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|  | |  | | | American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China | | | | | SKU:
GRP21328328 | | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1 business days | | | | | | The raucously funny story of one young American?s quest to become the baddest dude on the planet (and possibly find inner peace along the way)
Growing up a ninety-eight-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become the toughest fighter in the world, like Caine in his favorite 1970s TV series Kung Fu.
American Shaolin is the story of the two years Matthew spent in China living, studying, and performing with the Shaolin monks. The Chinese term for tough training is chi ku (?eating bitter?), and Matthew quickly learned to appreciate the phrase.
This is both the gripping story of Matthew?s journey and an intimate portrait of the real lives of the Shaolin monks, who struggle to overcome rampant corruption and the restrictions of an authoritarian government. Laced with humor and illuminated by cultural insight, American Shaolin is an unforgettable coming-of- age story of one man?s journey into the ancient art of kungfu?and a poignant portrait of a rapidly changing China.
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Matthew Polly | | Paperback: | 384 pages | | Publisher: | Gotham | | Publication Date: | December 27, 2007 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 1592403379 | | Product Length: | 7.94 inches | | Product Width: | 5.52 inches | | Product Height: | 0.82 inches | | Product Weight: | 0.7 pounds | | Package Length: | 7.8 inches | | Package Width: | 5.2 inches | | Package Height: | 0.9 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.65 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 85 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 85 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 55 found the following review helpful:
 A fascinating, one of a kind read... Feb 01, 2007
By Jeffrey P. Wachs
"jephre75"
A must-read for armchair travelers and martial arts buffs alike, in AMERICAN SHAOLIN readers are sure to enjoy a memoir as unconventional as its author, Matthew Polly. For the uninitiated, Polly-- fed up with his 98 lb. weakling existence and bored with Princeton-- chucked the Ivy League life in order to pursue his dream of studying kungfu at the fabled Shaolin Temple. His time in China coincided with the crumbling of the walls that had kept the nation isolated, making the environment one particularly friendly to having a tall and gangly Midwesterner genially (if awkwardly) attempting to insert himself into the often mystifying local culture.
The result is a travelogue exploring the dawning of the "New China," combined with a memoir of a remarkable personal experience-- Polly's determination and sense of humor proved essential in his efforts to win over the skeptical Shaolin monks, who soon see the promise in their guest; the story evolves into a classic underdog story as Polly's martial skills develop, eventually taking him to national tournaments on the Shaolin team and earning him the honor of being invited to become a monk himself (reportedly the first and only time such an invitation has been made to an American).
Along the way, Polly wryly observes the peculiarities of Chinese culture and the Shaolin path, elucidates the storied history of kungfu, and introduces the reader to unforgettable personalities ranging from disgruntled Chinese gangsters to a monk whose "Iron Crotch kungfu" demands a daily training discipline that must be seen to believe (Polly helpfully includes his own photos to make this possible).
As entertaining and funny as it is educational and informative, AMERICAN SHAOLIN is a treat for fans of off-beat travelogues, anyone who loved "Crouching Tiger," Sinophiles in general, and just about anyone looking to take a trip off the beaten path. Don't miss it.
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
A Funny and Insightful Look at the Chinese Mind Mar 16, 2007
By D. Buxman
"A Seeker of Truth"
This book was a joy to read! No, it's not a book about martial arts, and it's not really about Buddhism either, although you will learn something about both. This book is about the author's personal journey on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Parts of it are almost hysterically funny, but what I found to be most interesting was the deep degree of insight that was developed with respect to the perspective of the Chinese mindset and culture in the early 1990's.
Entertainment value aside, this book would be excellent for the world traveler or executive that wants a feel for the differences between our cultures.
The portions of the book detailing "Iron Crotch Kungfu," were excruciatingly funny.
26 of 29 found the following review helpful:
An Amazing Book! Feb 07, 2007
By Jeffrey
I just finished reading American Shaolin and it really is a fantastic book! I haven't been that engrossed in a book for a while (I missed my subway stop two different times while reading it). It is exciting, funny, and moving. Plus quite amazing - I could hardly believe some of the stories and I kept putting down the book to tell my girlfriend about them. Also, it's excellently written. This is not just a retelling of interesting stories; the book really respects the subject matter, putting the people at a higher level of importance then the events, and lets the reader find a lot of meaning and depth.
You don't have to be interested in (or know anything about) the martial arts to enjoy this book. You just have to be interested in reading about someone who goes on an unbelievable journey to learn about himself, find his limits and his potential, and discover how an ancient tradition has become part of the modern world.
13 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Great read - regardless of your martial arts interests Feb 20, 2007
By S. Bauman
I read this on a whim, and was very glad I ended up doing so. I have very little interest in martial arts, and normally stick to fiction and science fiction, but found this book to be incredibly entertaining. There were at least a dozen times I laughed out loud while reading the book, and found myself on a couple occasions reading deep into the night as I couldn't put the book down. The book also has some great insight into what rural Chinese citizens think of their American counterparts on the other side of the planet.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Thoroughly enjoyable Mar 23, 2007
By J. Miller
"john's mom"
I am the last person who'd buy and devour a kungfu book! I bought it for my husband who needed some reading for an upcoming trip. But, desperate for something to read one day, I thought I'd suffer the first chapter. I could barely put it down! I found myself wondering how a particular story would end on those days when my 14 month old wasn't allowing any mommy-reading time. Don't get me wrong: it is definately more for the macho reader! Polly's humor and his description of Chinese personality makes up for the "guy stuff." Other than making me think a little about how different cultures are, (I am a rather nationalistic American afterall), it was simply a fun read.
See all 85 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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