Any book that's written by the Old Fart is compulsory reading for all PAP members, the higher-ups in the government and secondary school students upwards. Of course, he's not so stupid to actually issue a decree that they must all buy his books. There are indirect ways to do so. Each time a new book of his is launched, the PAP members, the Permanent Secretaries, the Administrative Officers etc would all be talking about it, referring to certain quotes or paragraphs or even chapters. So if you are one of them, would you want to be caught out? Would you want to look the odd one out if you've no clue what the rest are talking about.?Peer pressure alone would be enough to guarantee sales. And that's not all. The whole public service would be bombarded by email soliciting for purchases with special group discounts, wouldn't that drive up sales volume. There's more. Teachers would be setting essay assignments that would require the students to read up his books. Some will set up a class discussion on the Old Fart's latest books as to what the students learn by reading them. Imagine the number of students we've in S'pore and you will know why the Straits Times could always splash across its pages that the Old Fart's books are all sold out and need to go for a reprint.
To the ordinary folks, you give them his books they also don't want. I got a few free copies from some civil servants who bought extra to takd advantage of the group discounts. I had never turn one page of it and used them as door stoppers. Just look around the book stores, his books are all piling up like mountains and you don't even see one person browsing them.