"Number One" was a phrase my father-and, for that matter, my mother--repeated time and time again. It was a phrase spoken by my parents' friends an...
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reviews
Apr 09, 2009
Sue
rated it: 
This book was just about right for a day in bed with a sore throat. A very easy read between the cough drops, not too challenging The ghost writer feels too present for me. I doubt that Lang Lang has yet the perspective to analyze what his driven father did. Yet the kid totally fulfilled his father's dream! The parents of this pianist are equaled in the US occasionally by some parents who drive their kids to be super athletes (e.g. tennis parents). I enjoyed the book most for its insights
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Nov 22, 2008
Tim
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Out of my normal book zone - but it was great! Lang lang - a young man with immense musical talent - according to the accolades.
This is a story of his growing up - one of the Chinese generation where only one child was allowed each family, and therefore that child was doted on by all, and the competition to have that one succeed was immense.
Throughout his story, he gave the reader a glimpse of how it was to live in a country with great ranges of wealth and relative freed More...
This is a story of his growing up - one of the Chinese generation where only one child was allowed each family, and therefore that child was doted on by all, and the competition to have that one succeed was immense.
Throughout his story, he gave the reader a glimpse of how it was to live in a country with great ranges of wealth and relative freed More...
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Aug 04, 2011
Natalie
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A fellow piano teacher recommended this autobiography of world famous pianist, Lang Lang, at a music teachers association meeting. It was a quick read, but wow was it fascinating! I had absolutely no idea the kind of dedication and work lies behind some of the young prodigies that emerge on the world scene. According to Lang Lang, in China it is everything to be Number One. Propelled by his father’s obsessive drive and his mother’s enduring love, that’s the pianist that Lang Lang was destined to
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Jan 25, 2009
Christina
rated it: 
(Full Review on my blog here: http://handsfullmom.blogspot.com/2009/01... )
This book captivated me from the first chapter -- the story of Lang's family and the pressure on this young pianist saddened me. His dad's whole life was spent in making sure his son practiced enough to be "Number One" in the world. I started to understand Chinese culture (and the Beijing Olympics) better by reading this. In their culture, it isn't enough to be good; you have to be better than everyone More...
This book captivated me from the first chapter -- the story of Lang's family and the pressure on this young pianist saddened me. His dad's whole life was spent in making sure his son practiced enough to be "Number One" in the world. I started to understand Chinese culture (and the Beijing Olympics) better by reading this. In their culture, it isn't enough to be good; you have to be better than everyone More...
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Mar 06, 2011
Naomi
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When I am into a book, I finish it very quickly. This book was one of those books where I can hear the writer talking to me as if he were telling me the story face to face. When he was crying in the story or anxious, I feel myself crying for him or I have to keep reading to see if he wins first place! What stuck out to me in this autobiography was that it was not only about Lang Lang and how he became a famous pianist, but how much his parents had to sacrifice to get him to the stage. His fat
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May 05, 2009
Brian
rated it: 
An easy read. A complicated life. Although it reads as an autobiography and is unencumbered by humility, I doubt pianist Lang Lang wrote this himself. No indicator as to whom he had as his ghostwriter. Who'd have thought such a poor man as his father could be such a tyrant and "stage-door daddy"? The abuse Lang Lang endured over the years was compensated for by his own love and talent on the piano. I enjoyed this book and have recommended it to others.
Aug 11, 2009
Min
rated it:
I can barely comprehend how he survived all the unimaginable maddening life and yet come out as a winner, both in his profession and life, at such yong age.
His rich imagination is definitly the key to lessen the pain and turn hours and hours of boring practice into somthing fun. "If I have to do it, I might make it fun", that's his attitude. And it worked wonder.
I don't quite agree with his dad's mental brutality. And yet without such tremendous pressure, Lang More...
His rich imagination is definitly the key to lessen the pain and turn hours and hours of boring practice into somthing fun. "If I have to do it, I might make it fun", that's his attitude. And it worked wonder.
I don't quite agree with his dad's mental brutality. And yet without such tremendous pressure, Lang More...
