Bruce Lee: A Life

by Matthew Polly

Overview

The “definitive” (The New York Times) 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 thirty-two, journalist and bestselling 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 one hundred 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501187643
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	02/13/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	657
Sales rank:	250,996
File size:	79 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Matthew Polly is the national bestselling author of American Shaolin, Tapped Out, and Bruce Lee. A Princeton University graduate and Rhodes Scholar, he spent two years studying kung fu at the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Esquire, Slate, Playboy, and The Nation. He is a fellow at Yale University and lives in New Haven, Connecticut.

Table of Contents

Prologue: tale of two funerals 1

Act I Little Dragon

1 Sick man of asia 11

2 Boomtown 29

3 Ip man 49

4 Banished 63

Act II Gold Mountain

5 Native son 83

6 Husky 107

7 Sunny side of the bay 123

8 Face-off in oakland 145

9 Hollywood calling 163

10 Citizen kato 179

11 Jeet kune do 197

12 Sifu to the stars 217

13 Bit player 241

14 The silent flute 259

15 The way of longstreet 277

Act III The Returned

16 The last mogul 291

17 The big boss 307

18 Fist of fury 329

19 Concord 351

20 Spaghetti eastern 363

21 Fame and its discontents 387

22 Blood & steel 403

23 Knockin' on heaven's door 423

24 The last day of bruce lee 439

25 The inquest 455

Epilogue: the legend 477

Afterword 495

Lee family tree 501

Bruce lee filmography 503

Notes 505

Bibliography 603

Index 617

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/01/2018
Polly (American Shaolin) spent ten years conducting hundreds of interviews and searching for rare photographs to produce what is, shockingly, the first biography of Bruce Lee (1940–73) in more than two decades. Some may be intimidated by the length, but it reads quickly owing to Polly's strength as a writer. Starting with Lee's two funerals, one in China, and one in Seattle, the startling pictures of his immense popularity bring readers into Lee's world immediately. It then follows a more chronological order, covering Lee growing up in China, learning Wing Chun from Ip Man, his foray into acting at a young age, and his travels to America. From there, the volume addresses Lee's famous fight in Chinatown, his movies, and his stardom. New insights on Lee's death and even his incorrectly speculated involvement in the Manson murders are provided. The photographs are tremendous, and the concluding epilog, Lee family tree, filmography, notes, and bibliography make this a great reference source. VERDICT Fans of Lee will flock to this title, as will anyone interested in pop culture and martial arts, of which Lee's stature is immense. Highly recommended.—Jason L. Steagall, formerly with Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, WI

Library Journal

…the first noteworthy treatment of [Lee]—and a definitive one at that…Fascinating narrative threads proliferate.

The New York Times Book Review - Ben Dickinson

★ 04/30/2018
This thorough, well-sourced biography from Polly (Tapped Out) is an engrossing examination of the life of a martial arts movie star and his shocking, early death. Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940, but his family moved to Hong Kong shortly after his birth. He started acting there as a child, and at age 16 began studying under kung fu master Ip Man. In 1959, Lee moved to Seattle in pursuit of a career acting and teaching kung fu. He landed a few roles in American television series such as The Green Hornet, but, eager for better roles, he moved back to Hong Kong, where he starred in such action movies as Fist of Fury and The Way of the Dragon. Polly describes Lee as a patron of kung fu who “sought to straddle East and West” yet routinely faced racism (relatives of his wife, Linda, refused to attend their wedding in 1964). He possessed a volatile temper, a dangerously obsessive work ethic, and a propensity for extramarital affairs. In 1973, Lee collapsed and died while dubbing dialogue for Enter the Dragon, and Polly is especially strong as he sifts through the sensational aftermath of Lee’s death, rejecting tabloid rumors that he died in an actual fight and outdated medical opinions of death by “cannabis intoxication” in favor of the more logical cause—heatstroke, given Hong Kong’s heat wave that day. 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. (June)

Publishers Weekly

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

"Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly is the first in-depth account of Lee's journey from a street-brawling teenager to a global icon...Lee's charisma, ambition and relentless appetite for combat leap off the pages.” —CNN

"Spirited celebration of the life of 'the Patron Saint of Kung Fu,' a stalwart of pop culture whose career is due for a revival....Students of martial arts, film history, and the 1970s alike will find much to enjoy in Polly's homage." —Kirkus Review

"This thorough, well-sourced biography from Polly is 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." —Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"The first authoritative biography of the martial arts teacher and movie star, who died mysteriously at 32 but whose films, like Enter the Dragon, still thrill decades later." —Los Angeles Times Book Review

