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Lit Books: "Always 2 Months Away From Shuttering"

Nov 25, 2025

Guest

Fong Minhan

Fong Minhan, co-founder of Lit Books, shares his journey from journalism to running a beloved independent bookstore in Malaysia. He discusses the challenges of starting a business, including cash flow struggles that kept them 'two months away from shuttering.' Minhan reveals how they adapted during the pandemic by shifting to e-commerce and delivering books manually. He also highlights the joy of curating unexpected titles for customers and shares recommendations of impactful reads, blending both fiction and nonfiction for book lovers.

39:22

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ADVICE

Inventory Is The Biggest Cost

Expect inventory to be the largest startup cost for a bookstore.
Budget generously because initial stock often leaves shelves looking sparse until replenished over years.

insights

INSIGHT

Curation Creates Delight And Loyalty

Curation and surprise discovery created strong customer loyalty for Lit Books.
Minhan found joy when customers loved unknown authors and returned to thank him.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Early Obsessions With Process

Early operational worries included shelf aesthetics, reorder cadence, and customer greetings.
Many formal processes they created fell away over time, especially after the pandemic.

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Why Minhan Left Consulting to Open Lit Books

01:12 • 2min

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Setting a One-Year Experiment and Benchmarks

02:46 • 3min

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Startup Costs: Inventory Was the Biggest Expense

05:38 • 1min

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Design, Suppliers and Sticking to Curation

06:38 • 3min

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Customer Surprise: The Joy of Curation

09:10 • 2min

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Early Operations: Processes, Greeting Customers and OCD Details

Commercial Realities: Profits vs Cash Flow

13:30 • 3min

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Why Cash Flow Trumps Profit on Day-to-Day Survival

16:50 • 2min

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Malaysia's Book Ecosystem and Supply Delays

19:17 • 3min

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Logistics Pain: Weeks to Source Curated Titles

Growth: Second Outlet and Staffing Changes

23:14 • 2min

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Surviving the Pandemic: Going Digital Overnight

25:40 • 3min

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Pandemic Years: Nimbleness Became an Advantage

28:48 • 45sec

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Post-Pandemic Sales Patterns and Current Slowdown

29:33 • 34sec

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Book Recommendations: Contemporary Fiction Picks

30:07 • 2min

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Business & Nonfiction Picks: Investigative Reads

32:30 • 3min

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What Minhan Looks For in Books

35:06 • 2min

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Plans Ahead: Refresh, Possible New Location

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The South

Tash Aw

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Four Thousand Weeks

Time Management for Mortals

Oliver Burkeman

In 'Four Thousand Weeks', Oliver Burkeman offers a contrarian approach to time management by focusing on the finite nature of human life. Assuming an average lifespan of 80 years, the book calculates that we have approximately 4,000 weeks to live. Burkeman argues against the modern fixation on productivity and efficiency, instead advocating for embracing the limits of time and prioritizing what truly matters. The book draws on insights from ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers to help readers construct a more meaningful life by accepting and working within the constraints of time. It addresses issues such as the efficiency trap, the pitfalls of convenience culture, and the importance of living in the present while acknowledging the unpredictability of the future.

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Meltdown

A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse

Thomas E. Woods Jr.

In this book, Thomas E. Woods, Jr. challenges the common narrative that deregulation and free markets led to the 2008 financial crisis. Instead, he argues that government interventions, such as those through Fannie Mae and the Community Redevelopment Act, were the primary causes of the housing bubble and subsequent market collapse. Woods also critiques government bailouts, suggesting they exacerbate the problems rather than solve them. The book provides a detailed explanation of Austrian business cycle theory and its application to the crisis, as well as a historical context comparing the government's response to the Great Depression.

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Careless People

Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of the Great Gatsby

Sarah Churchwell

Sarah Churchwell's "Careless People" delves into the creation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, "The Great Gatsby. " The book explores the historical context surrounding the novel's writing, examining the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped its themes and characters. Churchwell sheds light on the misconceptions surrounding the Jazz Age and the novel itself, challenging conventional interpretations. She reveals the intricate details of Fitzgerald's creative process and the evolution of his ideas. The book offers a fresh perspective on "The Great Gatsby," enriching our understanding of its enduring relevance.

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Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

John Carreyrou

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Children of time

Henry Maxwell

Children of Time is a book by Henry Maxwell, published in 1967. Due to limited information, specific details about the book's content or themes are not available.

It started as a one-year experiment to cure a career frustration. Eight years later, Lit Books has become a favourite among many readers, particularly those who enjoy a more curated and meaningful book browsing experience. But behind the curated shelves and cozy atmosphere lies the tough reality of running an independent bookstore in Malaysia.

Co-founder Fong Min Hun joins us to share the story of Lit Books. He discusses the transition from journalism and consulting to retail, the operational challenges of slow logistics and cash flow, and how they survived the pandemic by hand-delivering books via the LRT.

We discuss:

The "do it or shut up" moment that launched Lit Books.
The commercial reality of being "two months away from shuttering."
Why cash flow, not just profit, keeps a business alive.
How they expanded to e-commerce overnight during the pandemic.
And much more...

Some book mentions and recommendations from Min Hun:

The South by Tash Aw
Fierce Land by Omar Musa
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Meltdown: Scandal, Sleaze and the Collapse of Credit Suisse by Duncan Mavin

For book lovers and aspiring retailers, this is a candid look at the passion and pragmatism needed to keep an independent business alive.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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