Around the World in 68 Days: Observations of life from a journey across 13 countries

Description

Insights into thirteen countries' ancient and modern cultures, their national identities and nation brands, and their place in the world today. Around The World In 68 Days is a travelogue with a big difference - not about how to get there, what to see or where to dine, but instead, seeking to glean insights into the meaning of life and the true nature of human societies, using the lens of the brand attributes of each territory to look more clearly into the kaleidoscope of humanity. In a time of a global pandemic, this is also a type of memoir, a tribute to travel, of a pre-Covid-19 world. This is like a 68-day extravaganza of ichigo ichie, the Japanese concept of cherishing every worthwhile moment. Singaporean writer Koh Buck Song - author and editor of more than 30 books - distils the quintessential brand essence of very different cultures in 13 countries across four continents. He draws from his experience and perspectives as a country brand adviser, advocate of liveable and sustainable cities, and commentator on society and public policy. Koh, also a poet and artist, opens each chapter with his own haiga artwork of a haiku poem with an ink sketch. These artworks complement this book's effort to capture and interpret shared humanity across the globe - what makes each of us unique, what we share, and how, in the end, perhaps we're all really chasing ultimately similar dreams.

Koh Buck Song (family name- Koh) is a Singaporean brand adviser and the author and editor of more than 30 books, including one on Singapore's country brand - Brand Singapore- Nation Branding In A World Disrupted By Covid-19 (third edition, 2021, with a Chinese translation published in China, 2012). He has advised foreign governments on building their nation brands, and has spoken extensively on country branding internationally, including in London, Oxford, Cambridge (Massachusetts), Chicago (Illinois), Phuentsholing (Bhutan), Tahiti, Tokyo, Shanghai and Melbourne. An avid traveller, he has visited more than 80 countries and territories, from Antarctica to Zimbabwe. An artist of haiga, a modern interpretation of the 16th century Japanese art form of ink sketches combined with haiku poetry, he has held several exhibitions in Singapore and Laos. This book features a haiga artwork for each of the 13 countries visited. He read English at Cambridge University in the UK and has a master's in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School, USA. As an adjunct editor at Singapore's Centre for Liveable Cities, he has authored and edited reports on the annual World Cities Summit since 2014. Previously, he was a columnist and political and arts journalist with Singapore's main English daily The Straits Times, and head of global media relations and strategic planning at the Singapore Economic Development Board. As head of public affairs (Southeast Asia) with the communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton, he advised the Singapore government on many aspects of urban development, including the global launch of Gardens by the Bay and the National Gallery Singapore.

"I found Around the World in 68 Days very rich in details about locations and cultures, which makes it a great read not just for the travel aficionados and globetrotters among us, but also those with a healthy interest in the mysteries and workings of other countries and cultures: their identities and brand reputation." The Place Brand Observer