Tom Plate - Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew: Citizen Singapore: How to Build a Nation

Thank you for sending me an inscribed copy of Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew, which I have been reading with interest and enjoyment. You have done a superb job of capturing the many facets of this extraordinary man, whom I have known and admired for some fifty years. That he is the first to be portrayed in the forthcoming Giants of Asia series seems only right. I appreciate your thinking of me and will look forward to your conversations with the other Giants you propose to include in the series.

Dr Henry A. Kissinger, 56th U.S Secretary of State, 197377

Thank you for your autographed book on Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. It is a fascinating read, even though I am familiar with much of his thoughts and philosophy, having the privilege of working closely under and with him. He is a great teacher, not just for me but also for the younger generations of leaders he brought in.

Goh Chok Tong, former Prime Minister of Singapore, 19902004

Many thanks for sending me your bookConversations with Lee Kuan Yew. I have been a great admirer of Mr Lee ever since I served as former president Chiang Ching-kuos secretary in the late 80s. I find myself inspired even more today by many of his remarks in your book.

President Ma Ying-jeou, Republic of China (Taiwan)

There are two types of courage among journalists. Some might risk their lives crossing paths with an IED on an arid back road in Afghanistan. Many fewer risk their reputation by going against the herd of conventional opinion. Tom Plate, Americas only syndicated columnist who focuses on Asia, has taken the second risk in his Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. And it has been a risk well worth taking. His book could not be more relevant at a moment when recession, debt and dysfunction are plaguing the West while Asia strides boldly into the future. Much to the credit of Plates talent, this book reads breezily, despite its heavy themes. It is broken into many easily digestible chapters with titles mimicking movies or television shows. Overall this was the right choice to make what could easily have been a wonkish drudge into an enjoyable read. Lee Kuan Yews wisdom makes sense. Tom Plate has done a fine job of conveying it for a Western audience that ought to be paying attention.

Nathan Gardels, columnist, The Huffington Post

a scintillating insight into the privateand brutally candidbeliefs and thoughts of the 86-year-old Minister Mentor on a wide range of topics, from his temper and children to various countries and his authoritarian ways. These are captured in a writing style that is fast-paced and conversational over 24 chapters that are peppered with Mr Plates views.

Zakir Hussain, The Straits Times (Singapore)

For veteran American journalist Tom Plate, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is the director of the blockbuster that is Singapore. The book is written in Mr Plates trademark humorous, witty and candid style. The conversations in the book cover a wide range of topics. There are serious discussions on philosophy, international relations and governance. During a break, author and interviewee even banter about what Mr Lee would do if he were to take on the post of United Nations secretary-general. I try to get a bit more of [Mr Lee] as a man, as well as a brainiac and as a leader, said Mr Plate, who also described the politician as warm, trusting and open.

Rachel Chan, TODAY (Singapore)

Singapore is an economic success story of the modern era, and the man behind this tremendous success is none other than Lee Kuan Yew [who] agreed to give a two-day interview to American journalist Tom Plate. The author has painted a picture of Yew as a political genius who believes in pragmatism and common sense rather than ideology. Tom Plates brilliant navigation skills [have produced] many not-known facets of Yews leadership and personality.

Dr Ahmed S. Khan, The Dawn (daily newspaper of Pakistan)

Tom Plate may be one of the few writers able to brag that he once received a note from Lee Kuan Yew saying you deserve to be read. Singapores senior statesman sent the fax after reading a column Plate had written on China. That might explain why the veteran journalist, who has been writing a weekly syndicated column on Americas relationship with Asia since 1996, found it relatively easy to get access to the Minister Mentor for his latest book, Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew.

Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop, The South China Morning Post

...Plates Gee shucks, did they really say that about you? style has a huge upside. His subjects open up to him in a way they may not have intended to, and the insights the reader gains into their characters are considerable ... incomparable ... for historians, biographers and anyone who ever wants to figure out what made these men, who do deserve to be called Giants of Asia, tick.

Sholto Byrnes, The National (Abu Dhabi)

2013 Thomas Gordon Plate
First published 2010 (reprinted 2010, 2011)

Photographs courtesy of Yeong Yoon Ying / Research by My Lu

Editor: Lee Mei Lin
Design by Bernard Go Kwang Meng / Cover illustration by P. K. Cheng

This 2013 edition published by
Marshall Cavendish Editions
An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International
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All rights reserved

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National Library Board Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data
Plate, Tom.
Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew : citizen Singapore : how to build a nation / Tom Plate. [2nd ed.] Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2013.
p. cm. (Giants of Asia)
eISBN : 978 981 4435 67 3

1. Lee, Kuan Yew, 1923--Interviews. 2. Lee, Kuan Yew, 1923--Political and social views. 3. Prime ministers--Singapore --Interviews. I. Title. II. Series: Giants of Asia.

DS610.73
959.5705092 -- dc23 OCN823521335

Printed in Singapore by KWF Printing Pte Ltd

To
Andrea Darvi Plate, MSW, LCSW,

who endured the not inconsiderable efforts and authors isolation that produced this book with her customary knowing stares, stoic wails and quiet pain. She holds academic degrees from UC Berkeley, USC and UCLA, but her work with the severely challenged veteran population at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles, California, was too all-consuming to permit her time to read any drafts. Even so, without her well, probably there might be no book, for she is greatly responsible for the wonders of my life and the steadiness of my career as an international journalist.