閱讀雨天

　　僵硬變形的關節與水泥咬手的潰爛，從沒痊癒過，
　　隔著圍籬的冷漠歧視，和圍籬內的直接壓迫，
　　幾瓶維士比、一管注射針、一個小藥瓶……
　　他們只能無奈認命，
　　這世界卻不能棄之不顧。

　　底層之下的底層，剝削之中的剝削。
　　一個青年監工的批判與關懷，
　　那些心疼他說不出，所以他寫下來。

　　有時他是有點皮，但重情義、對身邊人不離不棄的工地八嘎囧。
　　有時他是入了行就註定活不過七十歲的電焊工，走時帶著盲眼和爛肺。
　　有時他是外籍移工，被體制漠視及壓榨，廉價又耐操，他的名字就是身上背心的數字。
　　有時她是師傅身旁備受尊敬的工地大嫂；或者默默吞下輕視跟排擠的外配。
　　有時，他們是高舉著建案廣告牌一整天只能賺四百元的看板人。

　　工地現場有如被遺棄的世界邊緣，社會最底層的勞動者在此掙扎求生，心知肚明再怎樣拚搏也翻身無望。權力者毫無憐憫地欺壓，大眾帶著優越的想像遠望──反正「偏見」的標籤已輕鬆貼上了，又何必費心？

　　林立青擔任建築監工十餘年，這些階級不公與扭曲對待不斷在眼前搬演，自己卻無能為力，連淚都早已流不出。終於藉由這本書，他將心中的巨大無力感化為一記憤怒直球，奮力投向社會，他要為生命中所有認真活著的小人物找回存在的真實，讓每一個人都可以真正被視而為「人」地尊重。

本書特色：

　　◎第一本由建築工地的第一線「現場工程師」書寫，做工者的生命紀實故事。

　　◎攝影師攝下工地師傅日常群像，以彩色、黑白照片穿插設計，重現《人間》雜誌般的時代光影。

　　◎如果我們判斷人的標準，是用刻苦，是用勤奮，是用力爭上游的努力和對於生活的認真，去決定一個人的品格，那我們不可能看不出來他們值得擁有尊敬。我們既然知道以一個人的經濟條件去斷定其社會階級以及地位是錯的，並且深惡譴責，那又為什麼不改變對他們的看法呢？

　　◎林立青：「我最後想再說一個故事：我在寫作當下已經將真實的人名隱去，地點也做了變更，但完成後我卻發現，無論怎麼更換這些地點、季節或是人名，總會不經意地又影射了現實生活中的其他人。我對此感到無奈。如果你發現書中的人名和場景有所雷同，請哀矜而勿喜。」

名人推薦：

　　房慧真（作家．《報導者》記者）、顧玉玲（作家．勞工運動工作者）◎專文推薦

作者簡介

林立青

　　一個市場養大的孩子，如同台灣人的生產履歷般，照著考出來的分數選擇學校，照著這樣的模式一路讀完了私立科大。畢業後拿著文憑進了工地，就在工地現場從事監工至今。

　　現實專長為搬弄、造謠和說謊，用來保護自己，也保護他人，編織的謊言能夠吸引憐憫，搬弄而成的印象可帶來同情，造謠之後好求取寬容。如此而已。

　　會寫作的原因只是想找回真實，因為多次祈求仍不可得一個不需說謊的人生後，唯有文字是最好的卸妝品：將平日堆疊在自己和周遭人的謊言謠言一句句抹去。留下一個完整如初，卻又無法訴說感受的現實人生。

　　我躲在文字之中，對自己說話。

　　．臉書：【林立青】

攝影者簡介

賴小路（賴啟光）

　　70年代出生，小學畢業得到工友獎，獎品是掃把一支。18歲做過下水道工地粗工。2009年以攝影為生後，成為知名的泡麵評論哲學家，格言是：「當夢想貼近肚皮的一刻，我感受到一碗泡麵的重量。」

　　現為小路攝影工作室工友及《聯合文學》雜誌特約攝影師，全職爸爸與丈夫，兼任貓砂清潔隊員。專長為婚禮與人文攝影。

　　2014年入選國際攝影競賽Mywed Contest “Photographer's Choice Top50“。

　　．個人網站：www.lucien.tw

推薦序

破牆而出
文◎顧玉玲（作家．勞工運動工作者）
（本篇推薦序全文請見書內）

　　營造工地多半由鐵皮高牆圍住，所有的勞作與髒汙被一舉隔離、遮掩在牆的那一頭，看不見，也不給看。待拆牆亮相時，打地基綁鋼筋砌泥作拉水電鋸木作刷油漆清廢料的勞動者們，恆常是隱身未現的。那些拓寬拔高的反光磚壁、流線手扶梯竟像是變魔術般無中生有，出資者與高官貴賓風光剪綵時，也好似光撒了錢就可以憑空收割工程成果，並理所當然獨占了建物題名的落款處。

