What does it mean to write a book about the descendants of a great man? Would anyone care to read it? Not many descendants of great men (or women) have written books about themselves, so why should the descendants of Tan Kah Kee be any different? This book is not just about a group of people who are related by blood but otherwise mostly do not have much in common with each other. If that is so, their stories would be quite dull, and would not even justify the paper they are printed on. No, this book is also about the talented and resourceful people who have moved in circles around the descendants, some of them having married, or have children married into the family, whilst others interacted in various ways that added spice to life in general. Of course, many are also well known, and that makes for fascinating reading.