly some of his achievements were seriously seriously tough), but he was also clearly a rule bender, or in Mark Zuckerberg's terms - move fast and break things kind of guy. I can imagine his time to be very different if not for the complementary strengths offered by LKY and Dr Goh. Nevertheless, I did gain a LOT of insights into industries, resources, talents etc from this book. Deep respect for him - Singapore wouldn't be the same without his contributions.
June 10, 2021
Interesting and fascinating look at a probably one-of-a-kind civil servant who is far from your typical government official. If he had joined the private sector, he could well have become a billionaire, skilled as he was in building up industries and businesses they way he did for modern Singapore. As someone in the books says, you need a visionary like Lee Kuan Yew but you also need someone to put that vision into practice. Philip Yeo, who was mentored by Goh Keng Swee, was that man. He developed Singapore's defence and technologies industries, the Economic Development Board and its scholarship system, and then also came up with and built the Batam idea, the Jurong Island petrochemical industries, helped out in Shenzhen, followed by the biomedical industry through Biopolis and Fusionopolis. My only complaint is the largely one-sided look at the man - which was probably one condition for the book being written at all.
April 1, 2018
This biography is a must read for all Singaporeans and friends of Singapore! It provides excellent insight into the life of a leader in the likes of LKY as well as how Jurong Island, Batam, Biopolis and several other household names came to be.
As much as LKY was a visionary and a thinker, Yeo is a pioneer and a doer. I gathered that he is an atypical leader of myriad interests, operating at a very different frequency from most others. Naturally, he has many interesting stories to share, some of which are absolutely classic. The unorthodox ways in which he handled things while being entertaining were also a reminder that being 'crazy' at times can actually be very useful.
His patriotism for Singapore shines through the lengths he has gone to in pulling off projects for the nation. He must really love Singapore. How many of us today would really dedicate our entire lives to Singapore or do the things he did, if we were not in the position of say, a minister?
It is evident that the author is an avid Yeo supporter and he's painted an invincible hero out of Yeo. But it makes for an engaging read, so no complaints.
As much as LKY was a visionary and a thinker, Yeo is a pioneer and a doer. I gathered that he is an atypical leader of myriad interests, operating at a very different frequency from most others. Naturally, he has many interesting stories to share, some of which are absolutely classic. The unorthodox ways in which he handled things while being entertaining were also a reminder that being 'crazy' at times can actually be very useful.
His patriotism for Singapore shines through the lengths he has gone to in pulling off projects for the nation. He must really love Singapore. How many of us today would really dedicate our entire lives to Singapore or do the things he did, if we were not in the position of say, a minister?
It is evident that the author is an avid Yeo supporter and he's painted an invincible hero out of Yeo. But it makes for an engaging read, so no complaints.
December 31, 2025
Philip Yeo is such a force of character, that all the stories of him just lend their appeal to the readability of the book. This is a sort of leader that actually goes out there and gets things done, even if foreign partners don't turn out the way he expected, he always shifts gears, and he always learns.
September 29, 2021
The writing was fluid and easy to read. I liked the idea of including interviews at the end of each section, which definitely made Philip Yeo seem more human. Philip Yeo is definitely a unique breed and a key contributor to our history. Through the book, I learnt a lot about him, including how he has a tendency to bump shoulders and make unconventional (sometimes, controversial) decisions. I'm not sure how I feel about him as an individual, but thankful we had someone like him to lead Singapore in the early years and grateful for his contributions to creating jobs and building the economy.
September 2, 2025
a very engaging & inspiring read on how this man got things done in govt, using his creativity, boldness, curiosity and foresight to navigate / work around all the bureaucracy (he rly took systems thinking to the next level). embodiment of “ask for forgiveness, don’t ask for permission” hahah. got me to reflect on my own tendencies & the tendencies i observe too - timely reminder to be bold & brave & not get held up by the why’s!
December 19, 2020
5 stars for the book, 6 stars for the man
August 28, 2017
Great insight into Philip Yeo's career. It's also made clear how his style is very difficult to replicate these days. Lots of nice little stories inside.
November 23, 2025
A deep dive into Singapore’s modern history from an economic perspective. As a Singaporean, it enabled me to better understand the decisions behind singapore’s economic success. Amazing!
July 9, 2023
With 32 years resident in Singapore, I have always been curious about Philip Yeo -- a larger than life Singaporean government leader who has the reputation of outstanding achievements and a difficult personality. This book, which is very aptly titled, brought to life the reputation Philip Yeo has earned. It's also a story about the Singapore miracle, which is as much about people as policy.
Before reading the book I had a sense of Philip Yeo's legacy -- what I was familiar with was his overall contribution of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), his specific contribution to the petroleum and petrochemicals sector and his efforts to build a biomedical sector almost from scratch (with a great deal of state funding). These efforts were well substantiated in the book, and gave me a renewed perspective that very little in Singapore is serendipity -- at least at the outset, everything is planned. Each of these contributions are truly stunning achievements. I also knew several government leaders for who Philip Yeo is a role model.
One topic the book does a good job of establishing is that a key part of Philip Yeo's legacy is the people he has led, developed and influenced -- people like Dr. Beh Swan Gin, Josephine Teo, Li Yi Shyan, Aw Kah Peng, David Lim and Lim Swee Say, all of whom I have met and most of whom I have worked with in some capacity. To a person they reflect some of the best of his ideals --- results oriented, passionate, people centric and caring, perhaps also with less acerbic styles.
A second topic I found interesting was this image I developed of the "consummate Singapore man" (or woman) -- an engineer (or at least STEM), high GPA (only 3.8+ will do; no mention of extracurricular achievements), always busy, always prepared, always scolding (because he cares about you), slightly arrogant, subtly pro-Singaporean Chinese and with a mild dose of anti-ang mo). I have come across the Singapore man countlessly in my interactions on Boards and Temasek-linked companies, but I had never really understood the origins.
I applaud the tremendous attention Philip Yeo paid to the people his organizations bestowed scholarships to, or people on his teams. The second to last chapter, which summarized Philip's leadership traits, resonated with what I associate as the traits of great business and government leaders.
One criticism of the book would be that there were too many anecdotes of just how hard Philip Yeo works, how much he reads, how many times he closed the deal or saved the day; between the lines I felt a fuller picture of the man emerged: a man on a mission who protected his team as long as they delivered, but was a real bastard to anyone on another team, with a different set of priorities or even a different working style. We have all come across people like this in our lives, and we all have mixed emotions about working with them or deploying them in organizations.
A second criticism was insufficient attention to the negative views of Philip Yeo's legacies. Why did Lee Kuan Yew say "Philip, the old guard values you, the younger generation does not?" It’s a profound statement. I must say I winced for the current generation of leaders, in the EDB and elsewhere, every time I read one of Philip's dismissive comments about "who in the PSC is reading these things now?" or "who is meeting with the leaders of Indonesia like I do?" or "EDB scholars who failed went to the TDB."
A final criticism would be the lack of introspection of some of Philip Yeo's contradictions. For example, he is dismissive of "too much democracy" and yet much of his career was attracting MNC investment from the west. These same democracies house the universities that Philip Yeo spent millions of dollars sending his "guppies" on scholarships to attend.
I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a glimpse into how the Singapore government works and the style of a very successful "Singapore man."
Before reading the book I had a sense of Philip Yeo's legacy -- what I was familiar with was his overall contribution of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), his specific contribution to the petroleum and petrochemicals sector and his efforts to build a biomedical sector almost from scratch (with a great deal of state funding). These efforts were well substantiated in the book, and gave me a renewed perspective that very little in Singapore is serendipity -- at least at the outset, everything is planned. Each of these contributions are truly stunning achievements. I also knew several government leaders for who Philip Yeo is a role model.
One topic the book does a good job of establishing is that a key part of Philip Yeo's legacy is the people he has led, developed and influenced -- people like Dr. Beh Swan Gin, Josephine Teo, Li Yi Shyan, Aw Kah Peng, David Lim and Lim Swee Say, all of whom I have met and most of whom I have worked with in some capacity. To a person they reflect some of the best of his ideals --- results oriented, passionate, people centric and caring, perhaps also with less acerbic styles.
A second topic I found interesting was this image I developed of the "consummate Singapore man" (or woman) -- an engineer (or at least STEM), high GPA (only 3.8+ will do; no mention of extracurricular achievements), always busy, always prepared, always scolding (because he cares about you), slightly arrogant, subtly pro-Singaporean Chinese and with a mild dose of anti-ang mo). I have come across the Singapore man countlessly in my interactions on Boards and Temasek-linked companies, but I had never really understood the origins.
I applaud the tremendous attention Philip Yeo paid to the people his organizations bestowed scholarships to, or people on his teams. The second to last chapter, which summarized Philip's leadership traits, resonated with what I associate as the traits of great business and government leaders.
One criticism of the book would be that there were too many anecdotes of just how hard Philip Yeo works, how much he reads, how many times he closed the deal or saved the day; between the lines I felt a fuller picture of the man emerged: a man on a mission who protected his team as long as they delivered, but was a real bastard to anyone on another team, with a different set of priorities or even a different working style. We have all come across people like this in our lives, and we all have mixed emotions about working with them or deploying them in organizations.
A second criticism was insufficient attention to the negative views of Philip Yeo's legacies. Why did Lee Kuan Yew say "Philip, the old guard values you, the younger generation does not?" It’s a profound statement. I must say I winced for the current generation of leaders, in the EDB and elsewhere, every time I read one of Philip's dismissive comments about "who in the PSC is reading these things now?" or "who is meeting with the leaders of Indonesia like I do?" or "EDB scholars who failed went to the TDB."
A final criticism would be the lack of introspection of some of Philip Yeo's contradictions. For example, he is dismissive of "too much democracy" and yet much of his career was attracting MNC investment from the west. These same democracies house the universities that Philip Yeo spent millions of dollars sending his "guppies" on scholarships to attend.
I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a glimpse into how the Singapore government works and the style of a very successful "Singapore man."
April 15, 2023
I thought the book was immensely readable and offered real insights. The personality of Philip Yeo seemed to leap off the page.
I like this genre of story telling where the tale of a nation is told through the stories of its individual leaders (both ministers and civil servants).
The book devotes a chapter or two each to his childhood, his MINDEF days, then to when he became Mr. EDB. This includes the insight which realized the Batam tourism hub, but also the creation of Jurong Island and Jurong Town Corporation on an island that did not exist. The tremendous size of a vision, for attracting chemical and petrochemical companies from around the world to locate here and share common facilities like cooling water, waste treatment and steam to third party specialists like Sembcorp and Power Seraya- setting up in Singapore to serve the world- simply boggles the mind. Thereafter, Singapore's push into life sciences and Biopolis; and after the 1998 crisis, merging of R&D platforms under the A* umbrella- all these are Country Strategies, implemented by sterling leaders who knew how to execute, but this comes alive in a very unusual way because of the personalities that are described here. Strategic vs. operational; talent cultivation vs. maverick- all knit together nicely and the story is a compelling one worth reading.
I like this genre of story telling where the tale of a nation is told through the stories of its individual leaders (both ministers and civil servants).
The book devotes a chapter or two each to his childhood, his MINDEF days, then to when he became Mr. EDB. This includes the insight which realized the Batam tourism hub, but also the creation of Jurong Island and Jurong Town Corporation on an island that did not exist. The tremendous size of a vision, for attracting chemical and petrochemical companies from around the world to locate here and share common facilities like cooling water, waste treatment and steam to third party specialists like Sembcorp and Power Seraya- setting up in Singapore to serve the world- simply boggles the mind. Thereafter, Singapore's push into life sciences and Biopolis; and after the 1998 crisis, merging of R&D platforms under the A* umbrella- all these are Country Strategies, implemented by sterling leaders who knew how to execute, but this comes alive in a very unusual way because of the personalities that are described here. Strategic vs. operational; talent cultivation vs. maverick- all knit together nicely and the story is a compelling one worth reading.