　　總算我們有了立青的工地速寫，破牆而出。灰頭土臉的實作現場，生猛有力的對話與互動，營造業工人的勞動樣貌一一現身，周邊的警察、看板人、更生人、檳榔西施、外籍配偶、性工作者也接連顯影。他的書寫位置擴寬了台灣文學的向度，他的觀察視角折射出階級文化的厚度。

　　我先是在臉書上零星閱讀立青的系列文章，與我的勞動認識多所呼應，遂特意搜尋了數篇列印給木工師傅競中看。競中快速翻讀後，先下了斷語：「這個作者是工地主任。」為什麼？那麼多工種、工序都接觸得到，有一定的專業理解又不致被捲入特定技術的勞動生態，唯有監工的特殊位置。

　　監工無非是發包單位外派至工地，負責整合各技術部門，既要協調不同工種施作者之間的困難，也要代替雇主催盯進度。這角色因掌握行政特權而似乎高於現場實作者，但又因無特定專業，也無實權，難免兩面都吃力不討好。我帶著這樣的認識重讀立青的文章，更清晰地看見那個帶著想法進場的年輕菜鳥監工，有一點熱血與世故，有一點理想性與失落傷感，更多的是做為一個人的溫暖與義憤，對工地世界帶著孩童般的好奇，及持續的反思與行動。他遊離在各工地間，接合工人們的勞動程序，保持一些距離，又置身其中，一個懸空又千絲萬履關係纏附的獨特角色，延續到收工後的私下借貸與續攤情誼。

　　如何在各式工種的本位主義間協商，各留餘裕的可能？還要面對勞雇間的矛盾拉鋸，監工本身必然也有極富張力的故事。不過，立青沒選擇在這個角色多著墨，轉而把焦點放在他所接觸的工人生命樣貌。我猜想，這樣的書寫態度很可能也如實反映了他與工人們的關係：讓監察的角色退一點，讓學習的態度多一點，承認並看重師傅的生命經驗。我們只有在散落的篇章中，浮光掠影地察覺他身為監工的內在矛盾，或是不得不陷入「在施工進度和工人安危下掙扎求生」，或是在法令與人性的擠壓下，終至做出「我永遠不會配合警察辦案抓外勞」的決定。唯有在〈虧檳榔〉一文中，總算看見這名年輕監工在工地裡流轉、虛耗、等待、跑腿的碌碌身形，與同樣年輕的檳榔西施們相濡以沫的安慰、放鬆，看不到盡頭的失落。

　　立青的工地書寫，以平視的角度進場，觀察工人間性別、年齡、族群的差異，以及權力與關係的交互作用。下工後換裝出遊的年輕打工者、擅作調度的工地大嫂、只有背心數字而無名姓的移工、多次進出監獄的粗工、工地拾荒者……構成工地勞動的主體，來去浮沉。他不評價，但有立場。因著這個貼近被損害者的立場，他看出真正的價值……

Every time we use a Singapore bank note, we see his face – the face of Yusof Ishak, the first President of Singapore.

But did you know that he had to overcome challenges in his life and was also a champion in sports such as weightlifting and boxing?

And not many people know that when he got married, in 1949, he and his wife lived in a kampung house with no electricity – the couple used kerosene lamps for light.

This book, which is targeted at upper primary and lower secondary pupils, will make this icon of Singapore come alive. It is suitable for anyone who wants an overview of the life and background of the first President of Singapore.

Readers will also enjoy the many photographs of Yusof Ishak, at formal occasions and in less formal moments.

C.V. Devan Nair, the son of a rubber plantation clerk, rose from humble beginnings to become an outstanding union leader, a Member of Parliament, and eventually President of Singapore.

This book, which is targeted at upper primary and lower secondary pupils, describes Nair’s childhood and his years growing up in an anti-colonial household.

It also describes in detail how, during the tumultuous post-war years, Nair came to the attention of the British authorities, who were cracking down on anti-colonial activities, and ended up spending a total of about five years in detention.

It gives an excellent overview of the exciting early years of Nair’s life in the 1950s and 60s as a teacher, a unionist and an MP, and highlights his dedication and contributions to the NTUC.

He was a well-known doctor and professor, and was one of the leading names in obstetrics and gynaecology in Singapore for decades.

And when he was 63 years old, he was asked to be the second President of Singapore, after the first President Yusof Ishak died in 1970.

What was Benjamin Sheares like as a President? Did he continue practising as a doctor after he became President? And who described him as “a perfect gentleman?”

The answers to these questions and more can be found in this easy-to-read book, which is targeted at upper primary and lower secondary pupils.

