Singapore's reading appetite leans heavily toward non-fiction. According to the National Library Board's annual lending data, titles on personal development, history, and business regularly occupy the top spots in borrowing statistics across the island's 27 public libraries. What follows is a selection of non-fiction works that have remained consistently popular in local reading circles, along with notes on where to find them.
Books on Singapore's Own Story
The Singapore Story by Lee Kuan Yew
Published in 1998 and followed by a second volume, From Third World to First, these memoirs remain the most widely circulated non-fiction titles in the NLB system. Lee's account covers the years from the Japanese occupation through merger with Malaysia and eventual independence. Copies are stocked at every public library branch, and the hardback edition is a permanent fixture at NLB's reference collection in the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library on Victoria Street.
The Albatross File: Inside Separation
Released in December 2025 by Straits Times Press, this book compiles 23 declassified documents from the so-called "Albatross File" created by Dr Goh Keng Swee in 1964, alongside oral history transcripts from ten founding leaders. Edited by Susan Sim, it offers the most complete published account of the negotiations that led to Singapore's separation from Malaysia on 9 August 1965. The standard edition runs 488 pages and is available at Epigram Bookshop and major libraries.
Wise Beyond Its Size: 60 Lessons from 60 Years
Timed to Singapore's 60th year of independence, this Epigram title collects insights from policymakers, educators, and business figures reflecting on the decisions that shaped the city-state. Chapters cover housing policy, water security, defence, and public health. It has been a consistent seller at the Singapore Book Awards circuit since its publication in late 2025.
Behavioural Science and Personal Growth
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The single most borrowed English-language non-fiction title in NLB libraries for three consecutive years (2022-2024). Clear's framework of habit stacking and identity-based habits resonated particularly well in a productivity-conscious society. Wait times for physical copies at popular branches like Jurong Regional Library can stretch to four weeks; the ebook is available instantly through the NLB Mobile app.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Kahneman's exploration of System 1 and System 2 thinking has been a staple recommendation at The Saturday Book Club, a non-fiction reading group that meets monthly at the Central Library. Members frequently cite it during discussion sessions as a foundational text for understanding cognitive biases in financial decision-making, a topic of practical interest for many Singapore professionals.
Deep Human by Crystal Lim-Lange
Written by a Singaporean author and now in its third edition, Deep Human examines five skills the author argues are essential for navigating an automated economy: self-awareness, empathy, complex communication, critical thinking, and creativity. It was a finalist in the Singapore Book Awards 2025.
Southeast Asia and the Wider Region
From Southeast Asia to Indo-Pacific
Published by Epigram in 2025, this collection of essays argues that the region's identity as "Southeast Asia" is itself a product of geopolitics, created during the Cold War. The authors examine how the return to great-power competition is reshaping cultural and strategic relationships across the Indo-Pacific. It is available at Kinokuniya Singapore and through the NLB catalogue.
Silk Silver Opium by Peter Frankopan
While not a Singapore-specific title, Frankopan's account of the trade routes connecting China, Southeast Asia, and Europe is heavily borrowed at NLB. The book traces how commodities shaped colonial-era power dynamics, with passages directly relevant to Singapore's role as a transhipment hub. Multiple copies are held at the National Library Building's reference collection.
Where to Find These Titles
- NLB Libraries: All titles are catalogued in the NLB catalogue. Reserve online and collect at any branch.
- Kinokuniya Singapore: The largest bookstore in Southeast Asia, located at Ngee Ann City on Orchard Road. Carries both local and international non-fiction.
- Epigram Bookshop: Specialises in Singapore-published titles, both at its physical store and online.
- Wardah Books: An independent bookshop in Kampong Glam with a strong non-fiction and social science selection.
- Book Bar SG: A smaller independent outlet with curated reading events.
Reading non-fiction in Singapore means having access to one of the most well-funded library systems in the region, a strong local publishing scene, and a growing network of readers who meet regularly to exchange notes. The titles above represent a starting point, but the NLB catalogue alone holds over 11 million items waiting to be browsed.