Two groups of readers who will be interested in this 1997 study of Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB). T EDB has been Singapore's chosen instrument for development and implementation of its policies to become a very successful player in a globalised world. Its strategies and practices are of more than passing interest to anyone interested in dealing successfully with globalisation. Both the discussion of the factors in the EDB's success and the discussion of the problems and issues that it - and by extension Singapore - faces make an extremely illuminating case study that, by virtue of EDB's role, incorporates national, governmental and enterprise perspectives. The book also makes an interesting case study of other criteria for successful globalisation identified by both Thurow: Building Wealth and Friedman: The Lexus and the Olive Tree.

Second, students of organisational culture are offered a thorough and lucid account of how the person who is arguably the world's foremost authority on organisational culture went about studying a major organisation in the context of a wider societal culture with which he was not wholly familiar.

The story line(a romantic adventure) is a clever vehicle for showcasing Mr. Frey's many experiences, observations and anecdotes gathered while traveling throughout S.E. Asia. He shows great insight into Asian cultures past and present from an American perspective, which would go a long way to alleviate the anxieties of a first-time traveler to that region, and also alert the reader to possible pitfalls. His descriptions of the major historical sites explain the purpose and mythology behind them, rather than mere construction. Through his characters, he also reveals the Asian mentality, which is good to know if you want to go there.

I've actually been to a couple of the places he describes, and didn't observe -or remember- half as much as he did!

On the surface, the book seeks to elevate King Phillip's War and Bacon's Revolution from historic footnotes to critical milestones. As one reads more, it becomes clear the story goal is larger. After one starts to make sense of the 1676 war and revolution, the picture of a coherent British-Iroquois imperial plan emerges. Webb makes a very strong case that the 1676 agreement between British and Iroquois, something that I had only vaguely suspected after reading accounts of the French and Indian War, wins North America for the British and thus establishes the foundation for a future United States.

This is challenging version of US history and I suspect many will have a hard time including Iroquois to the list of 'founding fathers,' but the book is so well documented that everyone ought to have a good time chewing on the relevance of this very active and violent year.

Webb goes into detail on four fronts: the revolutionary conflict in Virginia, the reaction in councils of King Charles II, the dynamics of Iroquois imperialism which produced Bacon's revolution and finally the negotiated resolution of British/Iroquois imperial goals. After completing the book, I felt like I knew why New York is called the Empire State. The treaty signing took place in New York.

Webb uses an interesting set of English 'classes' to frame the action. The 'frontier' English (poor to middle class) are converting hunting lands into farms and fighting the local tribes they displace. In Virginia, the local tribes are allied with 'coastal' English colonists, primarily the small group of 'oligarchs' ruling the colony. The oligarchs have large fur trading incomes dependent on commerce with the tribes, so they tend to restrain the 'frontiersmen' rather than defend them. This forces the frontiersmen, led by Bacon, to rebel against the oligarchs. Meanwhile, the King of England is dependent on tobacco custom duties, the primary export of frontier farms. Thus, the British Empire tends to side with the frontiersmen and naturally suspects the oligarchs of cheating on taxes. Of course, everyone is compromised by family ties across class boundaries and the Iroquois have their own imperial agenda.

It gets very interesting.

In a way, it would be nice to applaud LKY, but his conceit is so great that's just not possible. He has a ludicrously inflated view of himself, not least as a world statesman sought after by other leaders for advice. He doesn't have a solitary ounce of humility. He dwells on trivialities too much, while his response to criticism - including that from the media and opponents - shows he's incapable of dealing with it, except through twisted legal or authoritarian means.

One achievement he forgets to mention is that Singapore has achieved the seemingly impossible: it's made Chinese people lose their entrepreneurial spirit.

I haven't got there yet, but the gist of last page will be something like:

"And when the final curtain comes down and I depart from the Garden City up into the even greater Garden City in the neverworld above - the one with an even taller hotel, bigger fountain of wealth and busier container port - I hope I'm remembered as a humble man who knew his strengths - many - and recognised his weaknesses - none whatsoever.

