Actor and comedian Betty White shares her thoughts and experiences on a wide selection of topics ranging from the various TV shows she had acted in suActor and comedian Betty White shares her thoughts and experiences on a wide selection of topics ranging from the various TV shows she had acted in such as The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, her emotion on receiving the Academy Award and her passionate fight in promoting animal rights. The book is an easy and engaging read because we can truly relate with her as she speaks from her heart with warmth and candour....more
Having read "...As I Was Passing." and thoroughly enjoyed it, when I came across this book while browsing the Kuala Lumpur Public Library (Taman Tun IHaving read "...As I Was Passing." and thoroughly enjoyed it, when I came across this book while browsing the Kuala Lumpur Public Library (Taman Tun Ismail branch) I immediately borrowed it. True enough, this book is just as good as "..As I Was Passing." Adibah Amin has such a strong command of language she was able to weave her anecdotes of various aspects of Malaysian life so well as if we are a part of it. Each people have their own idiosyncrasies. Any foreigner seeking to better understand Malaysians to know why they behave the way they do ought to read this book to get a better insight. ...more
Many readers are familiar with Winston Churchill as the British Prime Minister who together with Roosevelt and Stalin defeated Hitler, Mussolini and lMany readers are familiar with Winston Churchill as the British Prime Minister who together with Roosevelt and Stalin defeated Hitler, Mussolini and later the Japanese during the Second World War. On top of that Churchill is also a prolific writer producing many books ranging from his autobiography to many on politics sharing his life experience in the government and later in the administration of the country. Among his more notable books are his memoir on the war he helped win, "History of the Second World War"(in 6 volumes) and "A History of the English Speaking People" (in 4 volumes). "The Great Democracies" is the fourth and final volume in "A History of the English Speaking People."
"The Great Democracies" cover the period from 1815 to the end of the 19th century and focus mainly on the politics of Great Britain and the United States during this period. However, as Great Britain was then already a big Empire with colonies straddling across the globe this volume also touches on the early beginnings of Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand towards nationhood. On Great Britain, this book will especially interest readers who are keen to know and understand the dynamics of the main political parties (Liberals, Whigs and Conservatives) as they adopt strategies to canvass for the votes of their constituencies. It also reveals to us the contrasting policies adopted by the main political parties on their handling of the colonies. The chapters on the United States are especially interesting because it was during this period that having obtained independence from Great Britain the leaders of the Union were saddled with the issue of slavery. The book gave a very detailed account of the battles fought between the Union and the Confederate Armies, the strategies applied by the two sides and the pivotal roles played by Abraham Lincoln and the generals leading both armies.
It is amazing that Winston Churchill was able to undertake the kind of research to produce such an in-depth examination of the progress of the two sides during the Civil War. His write-up on the goings-on in Great Britain during this period was also interesting and enlightening because as a politician who has grown up with the parliamentary system in the country he was able to provide us the insight that others may fail to notice.
This is a good book for anyone keen to understand better the political development during this period (1815 - 1900) in Great Britain and the United States....more
Over the last 19 years of his life President Mandela had the good fortune of having Zelda la Grange, an Afrikaner, as his personal assistant. From ZelOver the last 19 years of his life President Mandela had the good fortune of having Zelda la Grange, an Afrikaner, as his personal assistant. From Zelda's detailed and sometimes very personal account of serving Mandela with full commitment and devotion, we gather interesting and rare insight into what Mandela stands for and what really matters to him as a person. I will highly recommend this book to anyone keen to understand Mandela better. ...more
Daoud Hari's account of how he survived as a translator in Darfur, Western Sudan.Daoud Hari's account of how he survived as a translator in Darfur, Western Sudan....more
"Wanderer in Malaysian Borneo" is a compilation of articles written by Christopher Hugh Gallop, a British teacher who had taught in Singapore and late"Wanderer in Malaysian Borneo" is a compilation of articles written by Christopher Hugh Gallop, a British teacher who had taught in Singapore and later as a principal in Brunei Darussalam, firstly in a rural district and later in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Writing under the pen name "Pengembara" the thin book is a collection of Gallop's weekly articles to the Borneo Bulletin from 1991 to 1993.
The compilation is an easy read and will be very interesting to anyone who has in mind to travel in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on his own, merely relying on public transportation. ...more
When Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters he created a sensation as he became not only the youngest to win a Masters but also by such a wide margin of ninWhen Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters he created a sensation as he became not only the youngest to win a Masters but also by such a wide margin of nine strokes. It is no wonder that of the 14 majors he had won Tiger has chosen to focus on this for his book.
The book is an easy read and provides golf enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the 2018 Masters, which is only less than a month away, a closer and more intimate understanding of each of the 18 holes on the Augusta course.
The book also highlighted to some extent the thought processes and mental makeup of Tiger Woods when he is in a tournament.
