Latest CNNGo.com "Say What? with mrbrown" column: Questions abound with President Nathan's literary debut
Excerpt:
I love books. I used to sell them, as a bookseller in one of the largest bookstores in Singapore. I remember the fuss when Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs came out. It was like a new Bible was being released.I recall being told you would never see a paperback version of the two volumes. Only hardcover will be sold (in case you were still waiting for it). And the books must never find their way to the Bargain books section. Not that they would anyway. The memoirs sold like Jalan Kayu pratas, flying off the shelf like hot cakes.
Another senior person has since released his book too. President SR Nathan published his first book, entitled "Why Am I Here?"
This, of course, sent Singaporeans into a nationwide collective giggle. You see, many Singaporeans don't think the President does very much and the title just screamed irony. Responses ranged from, "I also want to know why he is here!" to "He needs to justify his existence?" to "Our President so free to write book, ah? (cont'd)