Diving into Singapore and China I started using a well-known strategy I am very much in favour of: reading books. Not sure really about where to start and after a bit of research I landed with the above shown pile. A mixture between between classic travel guides, memoirs (Lee Kuan Yew, Kissinger, Schmidt) and introduction in overall history. And the attempt to dive into eastern philosophy with Confucius.
As I am currently only one months away from actually starting to travel I am slowly running out of time taking in regard the amount of books I wanted to read (passionate planner or so). So I think this will remain an unfinished project for now but I am working on finishing as many of them as possible before catching my flight.
So where am I now? Here is my comprehensive review so far (end of July):
The shortest history of China by Linda Jaivin
This was my very first book I read in preparation for my China trip. It is a solid and profund summary of the most important milestones of Chinese history and definitely a good overview. I was aware of the long history as a meaningful culture nation China had, and its long standing lead ahead of Western countries, but the richness and depth of Chinese history, and the overall lack of knowledge we have is eye-opening. Just an exampled that sticked with me: firearms were introduced to the Europeans by the Mongoles and have been used, and transformed warefare forever, for the first time in the Battle of Mohi in Hungary in 1241.
Ein letzter Besuch – Begegnungen mit einer Weltmacht by Helmut Schmidt
As you might know I have a sweet spot for Helmut Schmidt (he ist just a legend: https://youtu.be/Ozf14SGoopE?si=1COaziIKdXCXWnOJ). He always had, especially compared to the raised index fingers of Germanys foreign politics today, the approach that other countries do not have the right to interfere into domestic politics of foreign countries. His book „Ein letzter Besuch“ is his personal memoirs together with his dear friend Lee Kuan Yew (prime Minister of Singapore from 1959-1990). These two elder statesmen brilliantly reflect on the rise of China and its growing influence as superpower of the 21st century. Even though the book was already published in 2013 the majority of their strategic predictions have been proven right by history. My key takeaway is that we should, to quote Schmidt, refrain from western arrogance and instead show respect for the oldest cultural nation in the world.
On China – Henry Kissinger
My current read – so far I am thrilled but it is to early for a full review.
Singapore by Culture Smart
Not started yet – but it should be a quick read. I have ordered the same book for China – so if I do behave inappropriate there it is the fault of Amazon as the book has not yet arrived.
From third world to first by Lee Kuan Yew
Not started yet but looking very much forward to dive deeply into Singapores history.
Gespräche by Konfuzius
Not started yet
Update 2025-07-26: A rainy Saturday in St. Gallen
Finally finished Confucius. And honestly speaking it wasn’t fun to read. Most of the book, I do have the perception, was a torture to read for me. I had high hopes to dive into eastern philosophy in depth but even so, and I will share later, some quotes had a lasting impression on my I don’t have the impression that I got the gist of what Confucianism actually means. It is a hard read with various historical figures around that are in my POV not easy to recognize and the whole book feels pretty fragmented.
The following quotes stood out to me as my take aways (and sorry as those are in German, but I read in German and translation those feels wrong as it is already translated from Chinese):
Demut
Meister Dsong sprach: „Begabt sein und doch noch von Unbegabten lernen; viel haben und doch noch von solchen lernen, die wenig haben; haben als hätte man nicht, voll sein als wäre man leer; beleidigt werden und nicht streiten: einst hatten ich einen Freund, der in allen Dingen so handelte.“
Charakterbildung und ihr Verhältnis zur Welt
Der Meister sprach: „(1.) Aufrichtig und wahrhaft, bis zum Tode treu dem rechten Weg;…“
Der dreifache Sieg
Der Meister sprach: „Weisheit macht frei von Zweifeln, Sittlichkeit macht frei von Leid, Entschlossenheit macht frei von Furcht.“
Selbstbeherrschung die Grundlage der Regierung
Der Meister sprach: „Wer sich selbst regiert, was sollte der (für Schwierigkeiten) haben, bei der Regierung tätig zu sein? Wer sich selbst nicht regieren kann, was geht den das Regieren von anderes an?“
Worte und Taten II
Der Meister sprach: „Der Edle schämt sich davor, dass seine Worte seine Taten übertreffen.“
Der Edle I: Handlungsweise
Der Meister sprach: „Die Pflicht als Grundlage, Anmut beim Handeln, Bescheidenheit in den Äußerungen, Treue in der Durchführung: wahrlich so ist ein Edler!“
Der Edle IV: Ansprüche
Der Meister sprach: „Der Edle stellt Anforderungen an sich selbst, der Gemeine stellt Anforderungen an die (anderen) Menschen.“
Der Edle V: Soziale Beziehungen
Der Meister sprach: „Der Edle ist selbstbewusst, aber nicht streitsüchtig, umgänglich, aber macht sich nicht gemein.“
Praktischer Imperativ
Dsi Gung fragte und sprach: „Gibt es ein Wort, nach dem man das ganze Leben hindurch handeln kann?“ Der Meister sprach: „Die Nächstenliebe. Was du selbst nicht wünschest, tu nicht an anderen.“
Note: Something like the practical imperativ/golden rule basically does exist in every religion/philosophy, doesn’t it?
Die drei Verwandlungen des Edlen
Dis Hia sprach: „Dreimal verschieden erscheint der Edle. (Aus der Ferne) gesehen (erscheint er) streng. Naht man ihm, so ist er milde. Hört man seine Worte, so ist er unbeugsam.“
Do you have recommendations on how to get into Confucius in depth?
What definitely misses here, and as I am still about to read von Clausewitz (currently on break due to the liaison with the books above), is Sunzi „The art of war“. This will be an autumn/winter project – eventually quite interesting comparing these two classics.
Do you have any book recommendations for me relating Asia? Please make a comment, always curious.
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