Customer Reviews

Steal My Art: The Life and Times of T'ai Chi Master, T.T. Liang

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First I wanted to make a brief comment on the one very negative review, which said Olson's book wasn't even well written. Come on, it's perfectly competent writing and well edited. I know because I spent 7 years working as an editor and writer in the publishing field, and the book is just fine as far as the quality of the writing and editing goes. Olson isn't a professional journalist as far as I know, and the book could have been written by a professional. The book is also from a reputable publisher, and they know how to bring the writing up to a professional standard if the original writer himself isn't capable of that. (I know, because I did that kind of writing and editing myself, too).

In fact, I found sifu Olson's bio of Liang quite well written and immensely entertaining, for master Liang often has a wit and sense of humor that is as subtle but irrepressible as his tai chi. The life and times of master Liang, his personality, and his philosophy emerge through numerous anecdotes, personal observations, stories, and notes that Olson took in his many discussions with Liang over the years. There is also a good deal of important tai chi history and lineage here that is worth knowing, discussing the contributions of various other masters, such as Yang Cheng Fu and Chang San Feng, and many others.

If you are already a knowledgeable or senior practitioner there might not be much here in the way of new information on how to do tai chi, but if you're a beginner to intermediate student, there is much good information and material here to further your knowledge. But Liang's life story and his amazing adventures and his inimitable personality are the main attractions of this book. Also, his personal philosophy is worth considering too. If the world followed his principles we would be better off and the world would be a far less violent and more peaceful place. But humans are humans, and so they would rather hate and kill each other than follow tai chi's taoist principles and live in peace.

There was one extremely interesting thing about tai chi in the book that I have to mention, though, about when Liang went to visit a reclusive master on a mountain, who was reluctant to discuss his tai chi. He said that all the aphorisms of the great masters about how to do tai chi are merely tricks to get you to do it correctly. For example, the statement that one must allow all one's weight and energy to sink into the "bubbling well" or kidney point on the bottom of the foot. The master said that it just isn't the upper body that is yin and the lower body yang, but that all power must come from the foot. In other words, it isn't that half of the body is yin and half of the body is yang, it's more like 95% is yin and only 5% is yang. Then he showed Liang the difference between doing "wood" tai chi and "cotton" tai chi. This was a fascinating encounter and perhaps the most telling in the whole book.

One other thing I found intriguing was when Liang had to go into the hospital at age 85 for some tests. The doctor said that his internal organs, unlike most 80 year-olds, had not shrunk or atrophied somewhat as is typical of the elderly. The doctor attributed that to the increased blood flow to the internal organs from his lifelong practice of tai chi. If true, then this is yet one more reason to practice tai chi.

This book seems to have started a few fires.
For those who believe a T'ai Chi teacher is a God or Icon and not a man at heart (yo' Smith) think again.
It's Great to read about Master T. T. Liang, a man who lived beyond what most could dream. A Great work, for those of us who loved T.T. first as a wonderful man then a great teacher here's the real deal, like it or not!
The author Stuart Olson lived with Master Liang for many years and was his closed door student. Thank You Stuart !

This is a fascinating book about the diverse life of T'ai Chi Chu'an Master T.T. Liang. Full of humor, a zest for life, and a deep devotion to this martial art, Master Liang epitomizes the term "Master." Very well written by Stuart Olson, who may well have been closer than anyone to his legendary teacher/father. Details of Master Liang's Tai Chi lineage are very interesting to students, as are his insights into the principles of Tai Chi.

Mr. Olsons book was very informative. He gives us a glimps into the private life of one of the modern masters of Tai Chi T.T. Liang. Liang was the personal assistant to Cheng Man Ching the man who brought the pearl of Chinese Culture (Taijichuan) to America. The tremendous respect and admiration Olson had for his instructior truely shines through in the pages of this book.

... and perhaps plant some crops at the new moon(?).
I almost met Master Liang, but didn't. Now I feel as if I had. Mr. Olson has brought us a living portrait which one feels can't be flawed.
This book is entertaining, inspiring and historically interesting -- for Taiji practitioners especially.
Gee, Prof. Cheng Man-Ching doesn't come off too well ... so I've decided to use Master Liang's example and not judge and accept the greatness that he did or may have had.
In this book I see the portrait of an old rogue -- like many old people -- having a healthier perspective than most younger ones and understanding the give and take of life (as in push-hands). It would be interesting to know what he was like at a younger age.
In summation, I think it is a well-written book and contains some jewels for the taiji student at any level.

