From Third World to First

Why it’s on the list: Lee Kuan Yew’s own account of Singapore’s first thirty-five years — housing, water, defence, the civil service, and the bargains he made with neighbours and great powers. A state-building memoir by the person who did it, which makes it both the best source and the most interested one.

Where I heard about it

• Replies to @typesfast — an answer to his question “What’s the best history book you’ve read?” in his thread, June 2025. The full list of answers is on What’s the best history book… (tweet).
• On Patrick Collison’s Bookshelf — Patrick Collison’s catalog of the physical books he owns (unflagged). Saved in Kyle’s April 19th, 2020 Roam daily note.

Connections

• What’s the best history book… (tweet) — the thread this came out of; the full recovered list lives there.
• Lee Kuan Yew — the author.
• Singapore · City Building — the project.