We are an independent publisher of literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
Established in 1997, Ethos Books, an imprint of Pagesetters Services Pte Ltd, creates fresh, different and enduring books that reflect the ethos of our changing times.
Giving voice to emerging and exciting writers from diverse backgrounds, we help foster an environment in which literature and the arts not only survive, but thrive. In short, we nurture the growing literary community in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Featured
Malayland
Pre-orders also available in Malaysia from Lit Books.
Available in paperback and e-book format. Paperback + E-book bundle available below: Get the e-book at 50% off with each purchase of a paperback.
What does it mean to be Malay in the 21st century? Especially in a country like Malaysia where identity politics is questioned on an almost daily basis, and policed by the state. 16 years later after the publication of I Am Muslim, Dina Zaman returns to write a memoir, writing about what it means to be Malay, and Muslim in the 21st century.
The writer embarked on Malayland during the Covid pandemic, to understand the anger and frustrations of her fellow ethnic Malays who were fighting against (imagined) enemies and a new world order impacted by a virus that killed over seven million people globally. She grew up in a Malaysia that was seething with anger, bubbling underneath the many nightclubs Malaysia was famed for in the 1980s, that witnessed how secularism killed its Malay Muslim heritage. The 1998 Reformasi movement changed Malaysia and whether for the better, is left up to Malaysians to decide.
Today race and faith are discussed and embraced frenetically, where hateful extremism is hidden under the guise of nationalism. Young Malaysians are asserting their political and birth identities through social media. And along the way, the sense of irony and humour that Malaysia is known for, has lost its way. Malayland is a reflective book: memories and flashbacks of a childhood filled with earthquakes, spooks and a sense of wonderment and curiosity about a country that is fighting for a desired identity.
Past Conversations
Teh Tarik with Walid IRL - Independent Art Spaces with Fong Hoe Fang, Prashant Somosundram
Dec 28, 2023
Access the full transcript of Teh Tarik with Walid IRL - Independent Art Spaces with Fong Hoe Fan...
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"he can’t recognise the Singapore that I’m talking about, but I can" | Home, Community and Hope: Book launch of The Singapore I Recognise
Dec 4, 2023
Access the full transcript of Home, Community and Hope: Book launch of The Singapore I Recognise
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"Do we adjust our own moral compass, or do we rebel?" | The Rise and Fall of an Anti-Hero: Book Launch of catskull
Aug 29, 2023
Access the full transcript of The Rise and Fall of an Anti-Hero: Book Launch of catskull here.
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Attunement
Is life hustling you out of tune? As the week roars by, we invite you to a slice of attunement penned lovingly by us, our authors and friends. Freshly delivered with care. Intimacy guaranteed. Read selected letters below.
Neverness and Resonance
Oct 22, 2024
While we may no longer have a place to anchor our memories, we still have books.
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Grief and Love
Oct 22, 2024
When we love much, grief over a loss is so much harder to bear.
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I'll share your time, for a time
Aug 19, 2024
Grief tells me of the depths of my heart’s ability to love, of opening the heart to another being...
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News
Neverness and Resonance
Oct 22, 2024
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Grief and Love
Oct 22, 2024
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I'll share your time, for a time
Aug 19, 2024
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Towards a Singapore that leaves no one behind
Aug 19, 2024
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Patient History: A Guide to Luminosity
Aug 19, 2024
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A theme park full of organs
Aug 19, 2024
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Rest is a Luxury We Must Aim to Afford
Aug 19, 2024
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To Build a Democratic Society
Mar 19, 2024
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The future is promising
Mar 13, 2024
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Walking Towards the Truth of Singapore
Mar 13, 2024
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Lessons in the soil
Jan 12, 2024
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Textures 2024 @ The Arts House
Jan 3, 2024
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Ethos' Recommended Reads to Close 2023
Dec 29, 2023
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Teh Tarik with Walid IRL - Independent Art Spaces with Fong Hoe Fang, Prashant Somosundram
Dec 28, 2023
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December Showers and Sunshine
Dec 4, 2023
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A message from our publisher
Dec 4, 2023
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Education
Whether you're a reader who is keen to dig deeper into our books, or a teacher looking to bring our authors into your classroom, Ethos Books believes in supporting and enabling knowledge-sharing, discussion and community building through literature. Check out our school programmes on this page, as well as recommended reading lists and our free book club starter packs to start your very own book club today!