Being a Singaporean in my early twenties, I have not much recollection of the esteemed Lee Kuan Yew as a 'star politician' - I was a mere 3 years old when he stepped down to be the Minister Mentor, and a week shy from my 12th birthday on the day that he passed. This book, however, enabled me to catch a glimpse into his mind and character as a young adult now; documenting all his opinions, frank rebuttals and sharp words, I have seen the vigour and passion of the famed Lee Kuan Yew that struck down every single adversary he faced.

Perhaps the most striking of his character was underscored in this reviewed book; his conviction and consequent bluntness. Lee did not mince his words nor succumb to political correctness - in his speeches and debates, he negotiated his positions fiercely with an acute national interest, never shying away from what needed to be understood. Although this induced controversy in his character - with some arguing that Lee advocated for extreme ideologies like nepotism, authoritarianism and even racially-charged eugenics – his ideologies had set the foundations of policymaking and the establishment of systems that had made Singapore what it is today.
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As a penultimate year student in university, I feel unprepared thinking of how to tackle the challenges of the working world upon graduation. An education in Science is insufficient to expose me to the multi-faceted issues Singapore is and will be facing, what more to be able to tackle them effectively. . By studying the circumstances that our founding forefather had to face in order to create the Singapore of today, there were many teachable moments that gave me a different perspective to better understand some of the prevalent issues in our community today. Quoting just a few examples in the book, Lee shares his thoughts about pragmatism, having the best to lead our country, the importance of racial harmony, and about the inequality situation in Singapore. A very good read that is not very complicated, it's a must read for someone who is interested to know more about how Singapore is the way it is today. ( )