What do you think?
Rate this book
Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon
A behind-the-scenes look at the life of the most extraordinary martial artist of all time—Bruce Lee.
Bruce The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon is an illustrated biography of this fascinating martial artist and movie star, from the start of his career to his untimely and tragic death in 1973. This book reveals a quiet family man behind the charismatic public persona. It shows the real Bruce Lee—the man who was so much more than an international film and martial arts celebrity.
This brilliant photo essay—compiled and edited by Bruce Lee expert John Little with the assistance of Lee's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell—reveals never-before-published family photos, including rare photos of Bruce's childhood in Hong Kong. Tender moments with his children are caught on camera, and action shots from his martial arts films are shown.
With a preface by his daughter Shannon Lee and a foreword by wife Linda, the text is drawn directly from Bruce Lee's own diaries and journals. Based on the award-winning Warner Bros. documentary, Bruce In His Own Words, sections of the Life of Bruce LeeEarly Years—why he began studying gung fu (kung fu) and took up wing chun, his first starring role, and his return to the USHollywood—why he got the part in The Green Hornet, teaching Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Stirling Silliphant, filming Enter the Dragon, The Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury and more, training and acting with Chuck Norris, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dean Martin and Sharon Tate, and the creation of Jeet Kune Do (JKD)Family—meeting Linda, having children and daily life This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also Bruce Striking ThoughtsBruce The Tao of Gung FuBruce Artist of LifeBruce Letters of the DragonBruce The Art of Expressing the Human BodyBruce Jeet Kune Do
Bruce The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon is an illustrated biography of this fascinating martial artist and movie star, from the start of his career to his untimely and tragic death in 1973. This book reveals a quiet family man behind the charismatic public persona. It shows the real Bruce Lee—the man who was so much more than an international film and martial arts celebrity.
This brilliant photo essay—compiled and edited by Bruce Lee expert John Little with the assistance of Lee's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell—reveals never-before-published family photos, including rare photos of Bruce's childhood in Hong Kong. Tender moments with his children are caught on camera, and action shots from his martial arts films are shown.
With a preface by his daughter Shannon Lee and a foreword by wife Linda, the text is drawn directly from Bruce Lee's own diaries and journals. Based on the award-winning Warner Bros. documentary, Bruce In His Own Words, sections of the Life of Bruce LeeEarly Years—why he began studying gung fu (kung fu) and took up wing chun, his first starring role, and his return to the USHollywood—why he got the part in The Green Hornet, teaching Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Stirling Silliphant, filming Enter the Dragon, The Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury and more, training and acting with Chuck Norris, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dean Martin and Sharon Tate, and the creation of Jeet Kune Do (JKD)Family—meeting Linda, having children and daily life This Bruce Lee Book is part of the Bruce Lee Library which also Bruce Striking ThoughtsBruce The Tao of Gung FuBruce Artist of LifeBruce Letters of the DragonBruce The Art of Expressing the Human BodyBruce Jeet Kune Do
- GenresFilmNonfictionBiography
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 27, 2016
The book had a lot of pictures of Bruce Lee, the book explained well about the attitude of Bruce Lee.
In the book, Bruce Lee explained that if we just keep the same technique, and not try your own style, no new moves would be made and nothing would improve.
He is also an huge inspiration to world wide and I admire his efforts for his career
In the book, Bruce Lee explained that if we just keep the same technique, and not try your own style, no new moves would be made and nothing would improve.
He is also an huge inspiration to world wide and I admire his efforts for his career
February 11, 2016
An amazing account of Bruce Lee's life full of inspirational quotes, wise reflections and a wide array of photos from his past.
January 25, 2014
I've only seen Bruce Lee in films a couple times. I know him more as a legend than a person. John Little's book, comprised of pictures of Lee throughout his life and career, and Lee's own words paint a picture of a genuinely interesting dude who dedicated his life to living how he wanted and was only interested in putting forth his best effort.
The pictures here are big and capture the essence of someone worth admiring. Lee talks a great deal about his martial art, Jeet Kune Do, and it's fascinating to hear someone talk about something he understands so fully. I definitely want to read more about martial arts and fighting styles after reading this book. Being somewhat of a coffee table book, it's not super in depth, but as a deeper look into the life of Bruce Lee, it's a fascinating curiosity. I definitely want to check out Little's documentary "Bruce Lee in His Own Words" after reading this book.
The pictures here are big and capture the essence of someone worth admiring. Lee talks a great deal about his martial art, Jeet Kune Do, and it's fascinating to hear someone talk about something he understands so fully. I definitely want to read more about martial arts and fighting styles after reading this book. Being somewhat of a coffee table book, it's not super in depth, but as a deeper look into the life of Bruce Lee, it's a fascinating curiosity. I definitely want to check out Little's documentary "Bruce Lee in His Own Words" after reading this book.
April 6, 2010
one of our students is obsessed with bruce lee. this book came back from another school so i decided to read it (is is probably 75%) pictures. very interesting about his life. makes me want to go and get a couple of his movies to watch!
October 4, 2013
The book is very good for a biography and very good to read. If u want to know how the inspiration of holly wood king fu movies then read this because he was in the early movies in he 70's. i high recommend this book to anyone who watches fighting movies.
December 29, 2020
Fast and entertaining flip through.
April 23, 2025
Beautiful collection of photos and quotes from the man himself.
The two main points shared in this book are:
1: There are no specific types or styles that are best - you must create your own style.
Take the boat to the other side, then get off the boat and leave it behind.
You must no all of the techniques until you have no technique.
A style started as a hypothesis, and then it has become the gospel”
And 2: don’t punch, let ‘it’ punch.
You must become one, and free your mind.
Be completely cool calm and collected.
Apart from these 2 points, nothing much else was covered in the book. Still a great book though.
The two main points shared in this book are:
1: There are no specific types or styles that are best - you must create your own style.
Take the boat to the other side, then get off the boat and leave it behind.
You must no all of the techniques until you have no technique.
A style started as a hypothesis, and then it has become the gospel”
And 2: don’t punch, let ‘it’ punch.
You must become one, and free your mind.
Be completely cool calm and collected.
Apart from these 2 points, nothing much else was covered in the book. Still a great book though.
February 1, 2024
Una joya para los aficionados de Bruce Lee, así como los más acérrimos fanáticos del pequeño dragón. Comprende una excelente colección de fotografías a color (algunas en blanco y negro) con exquisitos detalles. Las imágenes están acompañadas con descripciones de las fases en la vida de Bruce Lee, aparte de sus ideas y filosofías.
August 31, 2024
Closest thing we will ever get to an autobiography written by Bruce himself.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews