Awards

• Winner of Alex Award - YALSA.

Overview

"The raucously funny story of one young American's quest to become the baddest dude on the planet (and possibly find inner peace along the way) Growing up a ninety-eight-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, 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. American Shaolin is the story of the two years Matthew spent in China living, studying, and performing with the Shaolin monks. The Chinese term for tough training is chi ku (""eating bitter""), and Matthew quickly learned to appreciate the phrase. This is both the gripping story of Matthew's journey and an intimate portrait of the real lives of the Shaolin monks, who struggle to overcome rampant corruption and the restrictions of an authoritarian government. Laced with humor and illuminated by cultural insight, American Shaolin is an unforgettable coming-of- age story of one man's journey into the ancient art of kungfu—and a poignant portrait of a rapidly changing China."

Full Product Details

9781592403370

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Reviews

aI loved American Shaolin, a<br> aPJ OaRourke <br> aAn original and insightful book.a<br> a Boston Globe <br> aPolly is an easy amateur to root for.a<br> a Entertainment Weekly <br> aIt takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly.a<br> a NY Post <br> aI picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Pollyas book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly.a<br> aDan Rather

I loved American Shaolin . --PJ O'Rourke An original and insightful book. -- Boston Globe Polly is an easy amateur to root for. -- Entertainment Weekly It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly. -- NY Post I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Polly's book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly. --Dan Rather ?I loved American Shaolin .? ?PJ O?Rourke ?An original and insightful book.? ? Boston Globe ?Polly is an easy amateur to root for.? ? Entertainment Weekly ?It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly.? ? NY Post ?I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Polly's book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly.? ?Dan Rather aI loved American Shaolin, a aPJ OaRourke aAn original and insightful book.a a Boston Globe aPolly is an easy amateur to root for.a a Entertainment Weekly aIt takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly.a a NY Post aI picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Pollyas book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly.a aDan Rather I loved American Shaolin, PJ ORourke An original and insightful book. Boston Globe Polly is an easy amateur to root for. Entertainment Weekly It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly. NY Post I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Pollys book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly. Dan Rather

I loved American Shaolin . --PJ O'Rourke An original and insightful book. -- Boston Globe Polly is an easy amateur to root for. -- Entertainment Weekly It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly. -- NY Post I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Polly's book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly. --Dan Rather ?I loved American Shaolin .? ?PJ O?Rourke ?An original and insightful book.? ? Boston Globe ?Polly is an easy amateur to root for.? ? Entertainment Weekly ?It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly.? ? NY Post ?I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Polly's book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly.? ?Dan Rather aI loved American Shaolin, a aPJ OaRourke aAn original and insightful book.a a Boston Globe aPolly is an easy amateur to root for.a a Entertainment Weekly aIt takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly.a a NY Post aI picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Pollyas book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly.a aDan Rather I loved American Shaolin, PJ ORourke An original and insightful book. Boston Globe Polly is an easy amateur to root for. Entertainment Weekly It takes a special kind of person to leave the comforts of Princeton University and move to rural China to smash his forearms against tree trunks. Meet Matthew Polly. NY Post I picked up American Shaolin and read it straight through. It is first rate. Pollys book tells more about what's going on in China and has more insights into the real China than anything in recent years. It is a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life. A tip of the Stetson to Matthew Polly. Dan Rather

Author Information

Matthew Polly is the author of the national bestseller American Shaolin, which The Boston Globe called “an original and insightful book,” and journalist Dan Rather called “a wonderful true-life story with profound, behind-the-headlines observations about Chinese life.” A Princeton University graduate and Rhodes Scholar, Polly’s work has appeared in Esquire, The Nation, and Playboy. He lives in New York.

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