"It’s difficult to imagine a more comprehensive account of Bruce Lee’s short but influential life than this one....Polly charts the course of Lee’s life in careful, precise detail. His admiration for Lee comes through on nearly every page, but this no hagiography: the author doesn’t skim lightly over Lee’s drug use or infidelity, nor does he shy away from the sordid circumstances surrounding Lee’s death. A fascinating story of a remarkable figure in popular culture, this is the biography Bruce Lee’s legion of fans have been waiting for." —Booklist

"Matthew Polly’s 'Bruce Lee: A Life' is proof that dogged research and sharp insight lie at the foundation of any successful biography. Its 600-plus pages suggest a definitive work to satisfy Lee’s fans and spark curiosity in a new generation." —Associated Press

"Matthew Polly’s new biography is long overdue but does Hong Kong’s most famous son proud....The writer vividly describes how Lee mastered and advanced various martial arts forms, and he exercises a pleasing biographical rigour, with extensive notes and citations, as well as a 14-page bibliography....engaging, enthusiastic and empathetic." —South China Morning Post Magazine

“This book succeeds in capturing [Lee’s] energy and achievements, a volley of incident that rarely lets up... Stories whirl past with nunchaku-like speed...Polly’s narrative rarely loses its ripped-and-shredded shape...For anyone curious about Lee’s legacy, it’s a roundhouse kick of a biography.” —Sunday Times of London

"Shockingly, the first biography of Bruce Lee (1940–73) in more than two decades....it reads quickly owing to Polly's strength as a writer. Starting with Lee's two funerals, one in China, and one in Seattle, the startling pictures of his immense popularity bring readers into Lee's world immediately....The photographs are tremendous, and the concluding epilogue, Lee family tree, filmography, notes, and bibliography make this a great reference source. Fans of Lee will flock to this title, as will anyone interested in pop culture and martial arts, of which Lee's stature is immense. Highly recommended." —Library Journal (starred review)



"Illuminating, expansive and thoroughly enjoyable....In Polly, Lee cannot have found a better Boswell, a more kindred spirit....Polly’s enthralling biography, which at times reads like a screenplay full of dialogue and mots justes, is a deeply humanizing portrait of a complicated character." —San Francisco Chronicle



"Illuminating, expansive and thoroughly enjoyable biography... In Polly, Lee cannot have found a better Boswell, a more kindred spirit... Polly’s enthralling biography, which at times reads like a screenplay full of dialogue and mots justes, is a deeply humanizing portrait of a complicated character." —San Francisco Gate

"Matthew Polly's biography of the martial-arts expert, whose movies 'Fist of Fury,' 'Way of the Dragon' and 'Enter the Dragon' were international hits, is thorough, balanced and myth-busting." —The Seattle Times

"Polly's meticulously researched and superbly written biography is a delight...and, like its subject, moves with lightning speed and grace. Bruce Lee: A Life is a spectacularly entertaining and candid biography that separates the myth and the man." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Lee accomplished so much in such a brief life...Reading Matthew Polly’s Bruce Lee, one finds a life far richer and more fascinating than his movies could convey.” —Washington Independent Review of Books

"A must-read for fight fans....far and away the definitive text on the subject....Like an important historical text examining Jesus Christ, Muhammad or Buddha, Bruce Lee: A Life makes it clear how and why Lee’s fistic religion has endured for so long. [Polly] nails it." —Caged Insider

"From the story of his parents, a wealthy Eurasian mother and a father who came from poverty, to his troubled youth and rise to stardom, Polly stitches a fascinating account of the most charismatic martial artist ever...The book reaffirmed what many of his fans already knew...Bruce Lee was a man who did it his way." —AsAmNews.com

"It became evident to me from reading the section regarding my Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) teacher, Wong Shun Leung's relationship with Bruce Lee that Matthew Polly had properly done his research, as the listed anecdotes are the exact same as those told to me by my sifu during my time under his tutelage. A very entertaining read offering copious tidbits of interesting information that even longtime admirers of Bruce Lee might not have been aware of." —Philip Ng, the star of Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014) and Birth of the Dragon (2016)

"At last, Bruce Lee has the powerful biography he deserves. Matthew Polly’s book is packed with new information and sharp insights. It will thrill Lee’s fans and fascinate the unfamiliar. Bravo!" —Jonathan Eig, author of Ali: A Life and Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig

"Believe it or not, Bruce Lee has never been the subject of a truly in-depth biography—until now. With this meticulously researched, beautifully realized work, Matthew Polly has written the definitive account. It moves with the authority, grace and economy of Lee himself. I was hooked from the first chapter." —Jimmy McDonough, author Shakey: Neil Young’s Biography and Soul Survivor: A Biography of Al Green


"You won’t find a better match for a biographer with his subject than Matthew Polly and Bruce Lee. From Lee's early days as the self-proclaimed Cha-cha Champion of Hong Kong to his final, fiery years as the iconic, fist flashing, kung-fu master, Polly tells Bruce Lee’s story with clarity and empathy, tearing away the myths to reveal Lee’s most interesting persona yet: the man himself. A definitive biography, told with passion and punch." — Brian Jay Jones, author George Lucas: A Life and Jim Henson: The Biography.