It has many photographs of Benjamin Sheares and readers will enjoy seeing him in his early years, when he was a professor, and also in more relaxed, unguarded moments.

In this updated book, viewed by many as a definitive guide to Singapore-style diplomacy, former minister, diplomat and law dean S Jayakumar outlines the principles and norms that form the bedrock of Singapore’s foreign policy, shaped by more than five decades of hard-earned experience of ministers and officials. Professor Jayakumar, who retired from politics as Senior Minister in 2011, illustrates these with his accounts of and reflections on milestones where he had been involved as either Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs or, much earlier, as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN).

This second edition includes an overview and chapter updates of the tumultuous trends and developments in the 2010s that have made a significant impact on geopolitics and diplomacy, especially for small states such as Singapore.

The book documents how Singapore has been able to create diplomatic and economic space for itself through proactive and creative diplomacy, for instance, by initiating key international forums, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum and Asia-Europe Meeting, and by pursuing free trade agreements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, both inked in 2018. Singapore has remained relevant to the international community by hosting international summits, such as the Trump-Kim Summit in 2018 and the Xi-Ma Summit in 2015, and by leading UN efforts such as the Singapore Convention on Mediation, opened for signature in Singapore in 2019.

Professor Jayakumar recounts how Singapore has responded to moves by other countries that are inimical to its national interests and put it under intense pressure, without losing its credibility. These include three difficult cases between 1994 and 1995 — the hanging of Dutch national Johannes Van Damme, that of Filipino maid Flor Contemplacion, and the caning of American Michael Fay — and the impounding of Singapore’s Terrex infantry carrier vehicles in transit in Hong Kong in 2016.

Professor Jayakumar also discusses how Singapore has resolved disputes with other countries in an amicable manner through third-party settlement, in compliance with international law and international agreements, which has become an important feature of Singapore’s foreign policy. These include the land reclamation case with Malaysia and the case where the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over Pedra Branca to Singapore.

COMMENDATIONS

“The honest , meaty narratives offer insights into strategic goals and diplomatic means of one of the world’s most skillful foreign ministries.”
Review from Foreign Affairs

“S Jayakumar’s reflections explain how Singapore manages to “punch above its weight” on the international stage. In doing so, it offers valuable insights for historians, political scientists and leaders from around the world.
Kofi A Annan, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, 1997–2006

Singapore has evolved from a developing country to a developed one, in only a few short decades. Its gross domestic product per capita has soared from just US$517 (S$697) in 1965, to US$64,582 (S$87,128) in 2018.

Impressed, visiting university students from Mexico and the United States, in early 2019, asked the city state’s Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh for its secret of success.

His reply: there was not a single secret but many, which he would consider curating a new book on.

The result: Fifty Secrets of Singapore’s Success.

The collection of 50 essays, written by leaders and experts in their fields, sheds light on how the small state has scored significant success in not only economics but also eight other areas.

Among other things, Singapore is one of the world’s least corrupt countries, has one of the highest home ownership rates worldwide — of more than 90 per cent — and has world-class schools, healthcare and environments.

Singapore has also been a good global citizen. It has played a significant role in the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the United Nations (UN), Singapore has played a leadership role in the negotiations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (also known as the Singapore Convention on Mediation) and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

Many of the contributors are well-known names. They include Economic Development Board’s former executive chairman, Philip Yeo; Changi Airport Group’s and Surbana Jurong’s chairman, Liew Mun Leong; Singapore Airlines’ chief executive officer, Goh Choon Phong; National Wages Council’s founding chairman, Lim Chong Yah; National Trades Union Congress president and former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Mary Liew; Housing & Development Board’s chief executive officer, Cheong Koon Hean; Singapore Management University’s president, Lily Kong; the National Institute of Education’s former director, Leo Tan; Public Service Commission’s and The Esplanade Co’s chairman, Lee Tzu Yang; Singapore’s first and longest-serving Chief of Defence Force, Winston Choo; former Singapore Police Commissioner and INTERPOL president Khoo Boon Hui; National Parks Board’s and Gardens by the Bay’s founding chief executive officer, Kiat W Tan; former ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong; veteran diplomat Chan Heng Chee; former NMP and the Association of Women for Action and Research’s former president, Kanwaljit Soin; and World Toilet Organization’s founder, Jack Sim.

Veteran journalists of The Straits Times — Vikram Khanna, Christopher Tan and Sandra Davie — have also contributed essays to the book.

“Word of Wisdom” is an inspiring collection of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, which have been reprinted from his daily column in the Shin Min Daily. Penned by Shin Min Editor Bernard Choo, the column offers a wide array of topics concerning our daily life, ranging from good health and longevity, marriage and wealth.　

Dr Tham Wai Mun has taught courses on translation in various institutions, such as Confucius Institute of NTU, Singapore Institute of Management University (UniSIM), and National University of Singapore (NUS).