NON-FICTION . reviews
The recent publication of a biography of Dr Goh Keng Swee, has re-focused attention on the distinguished career of one of modern Singapore’s founding fathers. Both the Straits TImes and Business Times published a flurry of articles on the life and achievements of one of the key architects of Singapore’s economy and system of government.
The publication of the unofficial biography was not without its share of controversy. Though it was written by Dr Goh’s daughter-in-law, Ms Tan Siok Sun, Mrs Goh Keng Swee took the unusual step of sending a letter to the media distancing Dr Goh from the book, titled Goh Keng Swee, A Portrait.
The book traces the life of Dr Goh, from his childhood in Malacca to his retirement from politics in 1984. Now in his late 80s, he is reportedly in ailing health.
Certainly, the impression garnered from the review by the Sunday Times (July 8, 2007) suggests a man, while definitely of an intellectual bent, was above all a steely pragmatist, a man who could and did move with force and vigour once judgement had been arrived at.
Besides the above biography, you may wish to check out some books written by Dr Goh himself. Most of these are in the field of economics, and deal with issues of economic development and modernization.
1. The economics of modernization / Goh Keng Swee
Publisher: Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Academic, 2004.
Call No.: SING 330.95957 GOH
2. The practice of economic growth / Goh Keng Swee
Publisher: Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Academic, 2004
Call No.: SING 330.95957 GOH
3. Wealth of East Asian nations / by Goh Keng Swee
Publisher: Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Academic, 2004.
Call No.: SING 330.95957 GOH
The National Library will also be conducting a talk by the author, Ms Tan, on 4th August. More details here.
Posted by Nur Hakim Low, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services.
Have you read this book? Do you have something else to recommend?
Post your comments, or send a longer book review to HBeditor@nlb.gov.sg
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8 responses so far ↓
1 kennoel fu xiamim // Sep 1, 2008 at 2:15 pm
good one
2 siva g // Apr 22, 2009 at 1:44 pm
thanks alot for the good information
3 ken - singapore photographer // Sep 6, 2009 at 11:05 am
More info on Dr Goh available in the latest book “Men in White”
4 Para Raja Singham // May 14, 2010 at 3:47 pm
we would not be so fortunate if not for his dedication.
5 Eulogy from Dr Goh Keng Swee’s grandson « Connecting the Generations // May 24, 2010 at 4:37 am
[...] About Dr Goh (NLB) [...]
6 State Funeral | Just Singapore // May 25, 2010 at 3:12 am
[...] see, these two photographs I took from Obituary Goh Keng Swee For ‘their’ own purposes, ‘they’ can do what ‘they’ want to do. [...]
7 John Yeo // Jun 28, 2010 at 2:54 pm
What is his religion and pet phrase?
8 Nur Hakim Low // Jul 1, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Dear Sir,
Dr Goh was accorded a State Funeral on 23rd May 2010 due to his outstanding contributions to Singapore. This was followed by a private family ceremony. I was unable to locate further details as to his religious beliefs.
As for famous words, Dr Goh was a modest man, who remarked that ‘life has been kind me in that I had this opportunity to make my contribution to Singapore’s development and to lay a foundation for the next generation to build on.”
(The practical visionary
Vikram Khanna
1270 words
15 May 2010
Business Times Singapore)
If you wish, you may consider reading the list of texts and works to gain better insight into the man and his ideas.
regards
Editor
High Browse Online
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