The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew 1st Edition

by Kuan Yew Lee (Author), Lee Kuan-Yeu (Author), Lee Kuan Yew (Author)

82 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0130208033

ISBN-10: 0130208035

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Singapore's former Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew provides an account of his personal and political life and provides a blow-by-blow chronicle of his dealings with political groups and leaders, both Malaysian and international, on the road to independence. Includes b&w photographs. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is being positively reviewed by Asiaweek Magazine, Newsweek, and National Interest Magazine.

From the Back Cover

Visionary? Authoritarian? Model for the West? Lee Kuan Yew, the long-time leader of Singapore, has been called all these things, and more. In these vivid memoirs, Lee takes a profoundly personal look back at the events that led to Singapore's independence and shaped its struggle for success. And, as always, he lets the chips fall where they may.In intimate detail, Lee recounts Singapore's unforgettable history. You'll be with Lee as he leads striking unionists against the colonial government; shares tea and rounds of golf with key players in Britain and Malaya; and drinks warm Anchor beer with leaders of the communist underground at secret midnight meetings. From British colonial rule through Japanese occupation in World War II, Communist insurrection, riots, independence -- and the struggles that followed -- few political memoirs anywhere have been this blunt, or this fascinating.Anyone interested in the political history of Singapore, Asia, and the modern world.

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Product details

Hardcover: 680 pages
Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1st edition (October 14, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0130208035
ISBN-13: 978-0130208033
Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
Average Customer Review: 81 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,306,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2771 in Asian Politics
- #11702 in Political Science (Books)
- #7369 in Political Leader Biographies

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81 customer reviews

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C. A. Westphal

How This Turned Out Affected My Life

September 14, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I was born in Johor, the closest Malaysian state to Singapore. We had relatives & friends on both sides of the Causeway; other than the inconvenience of using passports, we grew up without feeling much difference in citizenships. I attended Primary school in Johor and Secondary school in Singapore before going to the US for higher education.

By the time I returned in the mid 1980s, the difference in governing styles & policies were much more evident & the repercussions, palpable. The "connection" between the southern Malaysia & Singapore became more inconvenient & less close, the attitudes of the Singaporeans felt more elitist, regardless of race. I worked both in Singapore and the Malaysian capital; the latter was where I personally felt the racial prejudice against professional advancement.

Reading this book clarified numerous age-old questions of "How come ...?" I wish my father was alive to read this book and discuss his experiences with me now. He too witnessed many Japanese war atrocities, and it particularly horrified him because he was of Japanese descent. Before the Singaporean independence, they did not think it would be a significant consequence where they lived, other than that he had a stable job and home in Johor. It was much later, seeing how the governmental policies limited the life & growth of the Chinese in Malaysia, that I felt he had better foresight to choose his citizenship.

This is a book I will re-read in the future. It does stimulate much thought of how leaders of countries have their individual biases, value systems and perceptions of what is real & imagined. And how their "leadership" affects the millions of lives and generations to come.

16 people found this helpful

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Duminda Rathnayaka

Absolutely fantastic

January 19, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book sheds so much light on so many things that we barely notice. Apart from the fact that Lee Kuan Yew was a great politician who made Singapore into a prosperous country, it seems to me he was a great mind first and foremost.

At the beginning of the book there’s this anecdote about why LKY chooses Choo, who is couple of years older than him to be his wife. He explains it to her along these lines: “I don’t want to look after someone. I want someone who can look after herself”. This was when he was as in early 20s. He goes against tradition (or her parents) in marrying her in secret, but has the good sense to keep it secret for years when they again get married. Sort of sums up this whole book. Doing things by the book, yet against it. And achieving something beautiful.

2 people found this helpful

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Roxie

Singapore Story by Lee Kuan Yew.

April 11, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This man was always a person to be admired and I enjoyed his book very much. It is written with attention to detail, affection for his multi cultural nation and humour. I watched Singapore grow under his influence for over sixty years and admired his efforts to make it into the successful City it has become. This book has given me the chance to understand the man himself as he developed into the leader who will always be remembered. Mr, Lee died soon after I bought his book. I think his vision for Singapore was successful and was born at a time it was most needed.

3 people found this helpful

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lord farrow

An honest explanation of the years during which Lee Kuan ...

February 3, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

An honest explanation of the years during which Lee Kuan Yew was forming the modern Singapore. His methods and attitudes were coloured by the times and threats which he faced. Within the framework of Politics with all its constraints on honesty, he was an honest man who had the long term interests of the ordinary Singaporean at heart through thick and thin. A man to be admired.

2 people found this helpful

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Siva Pragathesewaran

A brief history of modern Singapore

November 11, 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Every word from LKY is briiliant. A liberal mind that led this tiny island nation to great heights. If he was in India, he would have been called a Mahatma. No other leader comes close to LKY's way of thinking and managing. Even at his old age, his intellect was sharp There are a lot more stories that could not be told in this book. A good read....

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Alan B. Scholl

Details of the birth of Singapore

September 11, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Highly recommended if you are interested in Singapore's arrival in the global village of nations. Lee Kuan Yew was a shrewd politician and this account is well worth the read. I was also impressed with the parallel paths that were taken with the British that is so similar to the transformation of the Caribbean. Due to an extreme intolerance for corruption, however, Singapore has fared much better.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Good story

December 19, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

It’s good read to know more about the formation Singapore and the various forces that were at play during that time. I haven’t read the Malaysian side of the story ,so I need to do that. LKY’s discipline and his efforts to bring people together is pretty vivid in the read.

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mogarian

A very interesting and informative read

March 13, 2010

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is an easy to read yet informative and enlighteneing book, especially if you're interested in how good politics work. The story of how an English speaking Cambridge educated 'Straits Chinese' man who did even speak the local languages grew up through WWII to become the founder of a city/state is quite amazing and speaks highly of his drive and foresight. The book also provides a fascinating insight into the relationships between the Malays and Indonesians surrounding the tiny port-city/state of Singapore. Interesting to note, Mr. Lee is still in the background as Prime Minister 'mentor', to no less than his son, the current Prime Minister.
While some may argue that his government is not the totally free 'democratic' government of the idealists, it is difficult to argue the safety, security, economic progress and prosperity Singapore has enjoyed in the relatively short time of it's existence; and almost all due to the efforts and vision of one individual.

10 people found this helpful

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The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew 1st Edition

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