What do you think?
Rate this book
Transition: The Story of PN Balji
From January 2021, Woon Tai Ho started to meet PN Balji for breakfast every Monday morning. What began as casual catchup between two friends developed into a weekly two, three-hour session, and ultimately this book.
From an arranged marriage to fatherhood and now grand-fatherhood, nothing is more important to Balji than family. But in today’s Singapore, youngsters prefer to stay single, or forego having children. Family, the most crucial social institution is under threat. Running parallel to the narrative on family is a bold and critical view of the political transition crisis in Singapore. From Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong, and now Lee Hsien Loong, what happens after the third-generation leaders? The PAP has always been decisive, efficient and forward looking, is the current fourth generation leaders up to par as the city state faces its biggest crisis since independence?
At 73, Balji has been a journalist under the administrations of all three Prime Ministers and lived through the major milestones of Singapore. His perspectives are insightful and also brutal, but always thorough and original. His is a bold and independent mind, “My views are always pro-Singapore, but not necessarily pro-government or pro-opposition,” he quips.
The Story of PN Balji is a 40-year perspective of the changing social, economic and political life of a city state seen through the discerning eye of a veteran journalist, and how his own life has reacted and transformed with it. Whether it is the institution of family or the institution of state, the book captures the unrelenting views of thinking mind who is waist-deep into his second act.
From an arranged marriage to fatherhood and now grand-fatherhood, nothing is more important to Balji than family. But in today’s Singapore, youngsters prefer to stay single, or forego having children. Family, the most crucial social institution is under threat. Running parallel to the narrative on family is a bold and critical view of the political transition crisis in Singapore. From Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong, and now Lee Hsien Loong, what happens after the third-generation leaders? The PAP has always been decisive, efficient and forward looking, is the current fourth generation leaders up to par as the city state faces its biggest crisis since independence?
At 73, Balji has been a journalist under the administrations of all three Prime Ministers and lived through the major milestones of Singapore. His perspectives are insightful and also brutal, but always thorough and original. His is a bold and independent mind, “My views are always pro-Singapore, but not necessarily pro-government or pro-opposition,” he quips.
The Story of PN Balji is a 40-year perspective of the changing social, economic and political life of a city state seen through the discerning eye of a veteran journalist, and how his own life has reacted and transformed with it. Whether it is the institution of family or the institution of state, the book captures the unrelenting views of thinking mind who is waist-deep into his second act.
- GenresBiography
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2022
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 23, 2022
I enjoyed this book tremendously.
Although “Transitions” is Balji’s story, I was able to learn more than just about him. I learned about how he thinks, his values and insights. Many of them were useful for my reflection and extrapolation on what is truly important to me, not just as an individual, but as a member of society and within the family.
I loved Woon Tai Ho’s writing style which was well-paced and easy to follow. The writing did not get in the way of the story. He had a few asides here and there which transported me to the locations. For example, his description of the Clover coffeeshop and the two servers, Balji tapping on the table and his general demeanour. Even if you don’t know the man (I know him), you get a good sense of his personality (not just his ideas).
After the main book is over, there are a series of essays, where Balji is very frank about various topics, including Lawrence Wong, the designated and therefore, mostly likely Singapore’s next Prime Minister.
Read the book. It’s good fodder for kopitiam conversations with friends and random strangers.
Although “Transitions” is Balji’s story, I was able to learn more than just about him. I learned about how he thinks, his values and insights. Many of them were useful for my reflection and extrapolation on what is truly important to me, not just as an individual, but as a member of society and within the family.
I loved Woon Tai Ho’s writing style which was well-paced and easy to follow. The writing did not get in the way of the story. He had a few asides here and there which transported me to the locations. For example, his description of the Clover coffeeshop and the two servers, Balji tapping on the table and his general demeanour. Even if you don’t know the man (I know him), you get a good sense of his personality (not just his ideas).
After the main book is over, there are a series of essays, where Balji is very frank about various topics, including Lawrence Wong, the designated and therefore, mostly likely Singapore’s next Prime Minister.
Read the book. It’s good fodder for kopitiam conversations with friends and random strangers.
January 21, 2023
Read this within the day. It was a very light read. Tai Ho’s musings during Covid. Already much of the opinions of the book are dated. And actually there is little meat. Just short exchanges. And there is not much fact finding outside of the favourable people like the wife, the eldest daughter and elder grandson. All the favourites. I would have talked to the brother and other non media friends, if there were any. The obsession with kerala is not explored. The author knows too little. He called some indian food “sauce” the best parts about the book are Balji’s opinions on the government and the media. Actually nothing new there either, but at least there is some length in opinions. Read this as a time pass then recycle the book.
August 14, 2022
Engaging read about the Singapore story of P N Balaji and his family, and his thoughts on various issues in Singapore up to covid. It extends the discussion of some topics first broached in his book. Balaji continues to write on Facebook, as his little contribution.
Read the print book in one sitting.
Read the print book in one sitting.
April 25, 2023
Very light read. If you’re reading this for the stories about Balji’s personal life, I find that they weren’t particularly vivid/interesting (doesn’t seem to justify writing a book about anyway). If you’re reading this to find out more of Balji’s POV on certain issues, you may get something out of it, but not that much more than directly reading Balji’s articles?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews