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Bruce Lee

Written by: Matthew Polly
Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
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Publisher's Summary

The first authoritative biography of film legend Bruce Lee, who made martial arts a global phenomenon, bridged the divide between Eastern and Western cultures, and smashed long-held stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans.

Forty-five years after Bruce Lee’s sudden death at age 32, journalist and best-selling author Matthew Polly has written the definitive account of Lee’s life. It’s also one of the only accounts; incredibly, there has never been an authoritative biography of Lee. Following a decade of research that included conducting more than 100 interviews with Lee’s family, friends, business associates, and even the actress in whose bed Lee died, Polly has constructed a complex, humane portrait of the icon.

Polly explores Lee’s early years as a child star in Hong Kong cinema; his actor father’s struggles with opium addiction and how that turned Bruce into a troublemaking teenager who was kicked out of high school and eventually sent to America to shape up; his beginnings as a martial arts teacher, eventually becoming personal instructor to movie stars like James Coburn and Steve McQueen; his struggles as an Asian American actor in Hollywood and frustration seeing role after role he auditioned for go to a white actors in eye makeup; his eventual triumph as a leading man; his challenges juggling a sky-rocketing career with his duties as a father and husband; and his shocking end that to this day is still shrouded in mystery.

Polly breaks down the myths surrounding Bruce Lee and argues that, contrary to popular belief, he was an ambitious actor who was obsessed with the martial arts - not a kung-fu guru who just so happened to make a couple of movies. This is an honest, revealing look at an impressive yet imperfect man whose personal story was even more entertaining and inspiring than any fictional role he played onscreen.

©2018 Matthew Polly (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

What the critics say

"…an engrossing examination of the life of a martial arts movie star and his shocking, early death…In what is certainly the definitive biography of Lee, Polly wonderfully profiles the man who constructed a new, masculine Asian archetype and ushered kung fu into pop culture." (Publishers Weekly)

"Students of martial arts, film history, and the 1970s alike will find much to enjoy in Polly’s homage." (Kirkus Reviews)

"The first noteworthy treatment of its subject—and a definitive one at that...Fascinating narrative threads proliferate." (The New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about Bruce Lee

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The Most In-Depth Look Into the Life of the Legend

This is a very interesting and seemingly complete account of the life of Bruce Lee. The writing style is naturally engaging. I couldn't stop listening or talking about it. Not only is this one of the best Bruce Lee books I've ever read, it's one of the best books I've ever read. I appreciate that you learn a lot about the culture and history of the time in which Bruce and his ancestors live. It doesn't overtly glorify or degrade Lee - it feels like a balanced and honest account of his life. I absolutely LOVED this book!

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Great book!

Well written and impeccably researched . Definitely not a hagiography. Alot of interesting detail is included that rounds out the story of Lee's fascinating life.

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Awesome!

I found this book very informative and found out a lot of things about Bruce I would have never known. It was easy to listen to and once I started I was hooked. I’m a blasthole driller and work away from home two weeks at a time and listened to this in my drill everyday for a little over a week, was a little sad when it came to the end I must say. Always has been and always will be my Idol!

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A must have

By far the best story I have heard and very accurate
Learned a lot I didn’t know

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Fantastic

It is overall a fantastic and very interesting look into the life of Bruce Lee.

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Gets to the Essence of Bruce Lee

Plenty of details and addresses many of the myths accumulated over the years. Captures how driven Lee was to achieve physical perfection and world fame when odds were stacked against him. Narrator was a bit too animated for my tastes. A very well written and informative bio of a fascinating man.

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