A small snag in the book is the tendency for much facts to be repeated. ...more
Kristin Kimball, a freelance travel writer, did a wonderful job of sharing with us how a scheme where members pay a year ahead for the promise to be sKristin Kimball, a freelance travel writer, did a wonderful job of sharing with us how a scheme where members pay a year ahead for the promise to be supplied on a weekly basis their supply of greens, meat, eggs, dairy products and others (such as maple syrup,etc) from an organic farm can be operated successfully if there is enough passion and hard work put into it. An accomplished writer, Kristin writes with much wit, humour and high spirit that the read was a real joy. The additional spark in the book is that it is also a love story, of the trials and tribulations that she will have to go through with Mark, the partner in the farm project and a prospective partner for life. ...more
John Feinstein's "Open - Inside The US Open" is a must-read for golfers and golf enthusiasts who want to know the ins and outs of how The US Open is bJohn Feinstein's "Open - Inside The US Open" is a must-read for golfers and golf enthusiasts who want to know the ins and outs of how The US Open is being organised. There is an additional reward from reading this book - it tells of how David Fay, the senior executive director of the USGA (United States Golf Association), who heads the USGA from 1989, was able to fulfil his dream of holding the Open at a public course for the first time in 2002. Before that year it has been the tradition of the USGA to make use of any of the more reputable members-owned golf courses throughout the US to host the annual US Open, one of the four majors in the annual golf calendar. The book is an interesting read - it goes into the tremendous challenges and hurdles the USGA team have to go through in working with New York state for the championship to be held in Bethpage Black Golf Course on Manhattan Island, a course designed by renown golf course architect, A.W. Tillinghaust in 1936....more
Hisham Matar's lucid and easy writing style makes reading this memoir a joy indeed. His superb story telling and masterly skill at tying up many eventHisham Matar's lucid and easy writing style makes reading this memoir a joy indeed. His superb story telling and masterly skill at tying up many events as he relates his effort to trace his father, a dissident leader, who was kidnapped by Colonel Gaddafi while he was living in exile in Egypt. The memoir also gives a clear account of the events leading to the fall of Gaddafi. Writing from his personal experience growing up in Libya he shares with us vividly the lifestyle, custom and culture he went through his childhood. What shines out in the book is the passion, dedication and commitment shown by members of his father's followers in throwing out the Gaddafi regime. ...more
Eric Hansen's account of his trek across the jungles of Borneo will certainly interest anyone who enjoys jungle trekking, yearns for nature or simply Eric Hansen's account of his trek across the jungles of Borneo will certainly interest anyone who enjoys jungle trekking, yearns for nature or simply wants to know what the deep jungle of Borneo is like or life there feels like. Eric has the innate skill at keeping the reader fully engaged as he narrated his trials and tribulations in making the trek on foot across Borneo, the third largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. Eric's deep sensitivity to the environment and his feelings and emotions towards the people he dealt with, whether in the small riverine towns, the native guides who helped him navigate his way through the jungle terrain, the headmen or villagers in the deep interior, shines through in the book.
One can't fail to feel and sympathise for him as he recounted how his first attempt at trekking into the jungle failed miserably - how he learned the hard lesson that carrying cash will not simply interest guides to help him to carry his stuff or to rent a room in the village for the night or two. As a reader we are fully caught up and intrigued with the thoroughness that Eric went through in packing his travelling bag with items that constitute the real needs of the natives as he embarked on his second attempt which was successfully completed. From an experienced trader in Marudi he learned that only stuff that helps the natives get by their living in the jungle, stuff like shells for shotguns for hunting, tobacco and hill rice are items highly sought after which can be bartered for services that the natives will be willing to accept to serve as guides or accept to rent out rooms.
To me, the highlights of the book are what he experienced and learned during the beginning of his second trek into the jungle through the deep forests of Borneo with the two Penan guides and his final journey to the river basin of the Rejang river with an 11-member Kenyah group comprising families and individuals seeking work in the timber camps located there. His explicit account of the two-week journey was truly fascinating. His account of how working together with this group they navigated a 40-foot boat through the river from the natives' village, trudged the boat up the tough mountain terrain into another river which finally took them to their destination. We get to feel first hand with Eric how he killed a deer from close range to save his fellow group member and the survival skills he had to master to live from day to day in the jungle.
We also get to experience many emotions that Eric went through: his love for a Western lady botanist who offered to share her room with him, the fear that Eric has to live through at a certain stage of his trek when some villagers suspected hims as the bearer of the evil spirit that brings harm to the villages and the marvel that he felt at how a native was willing to trudged on his shoulder and trekked through the jungle a brand new Singer sewing machine from the savings he put aside over the years of working in the timber camp.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Eric's book and certainly will recommend it to everyone. ...more
I strongly recommend "The Patriarch" by Yeap Joo Kim to anyone who wants to know more about the nyonya : their history, customs and religious practiceI strongly recommend "The Patriarch" by Yeap Joo Kim to anyone who wants to know more about the nyonya : their history, customs and religious practices and how having settled down in Malaya has grown to be a significant group with their own unique custom and culture. Written in simple, clear and engaging language, Joo Kim throws much light on how life is lived during the times of the Japanese occupation until Malaya gains independence. Senior Penangites will also enjoy the book as they can relive their nostalgia of the many familiar places mentioned in the book. ...more
The late Tan Sri Tan Chee Khoon stood tall as a politician who fought for the small people. Recognized as "Mr. Opposition" when he held sway as the moThe late Tan Sri Tan Chee Khoon stood tall as a politician who fought for the small people. Recognized as "Mr. Opposition" when he held sway as the most active opposition Member Of Parliament, he has become the model for up- and- coming politicians to look up to. His autobiography is a human account of what drove his political beliefs and his thoughts on many other aspects of his personal life, including his deep interest in reading military books. Over the years he has built up a big library. In this book he shared his discipline to set aside a budget each year without fail to add more books to his book collection....more
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