The legend of Bruce Lee

by Alex Ben Block

Vintage TV tie-in paperback

Genres: Biography, Martial Arts

171 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1974

Reviews

[Davethorson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickie biography which came out just a few months after Lee's untimely death, I believe. Although seems to have been rushed to market, it is actually very informative, interesting and well researched. Linda, Bruce's wife, and many others who came into close contact with Lee are interviewed, and there are numerous references to magazine interviews Lee did also.

By now, the outlines of Lee's story are well known. What this book adds which still makes it interesting today is that it contains much interesting facts and overview of the Chinese film industry, including an interview of the leading "Lady Kung Fu" of the time, Angela Mao. These historical references and contemporary perspectives set this biography apart from many others of its kind and keep this book from being just another exploitation opportunity based on Lee's mysterious death.

Lee's death itself is also fairly rife for speculation, but this book handles it carefully and rationally.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised that this book I'd owned for quite some time - perhaps almost since it first came out - was actually a very good historical overview of Bruce Lee's life and times. Worth reading.

[John Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first paperback to cash in on the phenomena a mere ten months after Bruce's death, it is of interest for the viewpoints of the time. No one is calling Bruce an invincible or great fighter anywhere in the book. Much of the tiresome and silly mythology was expanded in later books like Linda Lee's The Man Only I Knew. The two best chapters were an interview with Run Run Shaw and one with Angela Mao Ying as such interviews are actually rare in English. Lots of typos and misspellings as it was a rushed work and Block knew little about martial arts, but you should still grab it if you can.

[John Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from his widow's book on him, this is the best bio of Bruce Lee out there. I haven't seen one better.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

il mito dei miti! non c'è da aggiungere altro!

[I.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because it was written so soon after Lee's death it's a little sensationalized, but it is interesting, especially talking of some areas of his personality that are glossed over now. But he really downplays what he feels will be Lee's legacy which is laughable now. Short but sweet although the chapter interviewing Mao was pointless

[Samantha Fleury]

Good review of the life of Bruce Lee :)