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Conversations With Lee Kuan Yew: Citizen Singapore: How to Build a Nation (Giants of Asia Series) Hardcover – December 1, 2010

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 85 ratings

Imagine the delight and challenge of entering into a one-on-one political and personal conversation with the founding father of modern Singapore. This is exactly the timely treat that awaits you in Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. The first in the Giants of Asia series, this succinct, penetrating, richly detailed and candid book on Lee Kuan Yew represents the Asian legend s first extended conversation with a Western journalist. The result is often surprising, sometimes startling, occasionally humorous and never, ever dull. Enter into the mind of this controversial but internationally respected political leader and pioneer, through the eyes and ears of one of America s leading journalists on Asia.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

I don t agree with all of it, but that is to be expected the Western journalist s exaggeration of eccentricity. But on the whole, he got my point of view across. --Lee Kuan Yew on Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew (Giants of Asia Series)

A scintillating insight into the private - and brutally candid - beliefs and thoughts of the 86-year-old Minister Mentor on a wide range of topics, from his temper and children to various countries and his 'authoritarian' ways. These are captured in a writing style that is fast-paced and conversational over 24 chapters that are peppered with Mr Plate's views --Zakir Hussain IN The Straits Times (of Singapore)

There are two types of courage among journalists. Some might risk their lives crossing paths with an IED on an arid back road in Afghanistan. Many fewer risk their reputation by going against the herd of conventional opinion. Tom Plate, America's only syndicated columnist who focuses on Asia, has taken the second risk in his Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. And it has been a risk well worth taking. His book could not be more relevant at a moment when recession, debt and dysfunction are plaguing the West while Asia strides boldly into the future. Much to the credit of Plate's talent, this book reads breezily, despite its heavy themes. It is broken into many easily digestible chapters with titles mimicking movies or television shows. Overall this was the right choice to make what could easily have been a wonkish drudge into an enjoyable read. Lee Kuan Yew's wisdom makes sense. Tom Plate has done a fine job of conveying it for a Western audience that ought to be paying attention --Columnist Nathan Gardels in The Huffington Post

A scintillating insight into the private - and brutally candid - beliefs and thoughts of the 86-year-old Minister Mentor on a wide range of topics, from his temper and children to various countries and his 'authoritarian' ways. These are captured in a writing style that is fast-paced and conversational over 24 chapters that are peppered with Mr Plate's views --Zakir Hussain IN The Straits Times (of Singapore)

There are two types of courage among journalists. Some might risk their lives crossing paths with an IED on an arid back road in Afghanistan. Many fewer risk their reputation by going against the herd of conventional opinion. Tom Plate, America's only syndicated columnist who focuses on Asia, has taken the second risk in his Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. And it has been a risk well worth taking. His book could not be more relevant at a moment when recession, debt and dysfunction are plaguing the West while Asia strides boldly into the future. Much to the credit of Plate's talent, this book reads breezily, despite its heavy themes. It is broken into many easily digestible chapters with titles mimicking movies or television shows. Overall this was the right choice to make what could easily have been a wonkish drudge into an enjoyable read. Lee Kuan Yew's wisdom makes sense. Tom Plate has done a fine job of conveying it for a Western audience that ought to be paying attention --Columnist Nathan Gardels in The Huffington Post

About the Author

Tom Plate, author of Confessions of an American Media Man (2007) and an experienced writer and journalist, is a syndicated columnist. He writes about America s relationship with the Pacific rim and travels frequently to Asia. His columns have appeared in many prominent world papers including the South China Morning Post (HK), The Straits Times (Singapore), The Japan Times (Tokyo) and The Jakarta Post (Indonesia). He is currently director and founder of the Pacific Perspectives Media Center in Beverley Hills, a non-profit organisation that syndicates high-end op-eds.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Marshall Cavendish Intl (December 1, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 211 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9812616764
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9812616760
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 85 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
85 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2014
I read all four books in the series Giants of Asia- Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew, Mahathir Mohamad, Thaksin, and Ban Ki-Moon. I have enjoyed reading all of them. All four books provide a good overview of how Asia specifically, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea were governed.

The books are basically transcripts of dialogues with the specific subject in each chapter. They are easy to read. For those of you who don’t like to read, these books are quite entertaining as the author descriptively explained the background, situation, and his thoughts as if you were on the set meeting with these leaders.

