World Scientific Singapore

30/09/2025

[Popular Reader’s Choice Award Nominee 2025]

The Successors

Cheong Yip Seng brings us behind the scenes to the Prime Minister’s office in “Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel” to tell us more about how Lee Kuan Yew came up with his policy for self-renewal among political leaders:

“One hallmark of leadership is succession. And Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) was obsessed with Singapore’s future. He had openly declared, in a speech in Australia, that he could not be sure that the Singapore he and his colleagues had built would last beyond 100 years.
“He was, however, determined to defy the odds. Twenty-nine years after he took office as Prime Minister (PM), he made his move. At age 65, he was still in his prime. And there would be no better time to pilot a political transition, because he knew the process would be long, and painful.”

Follow Cheong Yip Seng’s account of Singapore’s dramatic beginning – read “Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel” today! (https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/14329)

Enjoyed Ink and Influence? Head on over to https://rca.popular.com.sg/ to cast your vote for the Popular Reader’s Choice Awards 2025!

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29/09/2025

🌟 A big thank you to 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐧 for coming down to the World Scientific office in Singapore to lead an engaging session on personal branding, inspired by her book 𝙊𝙬𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝘼𝙂𝙄𝘾.

In her session, Cindy shared the 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐂 framework — 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭, 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭, and 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 — a thoughtful and practical approach to building a personal brand that is grounded in purpose, authenticity, and confidence.

𝙊𝙬𝙣 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝘼𝙂𝙄𝘾 blends personal stories, real-world case studies, and hands-on exercises to help readers uncover their authentic strengths, align their brand with their values, and cultivate meaningful relationships that open new opportunities. More than just a branding guide, it’s an invitation to stand out without selling out and to lead with impact.

📖 Learn more and get your copy here: https://doi.org/10.1142/14388

26/09/2025

Social Agency

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, your colleagues can be a good source of moral support. Indro Roy (Deloitte Consulting SEA) discusses social agency and forging connection in an era of isolation in “Agency at Work: The Secret to Going from Burnt Out to Fired Up in the Modern Workplace”:

“That’s what social agency is about: participating in the agency of others and helping them participate in yours.
“This means far more than just having collegial relationships or a group of friends at work. Each person in your work community has their own agency, and your agency is connected to theirs. When those connections are weak, it’s like a brain where all the neurons are isolated; there’s massive potential, but it’s trapped. In this modern world of highly interdependent work, you can’t accomplish anything of significance by yourself. That’s why it’s so important to intentionally strengthen the
connections between your agency and the agency of the people around you.
“This doesn’t happen by accident. In most offices, the default relationship is transactional. You probably know a little about your colleagues personally, but most of your interactions are about what
they can do for you. You look at them as resources, not sources of agency, and they view you the same way.”

Go from burnt out to fired up – read “Agency at Work” today! (https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/14384)

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25/09/2025

Strategies for Future Employment

With mega-trends such as artificial intelligence and big data dominating workplace discourse, keeping up with the constant changes can be confusing. Cindy Tan explains what she thinks is most important to adapt to a modern workplace:

“The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global job market, automating routine tasks while creating new roles that demand advanced technical and human-centric skills. To remain competitive, individuals should focus on acquiring skills that complement AI technologies, such as digital literacy, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Engaging in continuous education through online courses, workshops, and certifications can help professionals stay adaptable and resilient in this evolving landscape.
“Industry leaders emphasise the importance of embracing AI as a tool for augmentation rather than viewing it as a threat. Anima Anandkumar, a Caltech professor and former AI leader at Nvidia and Amazon, advises young people to cultivate curiosity and problem-solving skills, noting that AI can enhance human capabilities but cannot replace the need for human insight and innovation. In essence, the future of work demands a blend of traditional education and specialised, adaptable skills.”

Pick up a copy of “Own Your Magic” and learn “How to Stand Out without Selling Out” today! (https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/14388)

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24/09/2025

The Artist, the State and the Market

Professor Tommy Koh (Ambassador-at-Large, Singapore), discusses the role of the state in mediating between artists and the market:

“Many of our artists find themselves caught in a moral dilemma. They need money to survive. They need to sell their works to collectors and the art market. At the same time, they fear that by seeking to cater to the needs and preferences of the collectors and the market, they will be seduced by money and lose their integrity.
“On balance, however, the market serves the interest of the artist and should not be demonised. The public sector plays a balancing role. When we acquire the works of artists for our museums, we do so based on artistic merit and not market value. We confer awards on our artists based solely on their artistic achievements and not their commercial success.
“The state has an important role to play as a patron of the arts and as a balance to the power of the market. For example, theatre and dance companies are finding it increasingly hard to stage performances because of rising rentals. The state should step in to help and do so more generously. Ideally, we should try to create a virtuous triangle, consisting of the artist, the state and the market.”

