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Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee
Highlights Bruce Lee’s influence beyond martial arts and film
An Asian and Asian American icon of unimaginable stature and influence, Bruce Lee revolutionized the martial arts by combining influences drawn from around the world. Uncommonly determined, physically gifted, and artistically brilliant, Lee rose to fame as part of a wave of transpacific globalization that bridged the nearly seven thousand miles between Hong Kong and California. Like Water unpacks Lee’s global impact, linking his legendary status as a martial artist, actor, and director to his continual traversals across the newly interconnected Asia and America.
Daryl Joji Maeda’s multifaceted account of Bruce Lee’s legacy uniquely traces how movements and migrations across the Pacific Ocean structured the cultures Bruce Lee inherited, the milieu he occupied, the martial art he developed, the films he made, and the world he left behind. A unique blend of cultural history and biography, Like Water unearths the cultural strands that Lee intertwined in his rise to a new kind of global stardom. Moving from the gold rush in California and the British occupation of Hong Kong, to the Cold War and the deployment of American troops across Asia, Maeda builds depth and complexity to this larger-than-life figure. His cultural chronology of Bruce Lee reveals Lee to be both a product of his time and a harbinger of a more connected future.
Nearly half a century after his tragic death, Bruce Lee remains an inspiring symbol of innovation and determination, with an enduring legacy as the first Asian American global superstar.
An Asian and Asian American icon of unimaginable stature and influence, Bruce Lee revolutionized the martial arts by combining influences drawn from around the world. Uncommonly determined, physically gifted, and artistically brilliant, Lee rose to fame as part of a wave of transpacific globalization that bridged the nearly seven thousand miles between Hong Kong and California. Like Water unpacks Lee’s global impact, linking his legendary status as a martial artist, actor, and director to his continual traversals across the newly interconnected Asia and America.
Daryl Joji Maeda’s multifaceted account of Bruce Lee’s legacy uniquely traces how movements and migrations across the Pacific Ocean structured the cultures Bruce Lee inherited, the milieu he occupied, the martial art he developed, the films he made, and the world he left behind. A unique blend of cultural history and biography, Like Water unearths the cultural strands that Lee intertwined in his rise to a new kind of global stardom. Moving from the gold rush in California and the British occupation of Hong Kong, to the Cold War and the deployment of American troops across Asia, Maeda builds depth and complexity to this larger-than-life figure. His cultural chronology of Bruce Lee reveals Lee to be both a product of his time and a harbinger of a more connected future.
Nearly half a century after his tragic death, Bruce Lee remains an inspiring symbol of innovation and determination, with an enduring legacy as the first Asian American global superstar.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published August 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 20, 2022
Well, Like Water is not what I expected. It’s a long and arduous read. The first 2 chapters were extremely boring. I for one didn’t care about the history of feudal China in the 1700’s – 1800’s and didn’t see the point of all that background. Chapter 3 is where it started to get interesting when Bruce Lee’s life started. But the chapters are so long that I nearly gave up at that point.
There are quite a number of peaks and valleys. More valleys than peaks, in my opinion. And that is what made me start skimming the chapters from the 66% point.
I didn’t quite understand how the author attached cultural symbolisms to Lee’s movies, and I considered the author’s opinions to be a bit of over thinking and over analyzing. But who am I to judge.
There’s a lot of window dressing in the book and that is probably why the chapters are so long. But what really killed it for me was the author’s political assertions. Clearly he is anti-Trump and pro-BLM. Sometimes it’s best to leave your politcal beliefs out of the picture. One star.
I received a digital ARC from NYU Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
There are quite a number of peaks and valleys. More valleys than peaks, in my opinion. And that is what made me start skimming the chapters from the 66% point.
I didn’t quite understand how the author attached cultural symbolisms to Lee’s movies, and I considered the author’s opinions to be a bit of over thinking and over analyzing. But who am I to judge.