I've had a happy life, apart from the last ten years with that imposter Mr Goh in charge. Who does he think he is? He is but a caretaker manager, to use that old British footballing term (ah, England... that green and pleasant land, where name-dropping meant something and I was regular and welcome guest at the highest tables [Top Table: "Lee Kwan who?"]), keeping the hot seat hot for my son.

And when I say "hot," I mean "warm." If I hear a word about those good-looking bodyguards who go jogging in the dewy dawn with my boy, I'll be onto my lawyers immediately. And by strange coincidence, just as my son is clearly the most able and uniquely qualified candidate to be PM, so the judge at court will have not doubt worked at my law firm. Aaargh... I already feel more damages on the way.

I leave as my legacy a few words of compassion for my foes - "rot in hell" - and a new shopping mall for my friends - one that's close to where they're building an MRT station and some property I own. Farewell."

First part is about development of Singapore - social, economic and political. The second part deals with foreign relations.

As an Indian, I truly admire Singapore. From what it was in 1965 to what it is today, is an educating experience. Awesome to most third world nations - fighting poverty, population growth and other social maladies.

Lee Kwan Yew had a clear vision, set himself clear goals. Above all, what led to his success is his execution skills.

Rule of law certainly helped. What I adore is the team he surrounded with to create such laws and ensure its implementation regardless of obstacles.

Singapore is a wealthy society today. Secure economically and politically.

In my observation, he had 3 primary principles towards building a nation
a) Rule of Law
b) creating a fair society (not welfare society)
c) Expenses less than income (as simple as that)

All his domestic policies were based on above principles.

I like the way he treated hawkers in Singapore's streetwalks. While ensuring cleanliness of Singapore, he provided alternative solutions so that hawkers continued their business for livelihood in a better environment. Contrast this to Maharashtra government's (Indian state) efforts in cleaning and sprucing up Mumbai's Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus area. Vendors keep coming back.

Singaporeans enjoy high savings rate, because of CPF. A guaranteed security for its citizens when they retire. Contrast this to America's 401k. When Enron collapsed, savings of many employees evaporated even as executives pocketed millions in bonus pays!

Although Singapore is a free market economy, its philosophy concerning workers and employees are caring and genuine, unlike in the United States.

Singapore is an epitome of benign dictator ship, democracy, capitalism and socialism co-existing for the general welfare of the nation.

Lee's book is a revelation for all countries of the world. The three primary principles can act as a catalyst is resolving problems.

FOr those the critisize Mr. Yew one has only to look at the standard of living in Singapore and the standard of living in the neighbooring countries to see the disasters of communism and socialism. SIngapore is one of the cleanest and richest countries in Asia. Why? Because its leader spent time helping the people build themselves up then waisting his time making polemical speeches about development and non-aligned status.

LKY is one of the most amazing statespersons this century and is certainly one with incredible political skill - Singapore couldn't be half the country it is today without him. To have coexisted with communists in his party for 10 years and to still have kept his integrity took an inordinate amount of personal character - a strength which has served Singapore enormously well.

However, one complaint I have is that Mr. Lee does not provide a lot of personal insight into what drove him in the battle for Singapore - nowhere in the book does he talk about how or why his love for a free Singapore became so strong, and there is not a lot of insight into the source of his own strengths (of which there are many) and weaknesses (of which he has a few). He seems to have picked up views early on which have never lessened, even as times have changed - for example, he admits that he learned the importance of strong penalties for crimes from his experiences during the Japanese occupation in World War II, yet 50 years on Singapore is the country in the world with the highest number of executions per capita, even more than China - is it really still as important for the country to be as authoritarian now as the Japanese were in wartime?

Also, although Mr. Lee owns up to his mistakes along the way quite openly, he doesn't provide his personal motives behind his long struggle, his feelings for his actions and friends, even when he was clearly overcame as in his breakdown during his independence press conference in August 1965, and the reasons why he was so much more perceptive and successful than other leaders. I hope to see more introspection in the second volume. A wonderful read, nonetheless.

A comment by George Bush caught my eyes about this book. It is no doubt a great book and a must read for all races...