What to read this vacation

What better way to unwind this vacation than by losing — or finding — yourself in a good book? If you are wondering where to start, NUS has you covered. From majestic creatures in our own backyard to lyrical poems about life on Singapore’s sunny shores, we have listed 10 of our favourite page-turners to keep you company.

Enjoy reading!

1. Happy Long Life to You
   by Elampirai Elangovan, Yang Kaymond and Nadia Sim

   A compilation of edited stories by three NUS Medicine students which took almost two years to complete, the first book on our list is a heart-warming read about the undergraduates’ experiences during an overseas community project in Chennai, India, titled Project Naadi. While in Chennai, the students stayed at the Shelter Charity Home, an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. The compassion and sacrifice of the shelter’s founder “Uncle” Solomon Raj and main caretaker Ms Uma Kumar take centre stage in the book’s nine chapters. By publishing their stories, the young writers hope to expose the stigma and discrimination faced by HIV patients and raise funds to support the developmental and daily needs of the orphanage.
    

2. Singapore Street Names: A Study of Toponymics
   by Brenda Yeoh and Victor Savage

   Authored by Professor Brenda Yeoh and Associate Professor Victor Savage, both from NUS Geography, the 430-page guide explores the history of old street names in Singapore, which often carried with them “political, economic, social, religious and cultural representations of personalities, peoples, communities, activities and nation builders”. The authors conducted interviews with many Singaporean descendants of people after whom the roads and places were named, resulting in a fascinating publication full of fresh insights into Singapore’s landscape and history. Read this to discover the story behind the local street names you’ve always taken for granted. Did you know that Kent Ridge Crescent was named after the late Duchess of Kent when she visited Marina Hill with her son? Now you do!     
    

3. Of Whales and Dinosaurs: The Story of Singapore’s Natural History Museum
   by Kevin Tan

   Dr Kevin Tan’s masterpiece features 108 historical photographs and illustrations documenting the impressive journey of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum which opened its doors to the public in 2015. More than just an institutional history of the museum, the Adjunct Professor at NUS Law recounts the frustrations and tenacity of the numerous individuals involved in overcoming the odds to miraculously protect Singapore’s natural history collection in the face of multiple challenges arising from modernisation. Why not end the book with a trip to the Museum to get up close and personal with your newly acquired knowledge?
    

4. Can Singapore Survive?
   by Kishore Mahbubani

   Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS Professor Kishore Mahbubani compiles a collection of essays about the perennial existential question facing Singapore, believing that constant reflection and self-examination should be a part of the core DNA of all Singaporeans. Providing three different answers — Yes, No and Maybe — he attempts to sketch different scenarios for Singapore’s future. The compilation also offers some of the thought leader’s best articles on Singapore, published on various platforms over the years.
    

5. Aunty Lee’s Delights: A Singaporean Mystery
   by Ovidia Yu

   In this mystery by local writer and NUS alumna Ovidia Yu, the story’s protagonist Rosie “Aunty” Lee is a feisty widow and proprietor of a popular Peranakan restaurant in Singapore. The novel spins a witty and charming tale of love, friendship and food, with a sinister side of tensions lurking below the surface when a body is found and one of her dinner guests fails to show. As there are numerous mouth-watering descriptions of delicious local fare, you might not want to tackle this one on an empty stomach!
    

6. The Best of Edwin Thumboo
   by Edwin Thumboo

   It’s not difficult to see why NUS English Language and Literature Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo, one of Singapore’s preeminent poets, has garnered multiple awards and widespread acclaim for his highly textured and beautiful works of art. This definitive masterpiece gathers more than 150 of his best poems, personally selected by the poet from his first collection to his last — including probably the most prominent Ulysses by the Merlion. The publication is part of the Singapore Pioneer Poets Series, a showcase of the best works by local literary giants.
    

7. Raising Arcadia
   by Simon Chesterman

   After being officially released in bookstores just earlier this month, NUS Law Dean Professor Simon Chesterman’s first novel has already garnered several positive reviews. The intriguing story follows 16-year-old Arcadia Greentree as she seeks to unravel a mystery at school, while a tragedy at home forces her to use her skills to catch a killer. The fiction novel is definitely a departure from the Law Professor’s previous repertoire of literary works and one certainly worth checking out!
    

8. Personal Names in Asia: History, Culture and Identity
   by Zheng Yangwen and Charles Macdonald

   Asia has some of the most sophisticated naming devices in the world, including nicknames and teknonyms, religious and corporation names, honour and death names, pseudonyms and retirement names, house names and clan names, local and foreign names, official and private names. This well-researched reference, published by NUS Press, highlights the richness and variability of naming systems in Asian countries, from Sri Lanka and the Philippines to China and Indonesia. It also describes how people are fashioning new types of naming and different ways of identifying themselves to suit the demands of a changing world.
    

9. Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization
   by Parag Khanna

   Senior Research Fellow from the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Dr Parag Khanna explains the rapid and unprecedented changes affecting every part of the planet. He provides an optimistic view of how connectivity and being plugged into global supply chains is the most revolutionary force of the 21st century.
    

10. Timeless Recipes: Featuring Tasty Singaporean Food Products
    by Violet Oon

    Rounding off our list is the fourth book by chef, food connoisseur and NUS alumna Ms Violet Oon, who specialises in Nonya food. The pages are full of mouth-watering Peranakan and local recipes all begging to be tried. After all that reading, why not have a go whipping up some of the delectable dishes yourself? Who knows, you could be the next big culinary expert!