There’s a lot of window dressing in the book and that is probably why the chapters are so long. But what really killed it for me was the author’s political assertions. Clearly he is anti-Trump and pro-BLM. Sometimes it’s best to leave your politcal beliefs out of the picture. One star.
I received a digital ARC from NYU Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
February 14, 2024
Reading some of the other reviews here, it sounded as if the author had an agenda when writing this book
There is no agenda. This book talks not only of Bruce Lee, his life, and the lives intertwined with his, but how those lives were in the place they were when first intertwined.
It's a history book where all roads lead to Bruce
There is no agenda. This book talks not only of Bruce Lee, his life, and the lives intertwined with his, but how those lives were in the place they were when first intertwined.
It's a history book where all roads lead to Bruce
June 12, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher NYU Press for an advanced copy of this new cultural history and biography.
When my mother had to work nights as a nurse on weekends my father and I would stay up late and watch the offerings that late night cable television had to offer. Tons of zombie movies, Cheech & Chong, rock concerts disaster pics. But it was the martial arts movie that my dad loved. Especially Bruce Lee. I had never heard my father talk about a man, especially a man who was so different then what you would expect a Bronx Irish Catholic man like my father to gush about. But Bruce Lee had that effect on people. In Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee, Daryl Joji Maeda discusses the man, the history and influences that made him who he was, and how he became an artist and phenomenon that continues to be written and examined fifty years after his passing.
The book begins with a brief history of the times and history of the Pacific area, the migration of Chinese and how they came to America, and the racism that they met there. What is still astonishing is the racism that was so engrained in the American system, and well that continues to this day. How everything from the look their arts their food, was thought about as lesser and unworthy of discussion and respect. Politics, Chinese opera, the tongs, and of course food is shown and the slow influences about the society around him. The book is both a biography of Bruce Lee, trying to clear up many of the misconceptions and stories about Bruce, will fitting him into the times. What comes across most is the fire, the assuredness of the man who knew he could be great, and worked super hard to be great, and might have lead to his early death. Also the fact that his movies bridged cultural and racial divides.
The first thing I found intriguing was the fact that so much is known about the man as everyone seems to have written or discussed knowing Bruce Lee, but that so much is either wrong, or changed in movies, even documentaries for dramatic presentation. Starting even at birth. What hospital was he born in, was his father present or in New York with his opera company. How did he hurt himself, even how he passed away. There is a lot of research and many topics covered, which I found very informative as much of the information was new to me. The writing is clear and when there seems to be an inconsistency the author will put them all down, and analyze them to see what could be the truth. There is plenty of information about the making of the movies, the cast and others in the orbit of Bruce Lee's life, which I also enjoyed.
A very interesting history about a complex man. The reader does come away with a lot of What If? questions and thoughts. What if he hadn't passed away would Bruce Lee had stayed in Hong Kong, would he have moved to Hollywood. What would have happened to the Hong Kong film industry, would it have become the powerful force it was, or would have all the promising stars migrated almost in a new gold rush to California and stardom. Recommended for film historians, Bruce Lee fans and for people who wish to understand the Chinese experience in America before and after Bruce Lee.
When my mother had to work nights as a nurse on weekends my father and I would stay up late and watch the offerings that late night cable television had to offer. Tons of zombie movies, Cheech & Chong, rock concerts disaster pics. But it was the martial arts movie that my dad loved. Especially Bruce Lee. I had never heard my father talk about a man, especially a man who was so different then what you would expect a Bronx Irish Catholic man like my father to gush about. But Bruce Lee had that effect on people. In Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee, Daryl Joji Maeda discusses the man, the history and influences that made him who he was, and how he became an artist and phenomenon that continues to be written and examined fifty years after his passing.
