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In 2025, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine celebrates 120 years of advancing health for Singapore. Since our founding, generations of our graduates – doctors, nurses, and clinician-scientists have shaped the nation’s healthcare landscape. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to push the frontiers of medical care, research, and education.
All for Health, a special edition on the School’s history thus far, commemorates this milestone year. A copy is available with a minimum gift of S$120 to the NUS Medicine Inspire 120 Fund. Your generosity will directly support our students, power impactful research, and drive health initiatives that benefit our community. Please join NUS Medicine and our founding heroes in this continuing journey. Add your chapter to our story as we inspire “health for all” in Singapore and beyond. Your contribution is both a tribute to our enduring legacy and a powerful investment in the future of medical education.
To make a gift, please click here. Your donation will be eligible for a 250% income tax deduction and may be carried over five years, in accordance with prevailing government policies and rates at the time of receipt.
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Lim Kee Jin: Doctor and Mentor, by P. Lim Pui Huen. Penang: Areca Books, 2025. ix, 304 pp, illus., index.
In this newly published biography from Areca Books, Mdm Patricia Lim Pui Huen (Arts ’52) chronicles the life and legacy of her late husband, Dato’ Dr Lim Kee Jin (Medicine ’52)—a pioneering doctor whose career encompassed the transformative period in Malaysia from colonialism to independence. Dedicated to the role of medicine in nation-building, Dr Lim was particularly influential in leading postgraduate medical training at Johor Bahru General Hospital. A number of NUS professors trained under him, including Professor Kua Ee Heok and Professor Cheah Jin Seng (Medicine ’63, MD ’75).
Mdm Lim began her career as a junior librarian at the University of Malaya Library in 1952, retiring as the Founding Librarian of ISEAS Library in 1987. She began her writing career after retirement, publishing her first biography on her great-grandfather, Wong Ah Fook. She has written several books, the biography of Dr Lim Kee Jin being her latest.
Available online.
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Negotiators who Changed the World, edited by Remigiusz Smolinski, brings together leading international negotiation experts to delve into the strategies and tactics of some of the world’s most influential leaders and negotiators.
Negotiation expert Anuj Jagannathan (EMBA ’16) contributes a chapter on the monumental impact of Ratan Tata, the former chairman of the Tata Group, who combined strategic vision, ethical governance, and powerful negotiation skills to build one of India’s most respected and globally recognised conglomerates. The chapter explores Ratan Tata’s most significant negotiations, from pioneering India’s first indigenous car to reclaiming Air India, illustrating how his leadership philosophy and strategic decision-making reshaped global business landscapes.
Available online.
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Co-authored by Victor Paul (Arts & Social Sciences ’07) and Alexandra Hainsworth, Kingdom of Flight is the futuristic tale of Salvation, Earth’s remaining landmass. Set in the year 5000, with humans long extinct, the island is home to the planet’s new dominant species: birds.
Under the leadership of the Eagle king Zoltan, Salvation has existed in relative harmony, but its tranquility is about to be shattered. As the birds navigate challenges of trust, loyalty, and survival, they must decide what they stand for and how far they will go to protect their home.
Available online.
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On Making a Difference: The Joyful Journey of an Educationist is the autobiography of Dato’ Tan Boon Lin (Dip Ed ’51, Arts ’55), one of Malaysia’s noted leaders in education. Coming of age during the Japanese Occupation, the book covers a pivotal era in the history of the country, sharing stories of Dato’ Tan’s family, childhood, the mentors who shaped him, and his 36-year career in advancing education in Malaysia.
Available online.
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After 30+ years in the corporate world, YK Png (Science ’85) re-careered as a certified coach and trainer, focusing on purpose over a traditional career. His new book Limitless Possibilities shares lessons and strategies for personal and professional transformation, helping leaders, founders, and trainers unlock potential and achieve success.
Available online.
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Lala-Land: Singapore’s Seafood Heritage is edited by Assistant Professor Anthony Medrano, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Presidential Young Professor of Environmental Studies at Yale-NUS College. Part cultural history, part cookbook, Lala-Land compiles essays written by Yale-NUS students and alumni to illuminate familiar seafood dishes and the marine life behind them.
Available online.
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In Living the Asian Century, Mr Kishore Mahbubani (Arts & Social Sciences ’71), former Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, chronicles his journey from childhood poverty to an illustrious diplomatic career. Set against the backdrop of a changing Singapore, the memoir presents a compelling narrative of both his personal rise and the nation’s transformation.
