Customer Reviews

The Tao of Bruce Lee: A Martial Arts Memoir

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Aside from Davis Miller's own personal, very poignant, pithily written story in this book, 'Tao of Bruce Lee' should be read for the revelatory details of Bruce Lee's demise, so many of which have never before been revealed. This is the only book of consequence about Bruce Lee -- and a powerful yet abstruse read that should be honoured and learnt from.

At last a book on Lee from a REAL Author! Davis Miller combines a biography of Bruce Lee with his own inspiring story of a youngster growing up in North Carolina. This is truly 'A' class writing that literally keeps you on the edge of your seat, not only to find out some home truths about Bruce Lee but also to follow the progress of the young 'foetus' Miller as he struggles to find his own identity. I had never heard of the author until I read this book and only picked it up because of it's subject matter but I will make a point of purchasing anything Miller writes in the future, Lee related or not. This is not only a must buy for any Bruce Lee fan but a must buy for any lover of great literature. 5 star reading from a 5 star author!

"I desperately need something to read", I suddenly recalled when I was heading for my favourite coffeshop. So, I popped in and started to look for something, and this book sort of beamed at me. I got it under the impression that it was a biography about Bruce Lee, but it turns out that it is more a book about Davis Miller's relation to Bruce Lee and how Lee has influenced him. It is very easy reading and a quite nice book, and at page 97 and onwards a small biography about Bruce Lee (or Li Jun Fan, which was his real name) appears. Apparently it is hard to find any books with true facts, Davis Miller claims that this one shall be rather close to truth, and you will learn that Bruce Lee wasn't the lonely martial arts master that one thinks. If you like martial arts in general, and more specifically Bruce Lee, get this book, you will finish it within a couple of days and it is fun reading.

First, this is a book that will unfortunately infuriate many of the most extreme Bruce Lee fans, though Davis Miller is very patient and gentle in his regard for Lee. Those of us who are less prone to accept Bruce Lee's martial arts godness are likely to be deeply affected by Miller's own very optimistic story, his commentary about the dangers of religious literalism and his exploration of the nature of myth, as well as Lee's cautionary tale about the myopic downsides of personal ambition. And many people who have had little interest in Lee or his movies will find that they are thoroughly captivated by Miller's storytelling ability and, in the process, they will find that they gain a real-world respect for Bruce Lee. "The Tao of Bruce Lee: a martial arts memoir" is the story of the influence that Lee had on the young Davis Miller and how the more mature Miller outgrew his childhood idol and finally what he calls the "sociopathic prettification of violence." In this way, and others, this book can be compared to the wonderful film, "Breaking Away," the hopeful account of a troubled teenager who is besmitten with the Italian national bicycling team and how, when he finally manages to race them, he is forced to outgrow his simple-minded romance and become his own (much more interesting and capable) person. Miller writes in a style that is accessible and enjoyable to almost every reader, Bruce Lee extremists notwithstanding. This book is an extension of his outstanding first book, "The Tao of Muhammad Ali," and since that book was published in 1996, Miller has grown significantly as a writer. Together, the two books can be seen as the yin and the yang of the same story. "The Tao of Bruce Lee" is a fascinating mix of serious personal essay, new journalism, memoir, and sumptuous old-fashioned storytelling that, in many ways, is unlike anything else that I have read, though Miller himself notes the influences of Joan Didion and Tim O'Brien, among others. And this is every bit as fine a book as Mr. O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" and Ms. Didion's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem," both of which are among the best pieces of American writing of the past half-century. "The Tao of Bruce Lee: a martial arts memoir" is a brave and beautiful book that deserves a large, mainstream audience. I hope that it can somehow manage to find its proper home among discerning readers who care about non-genre literature. Miller's new book easily ranks among the best American writing of this new century.

Davis Miller's book is a wonderful read. I've read many, many books on Bruce and I found that the way Miller blends his own life with Bruce's to be especially interesting, enabling the reader to identify with the author. Yes, the first part of the book deals with Miller's earlier years, but at the same time many bits of info about Lee, and Muhammad Ali (who Lee and the author both admire(d)-Miller has also written "The Tao of Muhammad Ali") are sprinkled throughout. The latter half of the book serves as a fresh biography of Lee. He is not presented as a god, but as a human. It is presented in a matter-of-fact way, and lets you form your own opinions or conclusions. Probably how Lee himself would have liked it. I recommend anyone, fan(atic) or no, read this book.

I've also read The Tao of Muhammad Ali by Davis Miller. Both books are commandingly well written, playful, profound, and feel like classics. Davis Miller writes beautifully about the ways that millions of people's lives have been influenced by their heroes. Davis's own memoir in these books makes them stories not just for Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali fans. Davis Miller is everyman in these stories and, in many ways, that's what's most resonant about them. I can't imagine anyone other than the most prejudiced reader who could buy either of these marvelous books and not be immediately riveted by the storytelling and want to read them time and again.

This is a wonderfully written book on not just Bruce Lee and his mysterious death, but on how Bruce Lee inspired Davis Miller to become a fighting machine. The Tao of Bruce Lee also helps clear up all the myths with facts on Bruce Lee's life and death.

very good book, very good writing. i couldn't care less about bruce lee and was very much taken with this story, nonetheless, although i would never have known about it if it hadn't come highly recommended by a friend who's an english prof.

my favorite book of the year so far, and i read three to four a week. buy it. pass the word. it's wonderful.

When I first read the Tao of Bruce Lee, I was expecting another biography of Lee (and being a die-hard fan of Lee, that would have been perfectly fine), but this book turned out to be a lot more than that.

The first half of the book deals with the life of Davis Miller himself - growing up as a scrawny, ninety pound kid in North Carolina - and the profound impact Lee had on his life. Inspired by Lee, Miller finds the motivation to try and better his meaningless life by practicing hard to become the greatest Martial Artist alive (or as he puts it: "lightning on limbs"). I am sure the discipline and dedication he learnt while practicing Martial Arts helped him later in his life as a writer.

The second half of the book focuses more on Lee, and tries to remove the "thick mist of money making" that has obscured the true story of Bruce Lee by presenting a very honest and well researched account of Lee's life. Overall, an extremely well written and readable book.

If you want to read just one book on Bruce Lee then make it "The Tao Of Bruce Lee". See my review of Miller's other book "The Tao Of Muhammad Ali" to learn more.