Too many cooks can spoil a promising pot of broth. But it’s not all about the numbers, rapport matters too. Formed either by choice or obligation to complete a task, the party must boast the best qualities of every individual by establishing a relationship based on trust, shared interests and experiences.
Call and Response: A Migrant/Local Poetry Anthology
Edited by Rolinda Onates Espanola, Zakir Hossain and Joshua Ip
Population White Paper ruffled the feathers of some ‘true-blue’ Singaporeans in 2013. So how is ‘local’ defined in a nation where migrant forefathers have contributed and established its affluence?
Giving voice to more than 30 migrant blue-collar workers with poetry penned by local writers, these unlikely pairings give insights into the roles played by each transient employee. Some compositions are presented in a deliberate amateur expression to highlight naivety and a modest nature on the integration, for raw words hit a home run when delivered honestly.
The Minorities
By Suffian Hakim
Assuming living together means integration, civility among biracial residents in HDB estates is ensured, right? Trust mortality to screw life up as an unnamed Malay inventor residing in Yishun painstakingly yearns for his father’s spiritual presence after his death. To cope with his grief, the protagonist approaches three of his best friends—all disparate individuals of various ethnicities with their own dilemmas—in creating the Soundloft, a contraption that morphs dreams into music.
What follows is the haunting of a formidable metaphysical entity and a slamming showdown that exhibits Hakim’s definitive humour.
The Art of Gathering
By Priya Parker
Avoid getting accused of bo jio, a Singaporean colloquialism that quips on the uninvited and FOMO (fear of missing out) culture, and be a good host to your steady homies whenever a get-together is due. It has to be intentional, not forced.
Hence, Parker reviews the system in executing successful gatherings by identifying key motives and allowing a synergy to manifest between invited guests. A social affair steered with resolve will be rewarding for all parties.
What’s Mine is Yours
By Rachel Botsman and Roo Roberts
Sharing is caring and we’re no strangers to such deeds. An Airbnb, Netflix or Spotify user? There, you’re in on collaborative consumption. This movement is currently disrupting modes of business and reinventing not only what we consume but how we consume. Besides the collaborative lifestyle sphere, which includes co-working, the authors also pinpoint product-service systems and redistribution markets that have had an impact on the traditional ethos of ownership.
Probe further into the detailed writings by pondering if ‘we’ succeed ‘me’.
Collaborating with the Enemy
By Adam Kahane
Blood is bound to be shed whenever adversaries meet. But if you decide to take the high road and be magnanimous, you’ll reap the unexpected benefits that result from working with a rival. Kahane tweaks conventional methods by advocating the interests of the unlikely team.
Dominating individuals are advised to take two steps back and co-create solutions by experimenting systematically with different perspectives and possibilities. Two heads are often better than one, provided they are not butting against each other.
These titles are available at Books Kinokuniya.
