American Shaolin
Book description
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…
Why read it?
1 author picked American Shaolin as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
East and West have massively different approaches to fighting. To how it’s trained, to what’s the goal of training… this book is about that contrast.
About the cultural shock experienced by the first American to study at the legendary Shaolin Temple, in China. That’s what my brain said, at least. But if I have to be honest, while I let Polly carry me through his report, I was mostly living the ultimate fantasy of any martial artist of my generation, which is becoming a Shaolin monk, just like those I grew up watching on TV. Thank you, Matt.
From PJ's list on the beauty, madness, and humor behind violence.
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