I learnt that Lee Kuan Yew was a utilitarianism. He’s also a Confucian who believes in Wu-Lun (Five Relationships). I like his definition of Public Policy, which is the greatest good for the greatest number. I was happy to learn that his son, the current Prime Minister of Singapore, Hsien Loong, is known as PM Google because of how knowledgeable he is. Overall, Tom Plate concluded Lee Kuan Yew can be characterized as ‘Plato meets Machiavelli’, in that he’s searching utopia on earth but also realistic enough to get things done.

I was surprised to find that during Mahathir’s leadership tenure of 22 years, there was no terrorist bombing such as the one in Bali, Indonesia. Mahathir is a Muslim Fundamentalist and he was very big on affirmative action programs, which instituted a more fair distribution program for the Malays, indigenous population of Malaysia, who generally have lower income than the Chinese. This was Mahathir’s way to reduce poverty and prevent violence. In the end, Mahathir was able to maintain peace and create economic progress.

It’s interesting to read about a self-made billionaire who became the prime minister of a country, especially in Thailand, ruled by a monarch. The book talks about how Thaksin ruled Thailand like a CEO of a company. There are many good things he did for the country. For example, providing interest free loans for three years for the poor, giving out 800,000 scholarship, using lottery profit to fund capital for the poor, and many more. However, his way of conducting in politics, forgetting to act diplomatic to the Privy Councilors, who serve as advisors to the monarchy, caused the coup in September 2006. His sister, Yingluck, became Prime Minister in 2011. It’d be interesting to read Conversation with Thaksin 2.0 and see how Thailand is doing now.

From two soft-authoritarians to a democratic leader to a diplomat, Ban Ki-Moon. It was fascinating to learn of the Secretary General (SG) of United Nation devotion to public service started from being inspired by a meeting with JFK when he was a Junior Red Cross representative. He was never in private sector or university appointment. He’s very positive and hardworking. He uses both quiet and public diplomacy. Many criticize him in the media. I like the author’s recommendation in the beginning of the SG term to hire outside media image team. Unfortunately, the SG did not do so. In conclusion, people had too high an expectation of the United Nation, which only has limited power and resources. Utopia is not around the corner, but Tom Plate’s conversation enables the reader to picture Ban Ki-Moon doing his best as the humblest of international public servant who appear to be running the world.

They are all recommended reading! Enjoy!
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2011
This is an insight into the mind of an inspirational leader who has a depth and clarity of thought, not to mention the courage to voice his opinions. A beautiful, but somewhat brief interview on many aspects of this leaders worldview, and recent history. Survival, pragmatism and a utilitarian philosophy that is not catered to popularity. The trophy is the success of the economy and country of Singapore. The author is somewhat in awe of LKY,and makes this plain, but the book is written well nonetheless and tugs a few emotional strings as well.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2012
Lee Kuan Yew gives us a wonderful experience of a man that really knew how to managed a country. There are value beside plain democracy, demagogic and populism. There is something better that democracy to rule a country with men that behave like human and not like angels. When you managed to obtain the best result for your country there are some steps that must be taking in order to achieve the best results for the long run, in spite of the need of hard measurements against people and ideas that oppose them. Is like taking a major surgery if you want to be healthy for a long time. Lee Kuan Yew is incredible leaders that deserve a lot of followers and deserve the honor of create the best country in economic freedom, beauty, progress and public order in the world.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2013
In this book, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew genuinely shared his experience and views of his life, world and work. His excellent awareness , knowledge , long term vision, clear goals ,proactive attitude and strong commitment without attachments lead to build a wonderful nation Singapore. In my Knowledge, he is a very genuine leader with great vision and commitment. He is the real achiever of this modern world.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2012
This book is the compilation of an interview of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) by Los Angeles Times columnist Tom Plate. The interview took place in Singapore over a two day period in the summer of 2009. The result is a loosely organized recollection of the conversation between Plate and LKY which promises to be insightful and occasionally shocking. In reality, this book is interesting but lacks the depth of discussion or revelation that would qualify as shocking. What it does deliver are LKY's thoughts and reactions to a variety of topics including his opinion of U.S. Presidents from Nixon to Obama, the appointment of his son as Singapore's Prime Minister to his passion for governing. Plate provides his own narrative in addition to posing the questions - this is sometimes helpful when providing a historic or contextual explanation to guide the reader or it can be a distraction when personal anecdotes are sprinkled about.

