Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew by Tom Plate
A 2-minute read
Lee Kuan Yew’s governance philosophy emerges clearly despite the book’s structural flaws. His firm, paternalistic approach to nation-building—treating Singapore like a strict parent managing an immature, rebellious child—was precisely what a young, fragmented nation needed after years of colonial subjugation, and the results speak for themselves: Singapore’s remarkable stability and prosperity validate his reasoning about prioritising collective development over individual freedoms.
His advocacy for meritocracy over populist democracy proves particularly compelling; LKY understood what democratic idealists often ignore, such as the fact the average voter lacks the knowledge base to make informed decisions on complex policy matters, instead relying on gut feelings or superficial assessments of incumbent performance. A system that elevates people through demonstrated competence and dedication offers a more rational foundation for the “managed democracy” governance than one that panders to uninformed public sentiment.
Unfortunately, the book’s execution undermines its subject matter. The author’s writing is maddeningly repetitive and verbose, taking enormous amounts of space to make simple points, and worse still, his commentary adds little meaningful analysis to LKY’s words—he seems more interested in bulking out the content than providing genuine insight. The format represents a missed opportunity. Rather than letting LKY speak extensively through direct interviews, the author constantly interposes himself, creating a frustrating barrier between reader and subject, so that what should have been structured as an interview-based essay that prioritised LKY’s voice, became the author’s meandering observations.
The book’s one significant contribution lies in its neutrality. Despite having his own views, the author allows readers to encounter aspects of LKY that Western media historically marginalised or distorted. This provides valuable counterweight to the often superficial or ideologically driven portrayals that have dominated international coverage of Singapore’s founding leader. For readers genuinely interested in understanding how LKY’s mind worked—his strategic thinking, decision-making processes, and long-term vision—the book offers glimpses of brilliance. But you’ll have to dig through considerable editorial debris to find them.
Overall, the book offers valuable access to Lee Kuan Yew’s thinking, but is severely hampered by poor editorial execution that obscures rather than illuminates his insights.