From Third World to First: A Statesman’s Powerful Story of Transformation from Poverty to National Leadership

Inspite of loud criticism from Western journalists in particular and Liberal minded Americans in general, Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister and "father" of Singapore, has done a phenomenal job of bringing several races, language and religious groups into a coherent thriving successful and rich country. My congratulations to Mr. Yew (I guess that would be his last name? Lee Kuan Yew)! He started with a hodge podge of nothing in 1965 and within 35 years had one of the richest and successful countries on earth! Mr. Yew's great strength is his ability to appreciate and know the nuances of cultures of Singapore and how to respond to the positive as well as the negative parts of each. We in America would do well to take advice from him about relations and the aspirations of our various ethnic and racial groups. The most outstanding of Mr. Yew's accomplishments is how he and his cadre of competent ministers have blended Western (in particular British) commercial laws with Confucist tenants to form a multi-cultral rich society that puts the rule of law as an absolute. Mr. Yew, who is of Chinese decent, readily admits the shortcomings and strengths of Chinese culture. In particular, he refers to corruption, nepotism, among others as negative aspects, somehow though he has managed to create a society that comes down very hard on the corrupt, making a level playing field for all in the Singaporan society. He has provided home ownership for the citizens of Singapore, solid medical and retirement benefits as well as educational opportunities for all of its citizens. Having done some business in Japan and having many Asian including Chinese clients, I am struck by Mr. Yew's ability to adhere to the Rule of Law in Singapore rather than the rule by individual which is very prevelent in many Asian (Chinese in particular) societies. Mr. Yew's assessment is right on regarding the Australians and the Japanese. The book is interesting reading, most of the spelling is British way of spelling so for some who are accustomed to the American spelling it is discomforting to read some words "mispelled." If you want to know a success story when multiple races, languages, religions, cultral and ethnic differences are present look to Singapore. It has done it all and in a short time. I don't know how he did it, but the world is a better place for it. We could all learn a lesson or two from Mr. Yew! Joe Seckelman

The importance of the book is greater because it is written none other than the man who elevated the puny island-state of Singapore from the Third World to First. If it was written by someone else, one could have argued that it is only yet another book on Singapore, of course there are so many, so what is so special about it? This not a yet another book on Singapore. This book is as unique as the country - SINGAPORE - the author together with his "team" developed into a First World Country out of a shockingly tiny Third World island-state in the Southeast Asia. The entire world is proud of Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew today and everybody is dreaming of visiting Singapore at least on a two-hour city-tour from the Changi Airport while on transit if the transit time exceeds two hours at least once in her/his lifetime during the life-time of this living hero, if, of course, one is lucky enough, in tribute to this great visionary leader who did all he could in his fullest capacity to the benefit of his people without considering it to be a trouble but as a great responsibility cast upon him by the humanity. Such leaders are the rarest on this earth. I have visited Singapore twice. There is not a single word in this book which is untrue. Everything in it is true and all who love not Singapore but their own countries of birth must read this book and see what they could do for their motherland as did by MM Lee. If great gentlemen such as Edmund Burke who once said that "All political power which is set over men....ought to be some way or other exercised ultimately for their benefit" and Sir Stamford Raffles, following Burke who wrote "I let no opportunity escape of placing the foundation of my public character on the broadest basis - that is to say, on the happiness and improvement of those I am destined to govern",were alive today, I cannot imagine how they could have rejoiced over the success of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in continuing their legacy of serving the people relentlessly. R. M. Piyadasa, Sri Lanka

“There are books to teach you how to build a house, how to repair engines, how to write a book. But I have not seen a book on how to build a nation out of disparate collection of immigrants from China, British India, and the Dutch East Indies.’’ (3) This unique story, building a nation from scratch, makes Lee’s experience so interesting. Who else? How to crate an economy? Where to find jobs? Well . . . many believed that multinational corporations. . . “. . . were exploiters of cheap land, labor and raw materials. This ‘dependency school’ of economists argued that they continued the colonial pattern of exploitation that left the developing countries selling raw materials and buying consumer goods from the advanced countries. The corporations controlled technology and consumer preferences and formed alliances with their host governments to exploit the people and keep them down.’’ (58) Lee agree? “Third world leaders believed this theory of neocolonialist exploitation, but Keng Swee and I were not impressed.’’ (58) His skepticism proved correct. Singapore now wealthy. Mainly from the boost from multinational corporations. Wow! Chapter 7 - A Fair, Not Welfare, Society “We believed in socialism, in fair shares for all. Later we learned that personal motivation and personal rewards were essential for a productive economy. However, because people are unequal in their ability, if performance and rewards are determined by the marketplace, there will be a few big winners, many medium winners, and a considerable number of losers.’’ (95) What problem? “That would make for social tensions because a society’s sense of fairness is offended.’’ (95) What to do? “My primary preoccupation was to give every citizen a stake in the country and its future. I wanted a home owning society. I had seen the contrast between the blocks of low-cost rental apartments, badly misused and poorly maintained, and those of house proud owners.’’ (95) Another key was adamant, unyielding integrity in government . . . “It is easy to start off with high moral standards, strong convictions, and determination to beat down corruption. But it is difficult to live up to these good intentions unless the leaders are strong enough to deal with all transgressors, and without exceptions.’’ (163) ‘Without exceptions’! Really . . . Lee continued to seek new ideas and expert opinion. However . . . “I found many other fresh ideas and picked the brains of other highly intelligent people who were not always right. They were to politically correct. Harvard was determinedly Liberal. No scholar was prepared to say or admit there was any inherent differences between races or cultures or religion.’’ (460) Well . . . “They held that human beings were equal and a society only needed correct economic policies and institutions of government to succeed. They were so bright I found it difficult to believe that they sincerely held these views they felt compelled to espouse.’’ (461) Yep, he is not ‘politically correct’! Another example . . . “Man needs a moral sense of right and wrong. There is such a thing as evil, and men are not just evil because they are victims of society.” This large work (681 pages) covers wide variety of themes. International politics, economic decisions, financial developments, race riots, communist adversaries, etc., etc.. Considerable space on his visits and views on other countries; including Russia, China, America, Taiwan, etc.. Also, forthright analysis of world leaders, Gorbachev, Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger, etc.. Fascinating! Easy to read. Reader will need interest on political, economic, social issues. Adds insight to the modern world.