Of particular interest were LKY's discussions about his pragmatic view of governance and what has transpired to get Singapore where it is today. You can fully appreciate this point of view when looking at security issues given Singapore's small size and precarious position within the region and its economic prosperity in spite of a lack of size and appreciable natural resources.

Overall the book was an enjoyable read that provides a glimpse into the history and the man who is the driving force behind modern Singapore. Given my limited knowledge of Singapore, I found myself conducting additional research to better understand many of the issues raised in the book and I would state that as a compliment rather than a criticism. I will likely reread the book once I have a better understanding of Singapore and will likely appreciate LKY's commentary even more. I should note that readers should be prepared for more author commentary than might be expected, but some of it is helpful contextually and the rest shouldn't distract from LKY's narrative.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2013
Boring, not structured good, no visible idea about the book in terms what it is all about.
Not about LKY, but about the author speaking with him.

Top reviews from other countries

Simon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Frank and honest interview with one of the giant of Asia.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2023
Lee Kuan Yew undoubtedly being one if the most inspirational, and possibly one of the most intellectual leader the world have never seen. His views on how not just to build a nation like he did successfully in Singapore, but how he also inspired other leaders to listen, like Doug Xiao Peng who has a mutual admiration of Lee, and possibly copied his model to build China now as a powerful and successful nation. A book, like a Bible for all other President and leaders of others countries to read and learn from.
Vaea
4.0 out of 5 stars People opinion Vs people interest
Reviewed in France on December 3, 2020
Lee Kuan Yew bridges the east and the west with great agility. He is not a still synthesis of both sides but a restless visitor of the two worlds.

Coined a “soft-authoritarian”, (great) results oriented, he balances between public and corporate interest as individual and people interest.

Page 47
“LKY watching over the massive multinationals, to keep their predatory practices to a minimum.”

He also navigates from tradition to modernity with a rare psychological insight on individual motive, community dynamics and social norms.

page 58
“He also shares the view with Toynbee that a culture or country that lacks a driving, highly educated elite deeply committed to public service is doomed to be slow to respond—perhaps tragically and even fatally slow.

Without any political correctness, he judges, scales, and criticizes bigger countries, their political members and even entire civilization. And the only fact that his opinion matters on a global scale is already an indication of his success and the stature he brought Singapour to.

Page 62
“that Singapore’s importance must transcend its size and population.”

As a point of comparison, his lack of political correctness also reflects on our own level of susceptibility… and wondering if this so called political correctness is still a shield or became a veil.

On the down side, the book is very slow to start, too much small talk, scene description, and most of all, too many jokes and comments on the very jokes tentative and failure. Almost feels like reading the report of a clown on a mission.

Makes me wonder if the journalist ran short of content and thickened the book like he could...
A. Weir
2.0 out of 5 stars A content-free book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2015
Deeply unimpressed with this book. The subtitle is misleading: it contains virtually nothing from LKY on how to build a nation. The author asserts at the beginning that it's essentially a long interview transcript and that he'll allow LKY to do most of the talking, and then proceeds to fill the entire book with his own trite, repetitive and ill-informed musings on the subject, with the occasional soundbite from LKY. All in all, LKY's verbatim commentary boils down to a dozen pages, at most. What happened during the rest of the two-day interview is anybody's guess.

Three particular irritations:

- Entire pages spent on describing the ambiance of the interview room in the palace, or LKYs coughing or fiddling with a heat pack. We get it. LKY was ill at the time. Tell us once, and move on.

- Lines of questioning which go nowhere. When the interviewer isn't making foolish or obsequious remarks (which clearly irritate LKY) and actually hits on an important issue, LKY sometimes gives a mordant reply. The interviewer is thereupon stumped, and wanders off on some navel-gazing exercise of his own. When the conversation resumes, it's on some entirely different topic.

- A peculiar obsession with Isiah Berlin's "The Hedgehog and the Fox", repeated references to it, and attempts to fit LKY into either the Hedgehog or Fox category, which (again) seems to irritate LKY.

Ultimately one is left with an impression of a poor writer and a poor conversationalist. A horribly botched opportunity which will never again present itself.
3 people found this helpful
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Kenneth Sangster
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the few Great Leaders
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2015
Provocative but have been proven true in many of his practical ideas.
Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Man of the men
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 3, 2015
While I was reading the book, I felt like having a face-to-face nterview with him thanks to his own words through the interviews and addresses. He was talking eloquently about who and what a leader should be when his nation is in turmoil. He seems to be the man of the men.