The Life in the Writing

The Life in the Writing is the first biography of Malaysian scholar and former National University of Singapore academic, Syed Hussein Alatas (1928-2007). The author reconstructs his life by focusing on his writing, which brought his ideas to the world. The book contains previously unpublished material and rare photographs, revealing details about the publication of his most famous work, The Myth of the Lazy Native, his connections to Edward W. Said and Virginia Woolf, and more. An edition published in 2010 includes new content about Alatas and Italy, unpublished samples of his poetry and letters, his contributions to the Rukunegara, his thoughts on May 13, censorship, UFO sightings, and a contribution from Malaysian filmmaker and writer, Amir Muhammad. The biography aims to portray Alatas’ life through his writings, allowing readers to gain insight into his character and achievements.