A magnificent account of how Singapore was brought from being an invaded, raped, destroyed nation by the Japanese in WW2, to being a superb example of multicultural, successful society. From Amazon's own summary:- "Few gave tiny Singapore much chance of survival when it was granted independence in 1965. How is it, then, that today the former British colonial trading post is a thriving Asian metropolis with not only the world's number one airline, best airport, and busiest port of trade, but also the world's fourth–highest per capita real income? The story of that transformation is told here by Singapore's charismatic, controversial founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Rising from a legacy of divisive colonialism, the devastation of the Second World War, and general poverty and disorder following the withdrawal of foreign forces, Singapore now is hailed as a city of the future. This miraculous history is dramatically recounted by the man who not only lived through it all but who fearlessly forged ahead and brought about most of these changes. This book recounts the AMAZING change to our much loved Singapore in that short time." The book is written in clear language and gives great deal of personal detail and outlines his struggle, which was so successful in bringing Singapore to the very top of great nations. We have been to Singapore a number of times and it truly is the most peaceful, racially diverse nation.

good read

Another impressive book to read. How to build a nation like Singapore to take a global center stage.

One of the most courageous men of the 20th century and now mentor to his country of Singapore. This is a story told in detail and with precision and political acumen. It truly reflects how a small speck of a country, abandoned by the Brits, threatened by Malaysia, and with nothing to lose, built up a multi-ethnic, diverse and undereducated society with no military into a powerhouse country and finacial center of East Asia. It is a wonderful story and full of struggles. Lee Kuaan Yew let's you in on the decision making in those earlier years, the right decisions as well as the wrong ones and how he and his small group of followers drew on their vision of the society that they wished to become.The outside record of his and his countrymen's accomplishments are there for all to see as well as the warts, too. But it is a relatively short time from absolutely nothing, to a country that has flowered and become a prototypical small but strong country for all to follow. I recommend this book to all those in the Middle East and Africa to read as a blueprint to creating a vision and building a successful diverse society. This should be read by leaders in the West in order to re-build fractured governments and societies. Lee Kuan Yew is a world treasure and should be mentor to the world's leaders. ACEMAN

As a frequent visitor to Singapore over the years and as a great admirer of Lee Kuan Yew as one of the truly gigantic statesmen of the 20th century, it should come as no surprise that i am enjoying this book immensely. although i'm only about half way through its some 600 pages, the quality of writing, unique point of view and historic insights are really tremendous. i don't know if the world will see another leader of this quality again soon. his ability to create a dynamic, hard working, honest and compatible society was an unbelievable achievement in light of the conditions he found Singapore in when he was first elected. i suppose this book should appeal to those with a substantial interest in Singapore and/or southeast Asia, but i would highly recommend it.

Super light weight

Written in his short, precise and highly astute style. A great book for anyone interested in learning about the development of Singapore, from the very man who built this modern marvel.

The best book on nation building. This is a true gem that should be translated to many languages.

I am absolutely spell bound by the intuition and the will power of Lee Kuan Yew in making Singapore what it is today. The book is divided into various chapters some of which looks into various sectors of the country and some which relates to his country's relations with other countries. Each chapter is separate from the other. So chronological order does not exist between chapters and is present only in the chapters. He beautifully explains the past, the changes made to reach the present state and his hopes for the future. Comparisons with India are spread out throughout the book. India and Singapore had the same economic and social conditions at the time of independence. But the decisions of the political leaders changed the course of our nation which could have become a geopolitical superpower in the Asian, which it failed to achieve in spite of being blessed with all the necessary resources, whereas Singapore achieved it with nothing. One point which hit me hard was where he mentioned that he had requested the Indian governments help to build the Singapore city right after it's independence. But the then prime minister did not even acknowledge his request. Now the irony. Some 50 years later, we are using Singaporean help in building the capital of a newly formed state.

A truly inspiring leader. Definitely worth a read. So many life lessons and transferable bits of information to all aspects of life.