A review of Lee Kuan Yew's memoirs covering his transformation of Singapore from third-world city-state to wealthy nation through pragmatic policies, framed as a 'rationalist power fantasy' of someone who successfully implemented sensible governance. Longer summary

This is a review of Lee Kuan Yew's two-volume memoirs covering his life from childhood through 25 years as Prime Minister of Singapore. The first book follows his path from middle-class teenager through WWII Japanese occupation, law school in England, rise in anticolonial politics, and Singapore's complex journey to independence. The second book details how he transformed Singapore from a poor third-world city-state with no natural resources into one of the world's richest countries through pragmatic economic policy, military buildup, massive public housing programs, anti-corruption campaigns, and ruthless focus on stability. The review frames Lee as a 'rationalist power fantasy' - someone who actually succeeded at implementing sensible policies and having them work, while also exploring questions about authoritarianism, his relationship with the decline of the British Empire, and comparisons to figures like Thomas Jefferson and Deng Xiaoping. Shorter summary

The review examines a biography of Narendra Modi, discussing his rise to power and controversial tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, while noting the book's biased perspective. Longer summary

This book review examines Andy Marino's 'Modi: A Political Biography', which covers Narendra Modi's life and political career up to his election as Prime Minister of India in 2014. The review highlights Modi's humble beginnings, his involvement in the RSS organization, his role during the Emergency period, and his controversial tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. It discusses Modi's views on Indian politics, his economic policies in Gujarat, and the parallels between his rise to power and that of other populist leaders like Erdogan. The reviewer notes the book's hagiographic nature and the need for a more balanced perspective on Modi's career and actions. Shorter summary