Nov 14, 2010
Jonna
rated it:
This book made me really think about balance. I understand that musicians, professional athletes, etc. must devote a lot of time to become as excellent as they are, but this book made me think that at some point it becomes too much. Too much of a person's self is devoted to one thing. Lang Lang sacrificed so much time with his mom, it made me sad for him and his mom. I wonder if as he gets older, looking back, will he still think it was worth it--not just being away from his mother, but givi
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Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
rated it:
The autobiography of Lang Lang, one of the world's greatest classical concert pianists. It chronicles his life from his birth in 1982 in China up to nearly present day. He lived in Shenyang and then Beijing where he attended the Beijing Conservatory. Then he got a scholarship to the Curtis School of music in Philadelphia. He had a father who was constantly forcing him to practice and never lit him quit.
Jun 06, 2010
Cher
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This book is a wonderful insight into Chinese culture and the overwhelming drive to "be number one". Lang Lang is a brilliant pianist of our time and is pushed to be the best by family and village members so that he can bring glory to the nation. Lang Lang finds out that his joy for music has been overshadowed by forever striving to be the best. When he lets go of that desire, the greatness of his music soars even higher.
Oct 04, 2011
Jennifer
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An intriguing view of another culture, as child prodigy Lang Lang gradually overcomes his father's push to become the "number one" pianist in China to instead integrate into the larger culture of classical music and find his own place. I'm not convinced he's entirely succeeded, but I'm rooting for him.
Oct 23, 2009
Betsy
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I did enjoy reading this, but it's not great literature. Just fascinating to learn about his youth, his domineering father who nearly derailed his career, his mother who gave up so much to support him, etc. He was practicing 8 hours a day from the time he was 4 or 5. Incredible really. Emma and I go to hear him play next week and I can't wait!
Dec 16, 2010
Pamela
rated it:
I love the piano. I played for many many years and the only reason I am not now is that there is no piano in the house....and I have always loved Lang Lang. To read his biography gave me an insight to him that I would have not have known. This was a very easy read...not too challenging but certainly a great start to his life. I am intrigued by the enormous sacrifice he and his family experienced to catapult his career. Having a little Chinese background through reading other books on China'
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Aug 19, 2009
Serenac
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Interesting in terms of learning more about the life of a musical prodigy and also about the culture of China. I had recently seen a Chinese movie, that must have also been based on his life, although altered by the fact that in the movie, the child played violin.
Dec 05, 2008
Alice
rated it:
Don't usually read autobiographies, but I was drawn in by the cover. I enjoyed the first two parts, but the self-congratulatory nature of the last chapters was a bit much to take. You can hear the ghost-writer's voice a little too much as well
Jun 19, 2010
Jackie
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This is more than a story about Lang Lang. It is about a family's struggle to balance ambition, expectation and relationships. It also illustrates the extreme pressure many young people have to live up to their own or their parents expectations.
Jul 11, 2010
Cathy
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What an inspirational book - this boy was musically wired from the start and reveals a tenacity I have not seen this side of the world. I am not a classical music fan but now I am keen to listen to one of his CD's.
Jul 05, 2009
Tammy
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I saw Lang Lang perform on Oprah and she mentioned his book. I decided to read it and really enjoyed learning about his life. I watched a couple of videos of him on You-Tube and he is an incredible pianist.
Mar 30, 2009
Amy Eischens
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Frank and I both read this book - my opinion is his mother made the biggest sacrifice and she isn't mentioned in the last few chapters. It will be interesting to see how his next 10 years are- his life has been unbalanced.
Nov 22, 2008
Jan
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I had never heard of this guy until the Beijing Olympics. His story is an interesting one.
He talks about being Number 1. It's not even worth being Number 2.
He talks about being Number 1. It's not even worth being Number 2.
Jun 25, 2011
Laurie
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I enjoyed learning about Lang Lang and his journey from China to worldwide fame. I was particularly interested to learn about the contrast between China's philosophy regarding what it takes to be a #1 musician and that of the U.S.
Jul 28, 2010
RoHullAH
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Incredible, heart catching, A true story of parent sacrifice for their children. Can’t stop reading it, I recommend this book for everyone who want to read biography or true stories.
Mar 03, 2011
Amber
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I found this book surprisingly good. Especially b/c I'm a pianist. Loved the insight to the Japanese culture of perfection.
Oct 21, 2009
Jodee
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I appreciated this book not only for the view of a talented musician, but the insight it gave to the Chinese culture.
Apr 23, 2009
Magi
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family sacrifice tomake only son,piano prodigy,#1. American dream....but at what expense?
May 29, 2010
Suzanne
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Wonderful biography on this young musician's life and it's trials and tribulations.
Jan 15, 2009
Debbie
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Raw, genuine and honest...I really liked the compare/contrast of cultures.
