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American ShaolinMatthew Polly

American Shaolin

2007384 pages
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7 editions
Nonfiction

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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…

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Editions

7 editions
  • Ebook · English · 2008
    Penguin Group USA, Inc. · 9781429508827
  • Paperback · English · 2007
    American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch
    Gotham · 384 pages · 9781592403370
  • Hardcover · English · 2007
    American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch
    Gotham · 384 pages · 9781592402625
  • Other · English · 2019
    Little, Brown Book Group Limited · 9780349119847
  • Other · English · 2007
    Little, Brown Book Group Limited · 9780751538236
  • Other · English · 2007
    Abacus · 9780349120157
TravelSports & RecreationsNonfictionBiography & AutobiographyMartial artsChina, description and travel