Available online.
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Stories Untold: Diary of a Volunteer Hairdresser by Associate Professor Tay Seng Chuan (Science ’85, Computing MSc ’94, Computing PhD ’99) details the author’s experience providing humanitarian haircuts to the marginalised and underprivileged. Chronicling conversations with beneficiaries across hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, migrant worker dormitories and HDB estates, Assoc Prof Tay documents the adversity and inspiration found at the fringes of society.
Available at the NUS Co-Op or by contacting pvotaysc@nus.edu.sg. $1 from every purchase made will be donated to Community Chest.
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Innovation and China’s Global Emergence
China is working hard to shift to an economydriven by innovation and prodctivity growth.The degree of scrutiny on the manner and means of transition will likewise be intense, particularly given the rise of techno-nationalism and a changing strategic calculus around the world. China is attempting to balance the reliance on overseas sources of technology that has served it so well, with efforts to strengthen purely domestic innovation capabilities, not least as a hedge against the risks of a US-led “decoupling”.
In these circumstances, a better understanding of the many different forces of change within China — and the way it responds to outside changes — is essential. The evolution of China’s innovation economy will be one of the key economic stories of the early 21st century, and the world will need China as a source of innovation in the decades ahead. The aim of this book is to help build a better framework for policymakers overseas and in China to find a new equilibrium in negotiating the terms of this engagement.
Available at NUS Press and other local leading bookstores.
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In The Great Lockdown: Lessons Learned During the Pandemic from Organizations Around the World, expert strategists Mr Shivaji Das, Mr Aroop Zutshi and Mr Janesh Janardhanan (Engineering ’04) deliver an insightful exploration of this once-in-a-lifetime event to unearth invaluable learnings for the future. Told through the experiences of Chief Experience Officers at billion-dollar companies, star startups, and non-profits from around the world, the book chronicles the ups and downs of sophisticated organisations as they navigated the COVID-19 crisis through initiatives impacting people, processes and technology.
Perfect for executives, managers and other business leaders, The Great Lockdown is an invaluable addition to the libraries of anyone interested in case studies of corporate resilience and endurance in the face of unprecedented economic challenges.
Available online.
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Wanderlust: The Amazing Ida Pfeiffer, the First Female Tourist is authored by Mr John van Wyhe, a historian of science and one of the world’s leading experts on Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. He is a senior lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences and a Fellow of Tembusu College, National University of Singapore.
Wanderlust tells the true story of Ida Pfeiffer (1797–1858), one of the most remarkable female travellers who ever lived. It is the story of a stubborn tomboy, of lovers torn apart, and a miserable housewife who decides to follow her dreams despite the strong disapproval of society. At a time when it was considered utterly impossible, Pfeiffer set off, alone, to travel the world. She displayed incredible courage, endurance and perseverance. Along the way, she survived storms at sea, parched deserts, plague, malaria, drowning, earthquakes, robbers, murderers, headhunters and cannibals. She became the first woman to circle the globe alone, and then the first to do so twice—and she was the first budget traveller to boot. As a result of her incredible exploits and her bestselling travel books, Pfeiffer became one of the most famous women in the world. Hers is a tale that culminates in spies, intrigue, a botched revolution and a remarkable career cut tragically short by one voyage too many.
Available online.
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The COVID-19 Chronicles: Singapore’s Journey from Pandemia to Peri-Pandemic Limbo by the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and illustrated by Mr Andrew Tan and Ms Anngee Neo, features every Chronicles story published, and tells the story of the work behind the scenes to bring each episode to life. Offering bite-sized explanations of issues and topics seeded by the pandemic’s global march, the Chronicles prod readers to stay safe, while also providing a humorous take on Singaporean life in the time of COVID-19.
Available online.
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The Poverty Line is authored by Mr Stefen Chow (Engineering ’03), an award-winning photographer, and economist Ms Lin Huiyi (Arts & Social Sciences ’03), with contributions by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Andrea Brandolini, Lucas Chancel and John Micklewright.
The book uses food to examine the daily choices people face living at the poverty line. Chow and Lin
travelled 200,000 kilometres across six continents and documented poverty in 36 countries and territories. The couple studied official and proxy definitions of the poverty line in each country, creating a growing conversation that questions the understanding of poverty and inequality.