Read Professor Koh’s favourite essays and lectures to gain an insight into his illustrious academic and diplomatic career in ‘The Tommy Koh Reader: Favourite Essays and Lectures’.
https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/8999
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24/09/2025

23/09/2025

"On social media, people show you the best parts of their lives. It makes you believe that everybody's life is great except yours. I reveal my failures to counterbalance that, to show my followers the reality. Life has its ups and downs, twists and turns”, said Eric Sim, author of “Small Actions”.

He shares his failures in school, poor performance in his early career and rejection by Princeton PhD.

We are so glad Eric has been featured in Think Unlimited by the Singapore Land Authority - SLA to celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday.

This commemorative issue brings together 21 speakers from SLA’s Brown Bag series (2021–2024), spotlighting their unique insights and stories.

👉 Flip to pages 42–50, The Combo Specialist, with a Signature Dish, to read Eric Sim’s inspiring take on redefining what building a career means.

Explore it here: Think Unlimited [https://heyzine.com/flip-book/thinkunlimited /42]

If Eric’s story resonates with you, his book “Small Actions: Leading Your Career to Big Success” is available at Kinokuniya Singapore Webstore, Maha Yu Yi 友谊书斋, Union Book Co Pte Ltd 友联书局, and on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Small-Actions-Leading-Career-Success-ebook/dp/B09J8SKCVJ/.


Institute of Life

𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵: 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 (𝘚𝘓𝘈)

23/09/2025

📍 Happening now at Voco Orchard Singapore by IHG!

🎓 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 & 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 with 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐲𝐮𝐤𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐝𝐚 on 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩, 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙈𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙨: 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙨.

📚 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 is here too — showcasing a range of economics, management, and Singapore titles. Come visit us at 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟑 if you’re around!

22/09/2025

We were honored to host Indro Roy (Deloitte Consulting SEA), author of Agency at Work, for an inspiring talk with our staff at World Scientific.

Drawing from his book, Indro shared practical insights on reclaiming agency in the workplace — helping us think differently about motivation and sustainable career growth.

A big thank you to Indro for taking the time to engage with us and spark such meaningful discussions.

Agency at Work is now available at Kinokuniya Singapore Webstore and Popular Bookstore Singapore, and also via the World Scientific website: https://doi.org/10.1142/14384

22/09/2025

🎉 Yesterday we celebrated the official launch of Agency at Work by Indro Roy (Deloitte Consulting SEA, Singapore) — a powerful new guide to thriving in the modern workplace.

Burnout and disengagement are real challenges across industries, but this book offers practical, field-tested strategies to restore control, motivation, and meaning in our professional lives. From time-boxing tasks to building a personal board of advisors, Indro Roy outlines 10 actionable rules that anyone can apply immediately.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined the launch — your energy and engagement made it an inspiring occasion. Let’s keep the conversation going on how agency can transform the way we work.

📚 Agency at Work is now available at Neo Kinokuniya Singapore Main Store and Popular Bookstore Singapore, and also via the World Scientific website: https://doi.org/10.1142/14384


Kinokuniya Singapore Webstore

21/09/2025

✨ Almost ready! We’re setting up for the official launch of Agency at Work by Indro Roy (Deloitte Consulting SEA, Singapore).

Stay tuned as we dive into powerful, practical strategies to go from burnt out to fired up in today’s workplace.

Check out the book at:
👉https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/14384 =aboutBook

19/09/2025

At a panel held on 18 September 2025 to mark the 35th anniversary of the Nominated Members of Parliament (NMP) scheme, former NMPs such as Anthea Ong, Laurence Lien and Kuik Shiao-Yin called for a re-examination of how the scheme is structured, its mandate, and how well it still serves independent and minority voices. Issues raised included: how the selection process can be made more inclusive, whether the non-partisan expectations placed on NMPs reflect today’s political climate, and whether the scheme can adapt to new societal challenges.

📘 If you want a deeper dive into the NMP scheme—its history, criticisms, and possible futures—check out The Nominated Member of Parliament Scheme here: https://doi.org/10.1142/12895

Read the full article: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/calls-from-former-nmps-to-relook-scheme-at-event-marking-its-35th-year

A survey also found that a majority agree NMPs provide alternative voices, but only a third find the scheme relevant. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.