"The book many Bruce Lee fans have been waiting to read for a long time. Tremendous research went into this book....without a doubt, one of the best biographies written about the 'Little Dragon'. This is an amazing biography....no fan will be disappointed! Fantastic writing covering an extraordinary life. Highly recommended!" —Wing Chun Illustrated

"Polly's work skillfully connects the years and the stories remembered by those who knew the man in a way that gives the reader a glimpse into Lee's mindset, personality traits, and his shortcomings....undoubtedly one of the most researched books on Bruce Lee every written..." —Original Jeet Kune Do Quarterly

"Matthew Polly has written the definitive account of Lee’s life...Bruce Lee: A Life breaks down the myths surrounding Bruce Lee and delivers a complex, humane portrait of the icon." —Entertainment Report

From the Publisher

In this authoritative biographical audiobook, the efforts of Bruce Lee to bring his philosophy and his martial arts expertise to the U.S. are well documented. Narrator Jonathan Todd Ross’s performance brings Lee to life with exuberance and energy. He was relentless in his pursuit of fame, and Ross conveys that frenzy with his rhythm, tone, and timing. Lee died suddenly at the age of 32 on the verge of his breakthrough American film, ENTER THE DRAGON. The author proposes an explanation for his death that was missed completely by his doctors 45 years ago. Ross’s poignant narration of the funeral service captures the grief of his wife, Linda, and his two young children. Listeners will enjoy Ross’s presentation of this legend. E.E.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2018 - AudioFile

In this authoritative biographical audiobook, the efforts of Bruce Lee to bring his philosophy and his martial arts expertise to the U.S. are well documented. Narrator Jonathan Todd Ross’s performance brings Lee to life with exuberance and energy. He was relentless in his pursuit of fame, and Ross conveys that frenzy with his rhythm, tone, and timing. Lee died suddenly at the age of 32 on the verge of his breakthrough American film, ENTER THE DRAGON. The author proposes an explanation for his death that was missed completely by his doctors 45 years ago. Ross’s poignant narration of the funeral service captures the grief of his wife, Linda, and his two young children. Listeners will enjoy Ross’s presentation of this legend. E.E.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2018 - AudioFile

2018-05-01
Spirited celebration of the life of "the Patron Saint of Kung Fu," a stalwart of pop culture whose career is due for a revival.Growing up in Hong Kong, Bruce Lee (1940-1973) wasn't much of a student. As Polly (Tapped Out: Rear Naked Chokes, the Octagon, and the Last Emperor: An Odyssey in Mixed Martial Arts, 2011, etc.) writes, he was good in English and pretty poor in everything else; he was held back a couple of grades and known as a schoolyard bully—though the kind that "was a gang leader, offering protection to those willing to follow him." He would go on to battle a string of sadists and miscreants in films that would become standards of early-1970s popular culture. First, however, he had to set up shop as a martial arts master with a burning mission to spread Wing Chun and other forms of Chinese fighting arts to America, always with his own stamp on them, always willing to fight to establish his credentials. "I would like to let everybody know," Lee announced in 1963, "that any time my Chinatown brothers want to research my Wing Chun, they are welcome to find me at my school in Oakland." Meaning, Polly speculates, that Lee was willing to take on all of San Francisco's Chinatown and its myriad masters to make his mark. His martyrdom was assured by dying young just before his signature film, Enter the Dragon, entered the market in 1973, but even before then, the charismatic Lee had a huge following. Polly recounts a trip to Goa with Green Hornet star James Coburn in which everyone knew who Lee was, but not Coburn, and later moments in which he outshone even the great Steve McQueen—which is exactly as Lee swore it would be. Enter the Dragon also fulfilled Lee's other promise: that he would become, as the author writes in rather outdated language, "the first and highest paid Oriental superstar in the United States."Students of martial arts, film history, and the 1970s alike will find much to enjoy in Polly's homage.

Kirkus Reviews