From 3rd World to 1st

Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs make one thing unmistakably clear: the entire project of taking Singapore from 3rd world to 1st was a hard-fought battle against communism. Lee recounts how his party initially formed a united front with the communists to gain mass support among the Chinese-educated population, only to later turn against them once in power. Independence itself was not the end of the fight; the communist threat remained a central preoccupation long after separation from Malaysia.

Karsan Value Funds: 2026 Q2 Results

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site.

The Shithead

I almost put The Shithead down halfway through.

The Big Fix

In their 2024 book The Big Fix, Denise Hearn and Vass Bednar deliver a wake-up call about the state of competition in Canada. At roughly 140 pages, it's a quick and engaging read aimed at general audiences frustrated with high prices.

Karsan Value Funds: 2026 Q1 Results

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site.

Born A Crime

I really enjoyed reading Trevor Noah's book Born A Crime. The book recounts Noah’s unconventional upbringing in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. The title refers to the literal crime of his existence: as the son of a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, his birth violated the Immorality Act, which forbade interracial relationships.

Black Jacobins

C.L.R. James’s The Black Jacobins (1938) is one of the most powerful history books ever written. It tells the story of the Haitian Revolution, the only successful slave revolt in history, which overthrew French colonial rule and created the independent nation of Haiti in 1804.

The Guns of August

Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August (1962, Pulitzer Prize winner) examines the first thirty days of World War I, from the outbreak to the Battle of the Marne. The book is highly detailed, covering troop movements, orders, and decisions with precision.

The Highest Calling

I've been looking for a business book written in novel form that captures the same magic as Goldratt's The Goal, which is a rare gem where deep operational and management insights feel like a gripping story rather than a dry textbook. The Goal nailed it with its compelling narrative about a plant manager racing against time. Recently, I picked up The Highest Calling by Lawrence Janesky, a business parable centered on Troy Becker, a struggling remodeling business owner who's been grinding for 12 years without much to show for it.

Karsan Value Funds: 2025 Q4 Results

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site.

From Barista to Billionaire

I just finished Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson, and it hit differently because Andrew and I hail from the same region and so we know some of the same people.

Lies I Taught At Medschool

If you've ever felt like the standard medical advice on diet, cholesterol, and chronic disease just doesn't add up with what you're seeing in real life, this book will feel like a breath of fresh air. Dr. Robert Lufkin, a seasoned physician and professor, pulls back the curtain on some of the biggest "lies" (or at least massive oversimplifications) he himself taught for decades in medical school.

Karsan Value Funds: 2025 Q3 Results

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site.

A Crack in Everything

A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Shine by Marcus Chown is an engaging dive into the mysterious world of black holes, crafted for the lay reader.

G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century

In Beverly Gage's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century, we get an unflinching look at one of the most powerful figures in U.S. history. Hoover, who led the FBI for nearly five decades until his death in 1972, transformed a modest Bureau of Investigation into a formidable national security apparatus. But as Gage meticulously details, this rise came at a steep cost: rampant surveillance, political blackmail, and the erosion of civil liberties, all in the name of protecting "American values."

Karsan Value Funds: 2025 Q2 Results

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site.

Patriot

Patriot is the memoir of Alex Navalny, the now-deceased opposition leader to Vladimir Putin. He dedicated his life to exposing corruption in Russia, and paid the ultimate price for going against those in power.

Karsan Value Funds: 2025 Q1 Results

Karsan Value Funds (KVF) is a value-oriented fund, as described here. Due to securities regulations, the fund is not open to the public at this time. Should that change in the future, there will be an announcement on this site.

Everything is Predictable

Tom Chivers' book Everything is Predictable is a fantastic dive into a formula known as Bayes' theorem. A book about a formula sounds extremely boring, but its application is extremely useful in everyday life.

Trusting in Claros Mortgage

• Claros Mortgage Trust trades at an 80% discount to book value, despite a more measured decline in book value per share.
• The company's high debt level amplifies the impact of asset write-downs on equity value, contributing to the stock's decline.
• Management's expertise and low exposure to troubled office space, along with a focus on multifamily projects, offer some stability.
• The recent dividend cancellation likely caused a non-financial share price drop, presenting a potential buying opportunity for undervalued shares.

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