1. 日本之窗 (日本を知る), 板坂元著, 関正昭編 [株式会社スリーエー　ネットワック　3A Corporation], 大新書局印行, 1993, 201 pages

This is a very comprehensive book about a common Japanese family’s daily life, activities in 12 months, different aspects in Japanese society that a commoner would encounter, and little boxes of general knowledge about Japan. It is fully in Japanese, without any other language, and is originally intended to serve as a reading practice textbook for foreign students in Japan, but it is not dry or boring. Quite the opposite, it is really a fun read.

2. Principles of Economics (An Asian Edition), N. Gregory Mankiw, Euston Quah and Peter Wilson, Cengage Learning Asia, 2008, 862 pages

Although I studied Principles of Economics as one of the compulsory modules in college, the content was too brief and the lecturers were too monotonous. However, this book, as a college textbook, is the most fun and easy reading economics text I have ever tried to read. It does not only cover the economics knowledge, but also inspires the readers to think about government policies and judge whether to vote for a candidate by examining his economic promises.

Prof Mankiw’s (Harvard) original text has been claimed to be a ‘market-leading textbook’ in the US. Prof Quah (NTU) and Dr Wilson (former professor in NUS) have inserted many Asian materials and made the text more relevant to Asian readers.

I have effortlessly finished one eighth of the whole book within 3 days using spare time, with all the revision questions done. So hopefully I can finish this “course” in one month.

3. Europe: A History, Norman Davies, HarperPerennial, 1998, 1365 pages

I just read the introduction (45 pages). Built upon careful reconsideration of mainstream European history writing, which was previously overwhelming, with a broad scope and a balanced viewpoint, this introduction alone is a magnificent work. I am looking forward to enjoying reading it.

Before I decided to purchase this book, I found a Chinese translation to it (titled as 《欧洲史》). Comparing the texts of the introduction, it was obvious that, although considered as high quality and serious as a 21st century Chinese translation, the sentences in the Chinese version really sounded weird and awkward. The beauty of Davies’ language had completely vanished.