Traversing cultures and economic systems, the book presents objective, non-emotional observations of our own circumstances, framed against the fragile balance of social structures, growth and divide in an entangled, globalised world.
Available online.
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Leading with IT: Lessons from Singapore’s First CIO by Professor Alex Siow, a former Professor (Practice) in the School of Computing, NUS, and Director of the Advanced Computing for Executives, draws from his experience as Singapore’s first Chief Information Officer (CIO) at HDB in the 1990s, and shares advice on IT’s role in keeping pace with rapid business changes in the digital age. His book provides business leaders with insights for effective IT governance and highlights the core competencies required of CIOs.
Written as a first-person account, the book also covers topics such as AI and the future of money and work, giving expert analysis of each topic. A highlight is a guest chapter by Jim Lim Shien Min, healthcare sector lead at NCS Group, on lessons learned from managing the COVID-19 crisis in Singapore. Peppered with tips, case studies and expert recommendations, it is a suitable read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and business.
Available at leading bookstores.
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Unprecedented: To the Beat of Her Own Drum isedited by Ms Nadia Yeo (Law ’09, Public Policy ’18) and Ms Erliana Zaid, Young Women in Leadership Dialogue, Mendaki Club.
Resilience. Courage. Compassion. Commitment. These are values that women have embodied in the pursuit of excellence and progress. Challenging norms and breaking barriers, the 20 young women from the Malay/Muslim community featured in this book have expressed leadership over not only their own lives, but also those of others. Read about their inspiring journeys in this commemorative volume conceptualised and written by a team of 50 youth volunteers from Mendaki Club.
Available at the NHB Malay Heritage Centre or online.
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Lion City Narratives: Singapore Through Western Eyes, by Associate Professor Victor R Savage (Arts & Social Sciences ’72), is the study of subjective Western impressions of Singapore’s 145 years of colonial history, from 1819 to 1963. Assoc Prof Savage seeks to present a biography of Singapore’s evolution as a city. This book also provides cultural insights into Singapore’s population — both Western residents and transient visitors, as well as locals — and opens a window into Singapore’s development at a time when the UK and the West were at their cultural, economic and political zenith.
This work will appeal to Singaporeans who are interested in understanding the country’s colonial past, as well as Westerners interested in the European/colonial cultural persona in the development of Singapore.
Available online.
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Home is Where We Are, by Professor Wang Gungwu (Arts ‘53 MA ’56, HonDLitt ‘22) and the late Mrs Margaret Wang (Arts ’54), recounts Prof Wang’s university education in Singapore and the United Kingdom, and the early years of his career as an academic in Malaysia. The memoir captures the excitement, ambition, and choices of a generation that saw it as their responsibility to build the new nations of Southeast Asia.
The exploration of the emotional and intellectual journey towards the formation of an identity, treasured by readers of Prof Wang’s Home is Not Here, continues in this volume into an appreciation of love, family life, and the life of the mind. We also see these years from Margaret’s perspective, her own fascinating family story, and her early impressions of this young, bearded poet. Wise and moving, this is a fascinating reflection on identity and belonging, and the ability of the individual to find a place amidst the historical currents that have shaped Asia.
Available at leading bookstores.
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lives & times of hrh is the memoir of Herman Ronald Hochstadt, better known as hrh. It is a witty, personal account of his life with a focus on his long public service career, during which he worked alongside pioneer leaders such asMr Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng Swee and others. hrh had an unusual ability to inspire those working for him, and his signature wit and charm are on display here, in the ways he weaves together stories of his career and some of the key moments in Singapore’s development.
All proceeds from the sale of the book go towards the Hochstadt NUS Bursary Endowment Fund, which provides financial assistance to deserving undergraduate students at NUS.
Available at leading bookstores, NUS Press, kobo.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
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If you are looking for winning strategies to become a formidable force in the business world, this Secret Manual of the Sales Warrior by Ms Maxine Teo (Business ’96) is for you. To unveil the secrets of this Secret Manual, you need to be a Warrior. One who is brave enough to try out new ideas, learn new approaches and apply them relentlessly in the battlefield of the business world. Whether you are a sales professional or an individual contributor.
Available at major bookstores.
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Negotiation Quotient: Opening the Door to a Successful Deal, by Mr Anuj Jagannathan (Business ’16), explores the topic of negotiation, one of the most commonly used skills in everyday life and a critical skill for everybody to strengthen. Anuj introduces the “The Balance of Negotiation”, highlighting the three phases of negotiation — planning, engaging and closing — as well as the key behaviours and techniques that are essential to achieving a desirable end result.
Available on Amazon.com, Amazon.in, Walmart.com, barnesandnoble.com and Flipkart.com.
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Memoirs of a Flying Tiger, by Captain Ho Weng Toh with Mr Jonathan Y. H. Sim (Arts & Social Sciences ’13), is the poignant story of a small-town boy who stumbled into a lifelong flying career spanning 38 years as a pilot. Now at 99, Captain Ho Weng Toh, one of the last few remaining Flying Tigers, recalls the many events that shaped his life. It takes the readers through his journey of good and bad years—the trials and tribulations he encountered, his journey from refugee student to Chinese Air Force B-25 bomber pilot, his will to survive, his burning desire to contribute to the WWII effort, and his solitary endurance of trials and hardships.
Available at major bookstores.
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Often an unnoticed caress on our faces, winds are voiceless and formless. How do we interpret them? What mysteries can we find in the whispers of winds? From a Dutch-occupied Java where a witch was murdered, to a dog who desires to be a Muslim, to a day in which all sense of music is lost, the mundane is aflame with the uncanny. In these stories in Interpreter of Winds, Mr Fairoz Ahmad (Arts & Social Sciences + USP ’06) invites you to take a closer look at ordinary objects, as they take on a life of their own and spin gossamer threads. This book is a celebration of the little charms and enchantments of our universe amidst struggles and eventual helplessness.
Available on Ethos Books.
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Las Vegas in Singapore,the first publication of Dr Lee Kah-Wee (Design and Environment ’07),, looks at the collision of the histories of Singapore and Las Vegas in the form of Marina Bay Sands, one of Singapore’s two Integrated Resorts. Dr Lee argues that the historical project of the control of vice is also about the control of space and capital. The result is an uneven landscape where the legal and moral status of gambling is contingent on where it is located. As the current wave of casino expansion spreads across Asia, he warns that these developments should not be seen as liberalisation but instead as a continuation of the project of concentrating power by modern states and corporations.
Available online.
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Mrs Vivienne Tan (Business ’75), the wife of Tan Kim Seng’s great-great-great-grandson, brings her personal insights to Tan Kim Seng: A Biography.
Tan Kim Seng was a third-generation Malaccan who rose to prominence in early colonial Singapore after arriving in the 1820s. A formidable businessman known simply by his address on the Singapore River, he founded Chong Wen Ge, the first Chinese school in Singapore, and played key roles in community affairs, including efforts to calm the Great Riot of 1854. A major landowner and philanthropist, he famously donated $13,000 in 1857 to bring water into town and built bridges that still bear his name in both Singapore and Malacca, all while maintaining strong ties to his birthplace.
Available online.
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200 Years of Singapore and the United Kingdom, edited by Professor Tommy Koh (Law ’61) and Mr Scott Wightman, offers a fresh account of the countries’ long and eventful relationship, reflecting on major milestones and imagining future possibilities.
The collection includes lively and fascinating accounts of personalities and events that shaped Singapore—from its establishment as an East India Company trading post to the end of the British empire—and a dispassionate assessment of the legacy left behind by the British in areas as diverse as trade and commerce, language, education, housing and sports.
Available at all major bookstores.
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Tall Order is the first biography of ESM Goh Chok Tong (Arts ’64) by acclaimed author and journalist Mr Peh Shing Huei (Arts & Social Sciences ’99). This riveting book tells the extraordinary story of the life and career of Singapore’s second Prime Minister over half a century, revealing how ESM Goh rose through a combination of strength, wit and a political nous which many, including himself, did not know he had. In this first of two volumes, ESM Goh navigated years of a challenging apprenticeship to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, scoring numerous policy successes but also suffering political blows and humiliation.
Available online.
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One of Asia’s most important public intellectuals, Professor Wang Gungwu (Arts ’53 MA ’56, HonLittD ’22), is best-known for his explorations of Chinese history in the long view, and for his writings on the Chinese diaspora. With Home is Not Here, the historian of grand themes turns to a single life history: his own. Wise and moving, this is a fascinating reflection on family, identity and belonging, as well as on the ability of the individual to find a place amid the historical currents that have shaped Asia and the world.
Available online.