STEAL MY ART, the art form is hidden and not given away, the treasure lays buried. Can you find it? I love this book. Its unconventional. I was originally looking for good books on Taoism and found this gem (I don't do tai chi yet!). If you like Taoism/Chinese philosophy get this book. It shows you the real and humour-laden side of a Tai Chi master and that Liang is operating in a world of humor and pranks to reveal the inner stupidity of most people and situations. Most people are blindly following their own way and Liang provides the Kung Fu chop to their reality to try and wake them up (or not). There are some great moments in this book, especially when Liang gets tired of an annoying student and shuts him up and giving him a certificate and telling him he has nothing more to learn. This book is pure genius. You either get Liang or you don't. Sometimes humor is the only way to see out of the Matrix. Just be sure to take the red pill.

P.S. - If you by chance you love this book, go check out "The Importance of Living" by Yin Yutang, also available on amazon.com, the book provides excellent advice on how to aproach life, and the author has a chapter on "The Art of Loafing" as well as a section on "lolling about in armchairs" which reminds me of Liang. The author's approach to life seems to mirror that of Master Liang.

...but I was disappointed. Clearly T.T. Liang was an amazing person with real insights into tai chi and I really like what the author attempted -- writing a book that reflects the character of the man and some of his lessons on tai chi. And life. But for me the implementation didn't match the ambition.

The book has, roughly, three aspects. The bio of Liang has some fascinating elements, but overall the story didn't come alive for me. Perhaps this section could have been improved if the author had used other sources of information to give Liang's story more context and perhaps the author didn't fully appreciate that for those of us not already in awe of Liang, his story needs a bit more development to win the reader over.

The sections with Liang's thoughts and guidance on tai chi was interesting, but brief. It contains material that is available elsewhere and other reviewers have recommended Liang's own books as a source of this information.

There are also a large number of anecdotes about life experiences with Liang. Unlike another reviewer, I don't mind the lack of connection from anecdote to anecdote as I feel this is a valid structure for what the author was trying to communicate. What I don't like is the inconsistent quality of the anecdotes. One at the beginning of the book, featuring an alleged robbery at a bank, is highly entertaining, shows us a lot about Liang the man, and has broader lessons. This is an excellent combination. Another one is about Liang meeting Bob Hope, which is really just about the time Liang met Bob Hope. That's it. I found too many of the anecdotes to be like that -- neither entertaining nor informative.

I'm pleased to see that other reviewers like the book, it would be unfortunate if everybody felt the way I do about it. My guess is that it is much more interesting for people who are already fans of Liang.

Wish I had an opportunity to try and steal Master Liang's art ! To have meet up with him would have been an honor, yet after reading this book I feel like I knew him. GREAT book, for those who have an extended relationship with your instructor makes this book an even better read. So many nuggets I thought hidden in there. Made me appreciate Professor Cheng's teachings even more and all that Professor Cheng gave to us.And my personal relationship with my teacher.
As far as people saying it stirred up controversy, Master Liang only made me appreciate his teacher Professor Cheng more by showing he was just as human as we are. And what ever differences they had is between a multi-facted relationship they had. Seems they were more then Sifu-student, master-disciple,Professor Cheng was his mentor, role model,master,teacher, father figure in some ways and yet also his friend and yet his brother as well, and differences let it be between these two men,...
Master Liang has passed down a legacy to us in his teachings, stories here in this book and by allowing us to know his life story.
If you want a TRUE master to be brutally and humorously honest with you,..read this book..through this book written by his student Master Liang will inspire you and motivate you not only to improve your tai chi but who you really are. Worth every cent and some !!! Get it this book so worth the read!!! .Thank you Master Liang and Mr.Olson for a treasured book ! One of my all time favorite books now...

Where to start. I hate when readers glorify books and kiss buttocks, but this book is one of the funniest books on tai chi chuan in existence. There are few teachers that I have read about that have the ability to lay you out flat with laughter.

T.T. Liang was a special personality, and this book personifies his humorous character-antics. A lovable man that knew how to have alot of fun and not take Tai Chi Chuan too seriously. This is a well written book that exceeded my every expectation of a good Tai Chi book. I appreciate how Liang played down the Master role in his teachings, and found new & innovative ways to keep his students smiling. A rare man and a rare book. This book focuses on the man himself and not so much on the intricacies of Tai Chi Chuan. If you are a Tai Chi lover, then you will appreciate this well written gem-stone.

Peace & Blessings - Fightmonks.com

Just re-read it again.
This book is about T. T. Liang and his two top students.
The stories are wonderful and always make me smile.
This book also holds a wonderful secret for many in the middle
on how to improve and refine what ever style of T'ai Chi they enjoy.
A must read.