Bruce Lee: Artist of Life

by Bruce Lee and John Little

Book Overview

A rare, never-before-seen collection of Bruce Lee's private letters and writing Bruce Lee was an intense man with such sheer concentration of energy that no one who encountered him, on screen or in person, could help but be drawn to him and his enthusiasm for life and knowledge. A voracious and engaged reader, Lee wrote extensively, synthesizing the thought of East and West into a unique personal philosophy of self-discovery. Bruce Lee: Artist of Life explores the development and fruition of Bruce Lee's thoughts about gung fu (kung fu), philosophy, psychology, poetry, jeet kune do, acting, and self-knowledge. This volume from Bruce Lee's private notebooks is capped by a selection of Lee's letters that eloquently demonstrate how he incorporated his thought into actions and advice to others. Also included are multiple drafts of select compositions, showing how Lee's ideas evolved and was refined over the years and how the ideas he was reading and writing about were reflected in his work and everyday life. Sections include: Gung Fu reflections on gung fu, psychology in defense and attack, how to choose a martial arts instructor, and Bruce's view on the martial art Philosophy regarding human understanding, Taoism, Plato, Socrates, and Descartes Psychology --three types of philosophy, the top dog and the underdog, the four basic philosophical approaches, and learning Poetry --'The Dying Sun, ' 'Love is a Friendship Caught on Fire, ' 'Once More I Hold You in My Arms, ' and 'Parting' Jeet Kune DoThe Liberation --toward personal liberation, notes on JKD, true mastery, and an objective evaluation of the combative skill of Bruce Lee, by those who know what it is Acting --what exactly is an actor, the art of acting Self-knowledge --in search of someone real, self-actualization, and the passionate state of mind Letters --'The True Meaning of LifePeace of Mind, ' 'Use Your Own Experience and Imagination, ' and 'It's All in the State of Mind' This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also features: Bruce Lee: Striking Thoughts Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon Bruce Lee: The Tao of Gung Fu Bruce Lee: Letters of the Dragon Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body Bruce Lee: Jeet Kune Do

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804832633
• ISBN13: 9780804832632
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

INCREDIBLE NEW INFORMATION ON BRUCE LEE

I had to wait six weeks for the Barnes and Noble store in my area to restock "Bruce Lee: Artist of Life" -- but it was well worth the wait! This is the greatest Bruce Lee book I've ever seen! Not only is there new, never-before-published material in almost every section, but Mr. Little has done Bruce Lee a great service by reproducing some of the writings that had been published previously (both in the Tao of Jeet Kune Do and in the Bruce Lee Library Series) in the original format that Bruce Lee first wrote them. I particularly enjoyed the never-before-published drafts of Bruce's great essay "Jeet Kune Do: Toward Personal Liberation." There are new and subtle differences in each version of the famous essay as Bruce works it over with each draft. I understand that this represents "the essential writings" of Bruce Lee, that is, a representative anthology of Bruce's writings in many different areas. It certainly is "essential" -- it's the best Bruce Lee book I've ever read and essential for anyone who wishes a full and complete understanding of the totality of the man. If you are looking for a book that is both a great introduction to the phenomenon that is Bruce Lee as well as a book that will inspire you to fully actualize yourself...this is the book you've been waiting for!

Loved the book! Only one problem...

I for one thought this a very informative book and enjoyed every bit it had to offer. The only problem is the fact that it reiterates almost everything that was said in the last books, only in less detail. I've practically seen every bit of material the book had to offer in other books. But, nevertheless it's a Bruce lee book and that's the bottom line. It's got my full vote.

PRIVATE LESSONS WITH BRUCE LEE!

I've just finished reading "Bruce Lee: Artist ofLife" -- what a book! It was just like having a private lessonwith Bruce Lee on a host of different topics! I enjoyed spending time with him as he discoursed on gung fu and Chinese culture; then attending philosophy classes with him at the University of Washington; moving from there on to the study of the mind as he explored the Gestalt approach to psychology; and then listening to him wax poetic about life, longing and lovers separated by fate; then it was a journey into the inner recesses of the soul to learn about "personal liberation" through JKD; his views on acting followed, revealing how he applied all of the foregoing into his films, and then, finally, his profoundly personal essays "In My Own Process" allowed Bruce to share with me his views on the process of his life. Again, what a magnificent book and what an incredible human being it reveals. This is my favorite volume in The Bruce Lee Library Series and I, for one, quite enjoy the breadth and scope of this volume. If you're interested just in JKD -- read volume three in this series; if you're interested in just gung fu -- read volume two (both are devoted exclusively to these respective modes of combat); if you want more of Bruce Lee's private letters -- you will enjoy volume five. But if you're looking for a great anthology of Bruce Lee's most important writings, you HAVE to read this book! It's the only book that covers all the bases in the totality of Bruce Lee's interests and beliefs. A great read.

WHAT AN EDUCATION!

I've just finished re-reading BRUCE LEE: ARTIST OF LIFE for the fourth time and cannot believe the incredible material that is packed within its pages! To read Bruce Lee's philosophy of life, his poetry, his writings in psychology and acting, are worth the price of the book alone. And when you add in all of the essays he wrote on Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do, this book gives you an education in the thought and beliefs of Bruce Lee unlike any other I have ever seen. Reading (and now re-reading) this book has opened my eyes to the fact that Bruce Lee was about seeking truth (which he equated with Tao) of martial art - not simply accumulating or looking at different styles. This book also shows how he applied this search for truth to the process of being a human being. Even my wife (who is not a martial artist) is in love with this book! If you want the best possible education in the "totality" of Bruce Lee, you need to get this book.

AWESOME!

"Bruce Lee: Artist of Life" contains a treasuretroveof wisdom that is applicable to everyone (not just martial artists)! Iwas absolutely amazed to read about Bruce Lee's insights into life, eastern and western philosophy and even his poetry! There is enough martial art material (most of it never published before!) to satisfy the most serious practitioner of Jeet Kune Do, but there is also a wealth of wonderful material on psychology, self-knowledge and art to make for wonderful reading for any member of the family. I am going to have to order a second copy to keep in good condition because I've already marked up my first copy with underlinings and notations. What a book! But then, with Bruce Lee, what an author!