November 26, 2022
I must have been living in some cave because I have never heard of Philip Yeo until I pick up this book.
And what a conspicuous, unorthodox, gritty and non-conformist leader he is, albeit living and working in a highly structured and regulated organisation. I cannot fathom how he juggle to maintain a work-life balance and still remain so passionate about Singapore’s economy through these years. His desire for lifelong learning is truly inspiring as he take on subjects beyond his circle of competence, which eventually equipped him to contribute significantly on our economic, military and biomedical sectors. More importantly, his great love and dedication for Singapore stood out consistently throughout the book.
I’m deeply appreciative of what Mr Yeo and the many pioneer generation leaders have done to elevate Singapore’s economy and our standard of living. This book is a great reminder to stay hungry, have the ‘never say die’ spirit and the courage to always do what is right.
And what a conspicuous, unorthodox, gritty and non-conformist leader he is, albeit living and working in a highly structured and regulated organisation. I cannot fathom how he juggle to maintain a work-life balance and still remain so passionate about Singapore’s economy through these years. His desire for lifelong learning is truly inspiring as he take on subjects beyond his circle of competence, which eventually equipped him to contribute significantly on our economic, military and biomedical sectors. More importantly, his great love and dedication for Singapore stood out consistently throughout the book.
I’m deeply appreciative of what Mr Yeo and the many pioneer generation leaders have done to elevate Singapore’s economy and our standard of living. This book is a great reminder to stay hungry, have the ‘never say die’ spirit and the courage to always do what is right.
October 6, 2019
The administrative service has always been thought of as technocratic, bureaucratic and slow to embrace change. Philip Yeo was an exception and his approach to government service was not only refreshing but it also intrigued me.
Having previously served in two ministries in the past, I have personally fell into the trap of being too risk-averse and demanding detailed analysis before making a decision (sometimes a rather simple decision). Boldness, creativity and confidence are traits that make him such an outstanding public service officer. He doesn't wait for things to happen, rather he make things happen and he is confident he can deliver them.
A great read for those who have an interest in the public service as well as those who want to learn more about Philip's unique brand of leadership and ethos. Highly recommend it.
Having previously served in two ministries in the past, I have personally fell into the trap of being too risk-averse and demanding detailed analysis before making a decision (sometimes a rather simple decision). Boldness, creativity and confidence are traits that make him such an outstanding public service officer. He doesn't wait for things to happen, rather he make things happen and he is confident he can deliver them.
A great read for those who have an interest in the public service as well as those who want to learn more about Philip's unique brand of leadership and ethos. Highly recommend it.
August 11, 2019
a national hero
an amazing inspiration - I felt blessed reading this intimate read. Am confident this book will a home in the hearts of many future aspirational leaders.
Recommended for any young Singaporean fresh out of school to appreciate our history and a key personality for us.
an amazing inspiration - I felt blessed reading this intimate read. Am confident this book will a home in the hearts of many future aspirational leaders.
Recommended for any young Singaporean fresh out of school to appreciate our history and a key personality for us.
November 22, 2024
Excellent book about the maverick Philip Yeo. I truly admire his leadership style, his can-do, just-do-it attitude during his stints at Mindef, TDB and A*Star. His contributions to Singapore's growth are tremendous but more than just listing his achievements, his views on grooming talent, leading a team and managing people are even more note-worthy. Singapore is truly fortunate to have him.
July 21, 2020
Forget other motivational books: this is the real deal. You can feel Philip Yeo’s immense energy just by reading this biography. Truly inspirational with actual examples and not just cheap talk. Now I’m off to bulldozing and get things done
April 10, 2017
Very inspiring and humorous at every turn of the page. Philip Yeo is a shining star and his energy inspires me to do more! Surely one of the most energetic, awesome, funny, ass kicking books so far!
May 14, 2017
An inspiring biography of a man who got shit done.
September 22, 2018
A maverick and a patriot. A mentor in Dr Goh Keng Swee.
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