08/01/2026

LYFE THURSDAY | JAN 8, 2026

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RIVETING READS

A Kiss in Spring Author: Raji Priscilla

Lessons From An Eagle Author: Sheila Singam

Lessons From An Eagle is a quiet unfolding of grief and a moving tribute to Sheila’s late husband KP Waran, an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Human Equation who passed away from cancer in 2018 following a courageous nine-month battle. In the months after his passing, Sheila began defining her memories of his vibrant life and personality – some funny, some profound, all deeply human. More than a memoir, Lessons From An Eagle is a call to embrace life’s challenges with grace and resilience. It is a celebration of legacy, love and the human spirit.

In a quiet, tree-lined suburb of Washington, families Matthew and Carter live side by side in two stately colonial style homes. Priya catches the interest of Henry Carter, who leaves for boot camp, determined to honour his family’s military history. When Henry returns, he finds a very different Priya – a young woman who embraces her heritage with confidence and femininity. The attraction between them is undeniable and a kiss seals the beginning of a relationship that grows and strengthens with every letter exchanged, every dream shared, filled with expectations, doubts and hopes for a future that can suit them both.

Notes on the Way Forward: A Socialist Perspective Author: Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj In a political and social landscape that is geared towards maximising profit and prioritising individualism and competition, what does a fair and dignified life look like? Jeyakumar takes an incisive look at the factors that shape our daily existence. What is often taken for granted, unappreciated and treated as “a given” is valuable and should not be taken for granted. Health care, free trade agreements, land distribution, the right to housing, migrant workers’ wellbeing, the discrepancy between the ringgit and the dollar and the imbalance of power and wealth pervading society in the “post colonial” world order – these are topics he carefully dissects in direct, accessible language.

Pandora’s Pivot: A Primer for Leading in an AI-driven World Author: Ivan Yong Organisational psychologist and coach Ivan Yong offers a refreshing perspective – that artificial intelligence’s (AI) real value lies not in its intelligence and not in its artificiality. Yong reveals how business leaders can use AI’s principles to enhance decision-making, creativity and communication. What makes Pandora’s Pivot distinctive is its creative approach: the book introduces the semantics of AI through the lens of Ancient Greek mythology. By drawing parallels between timeless myths and modern technology, Yong makes complex ideas accessible and engaging for business readers.

Finding Chopin Author: Rachel Tey

The Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singaporean Short Stories: Volume Seven Author: Variety, edited by Nuraliah Norasid The Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singaporean Short Stories: Volume Seven showcases the finest short fiction from Singapore, published in 2023 and 2024. Curated by guest editor Nuraliah Norasid, this volume brings together outstanding stories from journals, magazines, anthologies and single-author collections. Featuring Agnes Chew, Clara Chow, Ng Yi-Sheng, Prasanthi Ram, Daryl Qilin Yam and more.

Nineteen-year-old Finn Chang’s final year-project demands a photographic exploration of memory. As he pieces together fragments of his past, his mother Emerald becomes his guide through a labyrinth of recollections – some vivid, others elusive. Their search awakens long-buried truths, drawing them into a tangled history of loss, love and unexpected revelations. What begins as an academic exercise soon becomes a journey neither of them can control.

Choices Author: Ivlynn Yap

It Had to Be Him (Book 2) Author: Anittha Thanabalan

Yap’s debut memoir offers readers an introspective exploration of how everyday decisions shape identity, leadership and personal resilience at a time when many are navigating burnout, reinvention and growing pressure to “have it all figured out”. Through deeply personal reflections and lived experiences, Yap examines how defining moments, often shaped by adversity rather than achievement, become turning points that quietly redefine who we are and how we lead. Drawing from decades in public relations and crisis communication, the book also explores the often-overlooked power of communication beyond professional settings.

Eighteen-year-old Daniel and 17-year old Thrii have always been a little more than friends. They have never talked about it, but so what? Daniel is sure they are on the same page. Things start to fall apart as the couple savour the last of their holidays with their friends, while mismatched expectations, tangled family lives and misunderstandings within the group begin to surface, making everything clear.