'The First Fools' who saw Singapore through to independence

In a bold and timely release marking Singapore's 60th year of independence, a new book is shaking up the familiar narrative of nation-building by offering a surprising and deeply human portrait of the men behind the republic’s birth. ‘The First Fools: B-Sides of Lee Kuan Yew’s A-Team’ is a literary excavation of the 10 men who signed the 1965 Separation Agreement, offering fresh insight into their lives beyond the headlines and history books.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

Published by The Nutgraf — a boutique editorial studio run largely by former journalists — the anthology is not a typical commemorative volume. Instead of celebrating political milestones and statecraft, it uncovers the untold personal stories of Singapore’s founding fathers: their hobbies, love lives, eccentricities, and even secret pasts.

Speaking exclusively to The Island Financial Review, Claire Lum, Content Associate at The Nutgraf and one of the book’s key contributors, said the team set out to produce something unlike anything already on the shelves. “There are already countless books and documentaries detailing their political legacies — their policies, speeches, and public service. But what about who they were as people? Their B-sides, so to speak?”