
Nonfiction
Track this book
You choose which shelves are public. Progress and read dates stay yours.
About
Bill Bryson meets Bruce Lee in this raucously funny story of one scrawny American's quest to become a kung fu master at China's legendary Shaolin Temple.Growing up a ninety-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, young Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become the toughest fighter in the world, like Caine in his favorite 1970s TV series, Kung Fu. While in college, Matthew decided the time had come to pursue this quixotic dream before it was too late. Much to the dismay of his parents, he dropped out of Princeton to spend two…
More by Matthew Polly
All booksMore like this








Reviews
Rating integrity
HealthyCounted ratings come from accounts older than 7 days and were made on or after publication. Finished readers weigh ×1.0. Readers who have not finished yet weigh ×0.5. Did-not-finish ratings are shown but not counted.
Editions
7 editions- Ebook · English · 2008Penguin Group USA, Inc. · 9781429508827
- Paperback · English · 2007American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron CrotchGotham · 384 pages · 9781592403370
- Hardcover · English · 2007American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron CrotchGotham · 384 pages · 9781592402625
- Other · English · 2019Little, Brown Book Group Limited · 9780349119847
- Other · English · 2007Little, Brown Book Group Limited · 9780751538236
- Other · English · 2007Abacus · 9780349120157
TravelSports & RecreationsNonfictionBiography & AutobiographyMartial artsChina, description and travel