The book begins with a brief history of the times and history of the Pacific area, the migration of Chinese and how they came to America, and the racism that they met there. What is still astonishing is the racism that was so engrained in the American system, and well that continues to this day. How everything from the look their arts their food, was thought about as lesser and unworthy of discussion and respect. Politics, Chinese opera, the tongs, and of course food is shown and the slow influences about the society around him. The book is both a biography of Bruce Lee, trying to clear up many of the misconceptions and stories about Bruce, will fitting him into the times. What comes across most is the fire, the assuredness of the man who knew he could be great, and worked super hard to be great, and might have lead to his early death. Also the fact that his movies bridged cultural and racial divides.
The first thing I found intriguing was the fact that so much is known about the man as everyone seems to have written or discussed knowing Bruce Lee, but that so much is either wrong, or changed in movies, even documentaries for dramatic presentation. Starting even at birth. What hospital was he born in, was his father present or in New York with his opera company. How did he hurt himself, even how he passed away. There is a lot of research and many topics covered, which I found very informative as much of the information was new to me. The writing is clear and when there seems to be an inconsistency the author will put them all down, and analyze them to see what could be the truth. There is plenty of information about the making of the movies, the cast and others in the orbit of Bruce Lee's life, which I also enjoyed.
A very interesting history about a complex man. The reader does come away with a lot of What If? questions and thoughts. What if he hadn't passed away would Bruce Lee had stayed in Hong Kong, would he have moved to Hollywood. What would have happened to the Hong Kong film industry, would it have become the powerful force it was, or would have all the promising stars migrated almost in a new gold rush to California and stardom. Recommended for film historians, Bruce Lee fans and for people who wish to understand the Chinese experience in America before and after Bruce Lee.
August 23, 2022
Lots of history - not a lot new about Lee.
September 9, 2022
We love Bruce Lee (!!) but not so much the long chapters that dragged and the political feelings of the author that plagued this book.
November 11, 2022
Trigger warning: Trump is briefly mentioned and so is BLM in the conclusion. Both with good reason. Racism and discrimination against multiple cultures touched on. Believe it or not it’s not new.
This book is more than just about Bruce Lee. There is an introduction, seven chapters and a conclusion. The book is not a quick read and the chapters are long. It weaves a tapestry of history about China, Bruce Lee’s parents and ancestors, Opera, acting and Martial Arts. One cannot write a biography about someone and not touch on their mother, father and family and cultural history. Also since Bruce was an actor and Martial Artist that is important too. I do feel like the analysis of Lee’s movies may have been a little more than they actually are. Still it’s a pretty good book. Is the author being political? No I don’t think so. Unless pointing out discrimination that has existed for hundreds of years is political. Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco so he was automatically a US citizen. It was illegal for Chinese to become American citizens at the time and limited in how long they could be in the US. Also mentioned is multiple instances of attacks on Chinese over the years.
There are a few flaws. For instance Covid swept across the world at the end of 2019 not 2020, it was in 2020 when the virus was acknowledge to exist. However the attacks and threats on Chinese and Asians around the world did increase after all Chinese were blamed for the virus. Trump did call the Covid virus a “Chinese Hoax” even after being briefed on the virus, (the author refers to it as a denial) that the virus existed. Is the author being political for mentioning Trumps denials about the virus and then blaming all Chinese for the virus which some used as an excuse to threaten and attack Chinese and Asians? Some called for China to pay for the virus. If so then should the US pay for the Spanish Flu that started in Kansas? Is mentioning that BLM was formed in protest of George Floyd being dragged out of the back of a police car and murdered by a cop political? I don’t think so. I think it’s wrong to discriminate, threaten, attack, murder, etc people based on ignorance, hatred and stupidity.
This book is more than just about Bruce Lee. There is an introduction, seven chapters and a conclusion. The book is not a quick read and the chapters are long. It weaves a tapestry of history about China, Bruce Lee’s parents and ancestors, Opera, acting and Martial Arts. One cannot write a biography about someone and not touch on their mother, father and family and cultural history. Also since Bruce was an actor and Martial Artist that is important too. I do feel like the analysis of Lee’s movies may have been a little more than they actually are. Still it’s a pretty good book. Is the author being political? No I don’t think so. Unless pointing out discrimination that has existed for hundreds of years is political. Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco so he was automatically a US citizen. It was illegal for Chinese to become American citizens at the time and limited in how long they could be in the US. Also mentioned is multiple instances of attacks on Chinese over the years.
