This is the only independent biography of Bruce Lee, and it is complete in terms of both the martial arts and the movies.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Bruce Lee was a star in America but an icon in much of the rest of the world. Since the U.S. is the big enchilada in pop culture, Lee worked for years to become recognized here and to spread appreciation of the martial arts in a society that had a jaundiced, even bigoted view of those ancient disciplines. Thomas makes it abundantly clear that Lee was both an astonishing athlete and an engaging actor. Devotees of his movies and two TV shows, The Green Hornet and Longstreet, know that, of course. Thomas notes that Lee, as the Green Hornet's sidekick, Kato, gave American audiences their first look at authentic martial arts. The current popularity of martial arts in the U.S. flows from Lee's own, and the martial arts movies that continue to appear in the wake of Lee's Dragon series constitute an identifiable movie subgenre. A major force in popular entertainment, Lee deserves the place in the pop culture library that Thomas ably helps him fill. Mike Tribby
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Bruce Lee was a star in America but an icon in much of the rest of the world. Since the U.S. is the big enchilada in pop culture, Lee worked for years to become recognized here and to spread appreciation of the martial arts in a society that had a jaundiced, even bigoted view of those ancient disciplines. Thomas makes it abundantly clear that Lee was both an astonishing athlete and an engaging actor. Devotees of his movies and two TV shows, The Green Hornet and Longstreet, know that, of course. Thomas notes that Lee, as the Green Hornet's sidekick, Kato, gave American audiences their first look at authentic martial arts. The current popularity of martial arts in the U.S. flows from Lee's own, and the martial arts movies that continue to appear in the wake of Lee's Dragon series constitute an identifiable movie subgenre. A major force in popular entertainment, Lee deserves the place in the pop culture library that Thomas ably helps him fill."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am inclined to agree with the other reviewers on the site about the merit of this book. It is very good, rivalling if not surpassing Linda Lee's account of her husband's life. As another reviewer has indicated the reason for this is that Thomas hasn't just recounted the tale of Bruce Lee's life per se but examined in quite some depth the spiritual and psychological motivations which led him to live the way he did. The biography has a special dimension which moves the reader into the actual reality Bruce experienced. I was affected greatly by the empathy Thomas has for Lee, which at times is so compelling, especially in the narration of the events leading up to Lee's death, that I was pressed to tears. There are few books which have such impact.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thomas demonstrates a deep understanding of and empathy for Lee, and gives a great insight into the way he lived. Rather than just cataloging the events of his life, this book goes alot deeper and you certainly come away with as good an idea of what made Bruce Lee tick as you are likely to find anywhere. If you are a Bruce Lee fan, buy this book. You will definately not regret it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the best biography of Bruce Lee that I have ever read. It is not a pictorial perspective of the man but gives the most detailed account of his extraordinary life. It is the first book which has documented the relationship between Joe Lewis and Bruce Lee with an example of a kickboxing match (Joe Lewis vs. Greg Baines). Well done.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
very deep on the martial arts ,metaphysical and spiritual level
First off. i want to say that fighting spirit made me realize how special jeet kune do is. Bruce Lee fighting spirit not only covers the greatness of Bruce Lees life but also... Read more
Published 8 months ago by matthew am
Bruce Lee lives on!
When I was about 15, I was not a reader. I bought this book because I loved Bruce Lee, and everything about Bruce Lee would be in my buying range. I finished the book in 2 days! Read more
Published 22 months ago by John McAdam
Without a doubt, the BEST Bruce Lee bio out there!!
I, like most guys who grew up in the 70's, was and am a huge Bruce fan, and I've read just about everything ever written about him. Read more
Published on February 19, 2010 by Samuel E. Newsome
Solid
Nice overview of his life. Also some decent martial arts info, but mostly from the mental side. Decent concepts to apply to life/coaching.
Published on May 11, 2009 by K. Ayre
Clowntime is over...
In a recent article for The Daily Mirror Tony Parson's wrote that "not all the Chinese have a stake in the country's new found prosperity but every single one of them has a stake... Read more
Published on June 10, 2008 by Adrian Stranik
Well-done biography
A good biography that tells the story of Bruce Lee and the development of his martial art Jeet Kune Do. Read more
Published on December 8, 2007 by RisingSun
Well Done Biography
This book tries to convey a more human Bruce Lee. It includes his triumphs and his mistakes and allows the reader to judge what kind of man Bruce Lee was. Read more
Published on April 22, 2005 by Jay
Good book
A good book and a plesant reading by a good writer. There's not so much new information in this book, but it puts facts in perspective a gives a good general body of information... Read more
Published on March 1, 2005 by M. Fonseca
Solid biography
This is far from an official biography. It has not the endorsement of Linda Lee, and it also lacks interviews with some key member of Bruce's life. Read more
Published on February 27, 2005 by Gergellor
Good, But Beware: The Enthusiast's Point-of-View
Generally speaking, this is a fair and somewhat gritty bio of Bruce Lee. There is much detail here on Bruce's disillusionment with fame, and also his health problems -- stunning... Read more
Published on December 8, 2003
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
"I SMOKE OPIUM because it helps sweeten my singing voice," said Li Hoi Cheun. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
chi sao, feet kune, jeet kune, wing chun, blind detective, sticking hands, karate champion, fighting method, martial arts movies, martial artist, martial arts films, wooden dummy Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bruce Lee, Hong Kong, Enter the Dragon, Raymond Chow, Dan Inosanto, Yip Man, Golden Harvest, Game of Death, Bob Wall, United States, Way of the Dragon, Los Angeles, Joe Lewis, Fist of Fury, James Lee, Taky Kimura, Fred Weintraub, Robert Clouse, San Francisco, Chuck Norris, The Silent Flute, Betty Ting Pei, Grace Lee, New York, Run Run Shaw New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
"I SMOKE OPIUM because it helps sweeten my singing voice," said Li Hoi Cheun. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
chi sao, feet kune, jeet kune, wing chun, blind detective, sticking hands, karate champion, fighting method, martial arts movies, martial artist, martial arts films, wooden dummy Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bruce Lee, Hong Kong, Enter the Dragon, Raymond Chow, Dan Inosanto, Yip Man, Golden Harvest, Game of Death, Bob Wall, United States, Way of the Dragon, Los Angeles, Joe Lewis, Fist of Fury, James Lee, Taky Kimura, Fred Weintraub, Robert Clouse, San Francisco, Chuck Norris, The Silent Flute, Betty Ting Pei, Grace Lee, New York, Run Run Shaw New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 37
books:
See all 37 books this book cites
87
books
cite this book:
See all 87 books citing this book
- Bruce Lee Pb by Mike Baron on 32 pages
- Bruce Lee (Tdty) (They Died Too Young) by Jon E. Lewis on 12 pages
- Bruce Lee by Bruce Lee on 5 pages
- Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Krishnamurti on page 270, page 271, and Back Matter
- The martial arts by Peter Lewis in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 37 books this book cites
- Immortal Combat: Portrait of a True Warrior by Bruce Thomas on 5 pages
- Yukon Alone: The World's Toughest Adventure Race by John Balzar on 4 pages
- Bruce Lee: Fighting Words by Bruce Thomas in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Words of the Dragon: Interviews, 1958-1973 (Bruce Lee Library) by John Little on page 163, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Artist of Life (Bruce Lee Library) by Bruce Lee on page 32, page 65, and Back Matter
See all 87 books citing this book
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