Malaysia is no easy country to analyse, or even to understand. With so many narratives about the country, its peoples, and its histories, the noise generated - both online and off - can be as deafening as that of any rave party.
Since 2019, Malaysians have lived through a unique period in the country's history: Amid the Covid pandemic and its many challenges, Malaysia experienced three prime minister changes, and countless other political dramas and plot twists.
Signals in the Noise is not just a book on politics, though. Moving with ease between different sociopolitical and socioeconomic discourses, this collection of Ooi Kee Beng's columns and commentaries - published between 2019 and 2023 - showcases more than ever his talent as a historian and philosopher, alongside his prowess as a political scientist.
This wide-ranging collection is a must-read beginner's guide to Malaysian politics. It also highlights Ooi's love for his hometown of Penang, his concern for the environment, and how the arts define a society and its perceptions of the world.