There are a few flaws. For instance Covid swept across the world at the end of 2019 not 2020, it was in 2020 when the virus was acknowledge to exist. However the attacks and threats on Chinese and Asians around the world did increase after all Chinese were blamed for the virus. Trump did call the Covid virus a “Chinese Hoax” even after being briefed on the virus, (the author refers to it as a denial) that the virus existed. Is the author being political for mentioning Trumps denials about the virus and then blaming all Chinese for the virus which some used as an excuse to threaten and attack Chinese and Asians? Some called for China to pay for the virus. If so then should the US pay for the Spanish Flu that started in Kansas? Is mentioning that BLM was formed in protest of George Floyd being dragged out of the back of a police car and murdered by a cop political? I don’t think so. I think it’s wrong to discriminate, threaten, attack, murder, etc people based on ignorance, hatred and stupidity.
December 19, 2022
Beyond a standard biography, LIKE WATER provides a cultural history of Bruce Lee including impacts of transpacific globalization.
Prior to reading LIKE WATER, I did not have much knowledge about Bruce Lee other than knowing he was a martial artist and actor. The book provides an in-depth history of his life and culturally significant connections for key pieces. This was a welcome change from a typical biography. I enjoyed being refreshed on historical knowledge and learning additional things about the transpacific globalization that Bruce Lee was a part of. The evolution of Bruce Lee’s martial arts practice and his theories toward it were interesting to follow through the book. There were parts that felt like they dragged as extensive details of movies were described. I wished there had been less of this dry detail and more discussion of cultural history.
Altogether, LIKE WATER is an interesting read. I’d recommend to fans of Bruce Lee and anyone looking for a deviation from a standard biography format.
Thank you to NYU Press for the giveaway ARC.
Prior to reading LIKE WATER, I did not have much knowledge about Bruce Lee other than knowing he was a martial artist and actor. The book provides an in-depth history of his life and culturally significant connections for key pieces. This was a welcome change from a typical biography. I enjoyed being refreshed on historical knowledge and learning additional things about the transpacific globalization that Bruce Lee was a part of. The evolution of Bruce Lee’s martial arts practice and his theories toward it were interesting to follow through the book. There were parts that felt like they dragged as extensive details of movies were described. I wished there had been less of this dry detail and more discussion of cultural history.
Altogether, LIKE WATER is an interesting read. I’d recommend to fans of Bruce Lee and anyone looking for a deviation from a standard biography format.
Thank you to NYU Press for the giveaway ARC.
July 25, 2023
I received this book for free as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher.
An academic look at the cultural history of Bruce Lee and his life. Honestly, very dry and academic but informative. At times, I struggled to want to pick up this book. I'd say it wasn't for me but it is well written and exhaustive. Recommended if you have a strong interest in the subject of Bruce Lee's life and his history as a cultural symbol and icon.
An academic look at the cultural history of Bruce Lee and his life. Honestly, very dry and academic but informative. At times, I struggled to want to pick up this book. I'd say it wasn't for me but it is well written and exhaustive. Recommended if you have a strong interest in the subject of Bruce Lee's life and his history as a cultural symbol and icon.
May 3, 2023
So, when I picked this up I thought the premise would be more about the cultural impacts and interpretations of Bruce Lee over a biography, but this skews more biographical than I thought, with Conclusion stuffing in most of what I thought would be discussed (subsequent works, perceptions of Asian masculinity post-Bruce).
Still, overall an interesting read.
Still, overall an interesting read.
December 4, 2022
This book traces the movement of Asians across the pacific to the USA as well as Bruce lee's influence as an actor and his lasting effect on his fans.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews