Lawyer Adrian Tan who wrote Teenage Textbook dies at 57: 'True Renaissance Man,' says Shanmugam

Law Society of Singapore president Adrian Tan, who died on Saturday (July 8) at 57, was "a multi-talented, a true Renaissance Man", said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam.

In a Facebook tribute, the minister wrote: "He was a best-selling author as an undergraduate, dabbled in technology and took a second degree in Computer Science while a practicing lawyer, and in the last few years, became known for his virally popular posts on LinkedIn."

The bestsellers that Mr Tan wrote were The Teenage Textbook (1988) and The Teenage Workbook (1989). In 1998, the first book was made into The Teenage Textbook Movie starring Melody Chen.

It also became a TV series on Channel 5 in 2021, which can be viewed on YouTube.

Mr Tan disclosed he was battling cancer in a LinkedIn post last July.

The Law Society of Singapore announced his death on Saturday.

"Throughout his battle with cancer, which he was diagnosed with in March of 2022, Adrian exemplified extraordinary courage," said the statement.

"Despite the immense challenges he faced, he continued to carry out his duties with resolve and cheerfulness, and never failed to grace us with his trademark humour."

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and a former lawyer, paid tribute to Mr Tan on Facebook.

She wrote: "Adrian and I were former colleagues in the litigation department of Drew & Napier.

"Adrian was a unique individual with a brilliant talent for injecting humour into serious legal argument without detracting from its substantive merits. He somehow always managed to convey pithy pointed comments without causing offence, easing their delivery with gentle humour that made you reflect even as you chuckled.

I know the last few months were a struggle for him but he bore it with a clear-eyed courage, knowing the odds but still determined to fight on despite them."