Book Picks April 2025: Orang Laut, Bajak Laut, Raja Laut by Adrian B. Lapian

As we come to the end of April, we are excited to start a new tradition at our firm: a monthly book recommendation selected by our team.

Our first pick is Orang Laut, Bajak Laut, Raja Laut by Adrian B. Lapian—a fascinating look into a world many history books overlook.

At our office, we are lucky to have a Head of Librarian and Document Control like Ibu Suwarni, who constantly encourages us to pick up books that take us beyond our usual reading habits. “Read widely,” she often reminds us, “because sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected places.”

That spirit led us to this extraordinary book, which shines a light on a vibrant but often forgotten chapter of Southeast Asia’s maritime past.

What’s the Book About?

When most of us think about pirates, the first images that come to mind are swords, treasure chests, and maybe a parrot or two. But Lapian takes us somewhere far more real.

He writes about the Orang Laut (sea people) and Raja Laut (sea kings) who lived across the Sulawesi Sea in the 19th century. These communities weren’t just pirates or wanderers. They were families, traders, navigators—people who lived almost entirely at sea, moving between islands, forging alliances, surviving shifting politics, and sometimes turning to piracy as a strategy for survival rather than rebellion.

Lapian draws from colonial records, oral histories, and regional accounts, weaving together a rich and nuanced portrait of life on the water. This book isn’t about glorifying the past but about understanding how fluid, complex, and deeply human maritime life truly was.

What’s striking is how much of what Lapian describes still feels familiar today.

Fights over fishing rights. Disputes about maritime borders. Indigenous communities striving to protect their way of life. These are not just modern issues like nowadays—they echo the same struggles that played out centuries ago.

Reading this book reminds us the sea has always been a contested space, a place of opportunity, conflict, and resilience. And the people who lived on it weren’t mere footnotes—they were central to shaping the history of the region.

Tell us your recommended Ocean-Maritime book

Sometimes a book doesn’t just teach you about the past—it changes how you see the present.

Thanks to Suwarni’s gentle encouragement to explore beyond the familiar, Orang Laut, Bajak Laut, Raja Laut turned out to be a refreshing discovery for our team. It reminds us that beneath the waves lies a rich, complicated story—one that continues to shape the world today.

If you’re curious about Southeast Asia, maritime history, or simply enjoy powerful stories of resilience and adaptation, this book is well worth the read.

For further information, please contact:

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Anggraeni and Partners, an Indonesian law practice with a worldwide vision, provides comprehensive legal solutions using forward-thinking strategies. We help clients manage legal risk and resolve disputes on admiralty and maritime law, complicated energy and commercial issues, arbitration and litigation, tortious claims handling, and cyber tech law.

S.F. Anggraeni

Managing Partner

[email protected]