Price of Knowledge
Just came back from a trip from Taipei, Taiwan. Bought a lot of books when I was there. I find the books there cheap compared to the prices in Singapore. Most of them are Chinese books of course, since my interests are into Ancient Chinese History and Military Classics. I was surprised at the variety of books they have (you can find almost anything under the sun there), that the population’s reading habit was able to sustain several large bookstore to open 24 hrs. Most English books that I have seen in Singapore has been translated to Chinese and sold at a cheaper price. The translation is not atrocious as most people thought it would be. The translation was excellent. It seems that they were able to sustain a reading culture quite well.
Coming from Singapore, I was glad I was able to read both Chinese and English. With the upcoming of China, connecting to the global economy, the master of these two languages has become a much sought after skill by many corporations. But in my opinion, why I was happy to learn these two languages is because I was able to appreciate the originals works from two parts of the world, the East and the West. As we all know, some meanings are lost through translations, so it would be better to read the original works of the author.
But during these few years, the number of English Books that I bought has reduced tremendously. Reason being these books are getting very expensive. (Most of the English books that I bought cost at the very most $20) An English book, on business, can cost from $30 - $60 easily. That is very expensive, considering the fact you are taking a risk whether the book will provide contents that you value at that price. I would rather pick up a similar book that has been translated to Chinese, knowing well that some value may be loss through translation. For example, the latest book written by Jack Welch, Winning, cost slightly more than S$30 in Singapore but a similar Chinese version of it cost at the most S$20. Another example, Stephen Covey’s 8th Habit cost more than S$40 but a Chinese version of it costs S$12. See the big difference. So in some sense I was glad that I was able to read Chinese to enjoy these ‘discounts’.
Chinese books here in Singapore are still relative cheap compare English books, reason being that few people here read Chinese books, I guess. But it is still quite expensive, compare to Taiwan for a similar book, which should be taking account of the shipping charges. (Surprisingly the English Books in Taiwan are more expensive than Singapore)
Singapore, wanting to become a knowledge-based economy, should try to make knowledge cheaper. If the price of books, both Chinese and English, are anything to go by, knowledge would slowly become an exclusive commodity of the well to do. As we all believe and the recent discussion of the widening income gap in Singapore and developed countries, education serve as a social ladder for most not well-to-do to move up their socio-economic status. Part of education is seeking knowledge, if knowledge is more expensive, then only people who can afford them would be able to use them. Would it not further widen the gap?
Human resource being the most important resource in Singapore, it is very important that we are able to develop them as much as possible. One good thing about this resource is that it can be limitless, compare to natural resources which has limited abundance. One way of developing these resources is to equip the Singapore workforce with as much necessary knowledge and skills as possible. If the overall knowledge level of the population would increase, ideas and thinking would flourish with large amount of sparks being generated from the rubbing of two or more minds.
I am glad I learned two of the most powerful languages in the world, Chinese and English. Thus I am able to reduce the price of the knowledge I was seeking.
Coming from Singapore, I was glad I was able to read both Chinese and English. With the upcoming of China, connecting to the global economy, the master of these two languages has become a much sought after skill by many corporations. But in my opinion, why I was happy to learn these two languages is because I was able to appreciate the originals works from two parts of the world, the East and the West. As we all know, some meanings are lost through translations, so it would be better to read the original works of the author.
But during these few years, the number of English Books that I bought has reduced tremendously. Reason being these books are getting very expensive. (Most of the English books that I bought cost at the very most $20) An English book, on business, can cost from $30 - $60 easily. That is very expensive, considering the fact you are taking a risk whether the book will provide contents that you value at that price. I would rather pick up a similar book that has been translated to Chinese, knowing well that some value may be loss through translation. For example, the latest book written by Jack Welch, Winning, cost slightly more than S$30 in Singapore but a similar Chinese version of it cost at the most S$20. Another example, Stephen Covey’s 8th Habit cost more than S$40 but a Chinese version of it costs S$12. See the big difference. So in some sense I was glad that I was able to read Chinese to enjoy these ‘discounts’.
Chinese books here in Singapore are still relative cheap compare English books, reason being that few people here read Chinese books, I guess. But it is still quite expensive, compare to Taiwan for a similar book, which should be taking account of the shipping charges. (Surprisingly the English Books in Taiwan are more expensive than Singapore)
Singapore, wanting to become a knowledge-based economy, should try to make knowledge cheaper. If the price of books, both Chinese and English, are anything to go by, knowledge would slowly become an exclusive commodity of the well to do. As we all believe and the recent discussion of the widening income gap in Singapore and developed countries, education serve as a social ladder for most not well-to-do to move up their socio-economic status. Part of education is seeking knowledge, if knowledge is more expensive, then only people who can afford them would be able to use them. Would it not further widen the gap?
Human resource being the most important resource in Singapore, it is very important that we are able to develop them as much as possible. One good thing about this resource is that it can be limitless, compare to natural resources which has limited abundance. One way of developing these resources is to equip the Singapore workforce with as much necessary knowledge and skills as possible. If the overall knowledge level of the population would increase, ideas and thinking would flourish with large amount of sparks being generated from the rubbing of two or more minds.
I am glad I learned two of the most powerful languages in the world, Chinese and English. Thus I am able to reduce the price of the knowledge I was seeking.
posted by Strategist at 11:50 AM
2 Comments:
What's your favourite book in English?
I don't quite agree with you in that human resource is quite limited. First of all, it is limited by the population of Singapore. Then it is limited by how much knowledge the people are able and willing to learn. Being a Singaporean and now in Australia, I am able to make a comparison and say that Singaporean kids have a hard time schooling. Literally, Singaporeans have their heads drowned in knowledge while schooling and the unlucky few even have their heads immersed in water while serving NS. Sadly speaking, some if not most Singaporeans learn because they have to make a living and don't actually have an interest in the knowledge they are learning. It will be interesting if a survey of Singaporean undergraduates on the following topic is conducted - "If a degree is not as helpful in securing a well paid job, what will you rather be doing?" That's one reason why Singaporeans are not as satisfied with their jobs compared to most foreigners. In short, Singaporeans "work to live" not "live to work". In my opinion, one outcome of Knowledge-based economy (or KBE as it is succinctly known as) is that the I.N.S. syndrome (adopted from Jack Neo's production) will intensify and the average working life will get worse with more stress.
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