The European Union : a guide through the EC/EU maze by Alex Roney and Stanley Budd

After reading The European Union: a guide through the EC/EU maze, I found myself slightly overwhelmed by the complexity of the European Union.

This book is useful for one to derive a basic understanding of the European Union, i.e. hierarchy, institutional bodies, memberships, etc.

For me, I thought that it served better as a reference than a leisure read due to the dryness of the writings.

Overall Rating: 3/10

From Kuan Yew to Chok Tong and beyond by George Nonis

From Kuan Yew to Chok Tong and beyond is one of the few books that carry political caricatures. In Singapore, cartoon drawings of political figures are seldom seen on newspapers due to the more restricted political expression within the state.

This is a comic book and carries jokes about Singapore. There is a previous comic book by George Nonis, entitled Hello Chok Tong, Goodbye Kuan Yew which caused some stir when it was released.

Meet the Cabinet Ministers aka players in the Singapore Young Lions as illustrated by George Nonis.

Bottom (from left): Abdullah Tarmugi - Mr Rock Steady, Lim Boon Heng - Mr Cupid, Lee Boon Heng - Best Trainee, Mah Bow Tan - Mr Goal 2010, Lim Hng Kiang - Young Player of the Year, Wong Kan Seng - The Singer, Lee Yock Suan - Mr Drama, Yeo Cheow Tong - Mr IT (intelligent tackles)
Top (from left): Goh Chok Tong - Mr Golden Boots, Teo Chee Hean - Mr Long Beans, George Yeo - The Thinker, Lee Hsien Loong - The Super Sub, Tony Tan - The Swinging Sub, Richard Hu - The Paymaker, S. Jayakumar - Mr Smiley, Lee Kuan Yew - Old Player of the Year

Overall Rating: 7/10

Foreign Policy and International Law by Charles G. Fenwick

Published in 1968, Foreign Policy and International Law is written by Charles G. Fenwick, a member of Pan American Union.

Foreign Policy and International Law looked into the following:

1. Character and Scope of Foreign Policy
2. The Community of Nations
3. Who speaks for whom in the World of Nations
4. National Security: 1776-1920
5. National Security: 1920-1942
6. The United Nations
7. The Rule of Law under the Charter, 1945-1968
8. Problems of National Self-government: Citizenship
9. Responsibility of the State for the Protection of Aliens and their Property
10. Special Obligations towards neighbouring States
11. Titles to Territory; National Boundaries
12. The High Seas
13. International Cooperation in the Enforcement and Administration of National Law
14. Treaties and Conventions
15. Diplomatic Agents; Consuls
16. Economic and Social Problems
17. The Settlement of International Disputes: Arbitration and Judicial Decision
18. Forcible Procedure by War

Foreign Policy and International Law is written from an American perspective and majority of it relates to the foreign policies of the United States.

Referring to case studies, Fenwick poses many questions for the reader to stipulate and think about the irrationality and abnormacy of certain acts by states.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

Emphasising on the power of the individual to make a change on oneself is the main theme of Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. In the more than 500 pages, Anthony Robbins literally talks to you as a reader.

More than just a motivational book, Anthony Robbins show readers how to better manage relationships, health, concerns from how to reduce crime rates to global warming. What's marvellous is that Anthony Robbins draw all the reference from the first part of the book, in which he explained how the human mindset worked.

Awaken the Giant Within gives a clear scope of how the brain works, how emotions work and how we can take control of them instead of the other way round.

Overall Rating: 10/10

How to Talk to Anyone - 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes

The 92 Tricks for Big Success in Relationships are categorised into the following 9 parts:

• How to intrigue everyone without saying a word?
• How to know what to say after you say "Hi"
• Hot to talk like a VIP
• How to be an insider in every crowd: what are they all talking about
• How to sound like you are peas in a pod: "Why, we are just alike!"
• How to differentiate the power of praise from the folly of flattery
• How to direct dial their hearts
• How to work a party like a politician work a room
• How to break the most treacherous glass ceiling of all: sometimes people are tigers

Leil Lowndes, in her book, not only covered on how to talk to anyone, but it also revised and inspected some old methods and critically offered an updated alternative to them.

I really learnt a lot from her book. Every little thing count. You never know when you are going to be in a situation and you are not equipped with these tricks. Never waste your interviews or lose a prospect client ever again!

Overall Rating: 10/10

From Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong by Shin Min Daily News

From Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong is a compilation of news publications by Shin Min Daily News, a newspaper under the Singapore Press Holdings Corporation.

The first part of From Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong provides coverage on Mr Lee Kuan Yew. From how he became the leader of Singapore, the book then interviewed the grassroots leaders and various individuals that had worked with him.

The second part of From Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong then focuses on Mr Goh Chok Tong. Interviews from people who knew him before he stepped into politics shed some light into the nature and character of this great leader.

Overall Rating: 7/10

I Can Make You Rich by Paul McKenna

I Can Make You Rich consists of two parts - The Psychology of Wealth & Let's Go Make Money!

In the first half of the book, The Pyschology of Wealth includes methods of revamping your financial blueprint. McKenna adapted some concepts from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich as well as Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad. The book is equipped with a free hypnosis CD to be used in conjunction with the various book exercises. Part I of the book seeks to unravel all the negative thoughts about money that one could have, so that one is ready for the next part of the book...

Part II, Let's Go Make Money! consists of the following chapters:

• How to Make Money
• Assembling your Wealth Team
• A Proven Formula for Success
• The Simplest Business Plan in the World
• The Three Skills that Lead to Riches
• The Secrets of Living Rich

I Can Make You Rich is a very simple book to read. It is centred around the psychology of the human mind and how influencing the mind could lead you to a richer (not necessarily in the money sense) and happier life.

Overall Rating: 9/10