Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene

Largely bought this book because of the title - and it paid off. This anthology of essays by Yale-NUS students and alumni was a fascinating exploration of climate and culture and life in Singapore.

Some of the essays are definitely better than others - but they all left me with plenty of food for thought.

Many of the political and economic conditions and choices that led to Singapore's success are becoming increasingly obsolete, unethical and unsustainable. So the challenge now is.. how do we envision a thriving, successful Singapore that is in line with increasingly obvious ecological realities and limits?

Learned lots of fun facts too. Also enjoyed poring over the footnotes and references, so lots more to read and learn about now.

A fun quote from the titular essay on modern crab farming techniques that took off to keep up with ever growing demand for one of our ~national~ dishes:

“With the dual goals of industrial production and profit maximisation in mind, vertical innovation has simplified the complex and time-honoured ways of life of mud crabs - just as it has for human Singaporeans.”

This is essential reading for us anxious about Singapore's future. It crystallises some of our inherent inclinations into concrete thought lines, well-backed by research. It invites us to reconsider our paradigms in our daily living, economy and industry, and questions what can be done better.

While some essays are denser than others, it is generally well-edited and an enjoyable read that doesn't sacrifice depth to make it accessible.

I'll be glad to lend this to anyone interested.