
American Legends: The Life of Bruce Lee
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Cliff Truesdell
About this listen
It would be nearly impossible for someone to pack more action into 32 years than Bruce Lee, whose name remains practically synonymous with martial arts excellence and kung-fu movies. He was undoubtedly the forerunner to martial arts stars who came in his wake, including Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan, a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that he grew up as a sickly child. His upbringing was simultaneously one of great privilege and hardship, which had a huge impact on his career down the road; even when he began to fill out his skinny frame, trouble on the streets created a whirlwind set of circumstances that all but required Lee to move to America before he was 20.
Despite being the most famous star of the genre and the man who almost singlehandedly popularized martial arts in the West, the films that helped make Lee a global icon were not even made in the United States but were instead shot and produced in Hong Kong, after which they received large-scale international distribution. Furthermore, for all of his fame, none of Bruce Lee's movies are commonly regarded as masterpieces, and they have always been viewed more as popular entertainment than as significant artistic achievements. Some might be able to name the short list of movies in which he starred and may know that Enter the Dragon (1973) is his most iconic picture, but his movies were never among those considered for Academy Award nominations.
Nonetheless, Bruce Lee has not been neglected by serious scholars of cinema, a fact that attests to the cultural significance of his films and his own star image. That Lee was able to become an international icon is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that he died suddenly and unexpectedly before the age of 33, leaving many to reasonably argue that he had yet to even reach the pinnacle of his career. As it was, the list of accomplishments speaks to his relentless work schedule and unparalleled drive.
Bruce Lee was arguably the greatest martial artist who ever lived, but he's also remembered today for being spiritual and philosophical. In addition to writing at length about those topics, Lee considered those elements essential to his physical fitness and training. In reference to a form of martial arts that came to bear his name, he explained, "Too much time is given to the development of skill and too little to the development of the individual for participation...[Jeet Kune Do] ultimately is not a matter of petty techniques but of highly developed spirituality and physique."
©2012 Charles River Editors (P)2015 Charles River EditorsListeners also enjoyed...
-
Robin
- By: Dave Itzkoff
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations - all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams’ comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt.
-
-
Disappointing but worth a read
- By Joe Moore on 05-18-18
By: Dave Itzkoff
-
The Good Neighbor
- The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
- By: Maxwell King
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton
- Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, The Good Neighbor tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development.
-
-
Fred Rogers was the person you saw on TV
- By Adam Shields on 10-03-18
By: Maxwell King
-
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: The Life, Lessons & Rules for Success
- By: Influential Individuals
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Howard
- Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’re looking to be inspired by someone who has truly made the most of life’s opportunities, then listen to this remarkable story of one of today’s most well-known celebrities. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is best known as a former professional wrestler who later came to dominate Hollywood with a series of blockbuster movies. His powerful on-screen presence and strong physique give the impression that he effortlessly reached global success, yet Dwayne faced a series of challenges and setbacks as he rose to the top.
-
-
A well told story of facts.
- By Brick on 07-16-19
-
Outlaw Marriages
- The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couples
- By: Rodger Streitmatter
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than a century before gay marriage became a hot-button political issue, same-sex unions flourished in America. Pairs of men and pairs of women joined together in committed unions, standing by each other "for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health" for periods of 30 or 40 - sometimes as many as 50 - years. In short, they loved and supported each other every bit as much as any husband and wife. In Outlaw Marriages, cultural historian Rodger Streitmatter reveals how some of these unions didn’t merely improve the quality of life for the two people involved but also enriched the American culture.
-
-
Sames Sex Couples Through History
- By Susie on 12-11-12
-
The Collaborative Habit
- Life Lessons for Working Together
- By: Twyla Tharp
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a career that has spanned four decades, choreographer Twyla Tharp has collaborated with great musicians, designers, thousands of dancers, and almost a hundred companies. She's experienced the thrill of shared achievement and has seen what happens when group efforts fizzle. Her professional life has been - and continues to be - one collaboration after another. In this practical sequel to her national best seller The Creative Habit, Tharp explains why collaboration is important to her - and can be for you.
-
-
Awful narration
- By Anastasia Lattanand on 05-14-16
By: Twyla Tharp
-
James Gandolfini
- The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano
- By: Dan Bischoff
- Narrated by: John Ventimiglia
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano is the first biography of the actor, who died in June 2013 at age 51, widely recognized as one of the best - and most defining - actors of his generation. The audiobook, as performed by Gandolfini's Sopranos co-star John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco), is informed by fresh interviews with Sopranos actors, HBO executives, the star’s acting teachers and coaches, his childhood friends, buddies from his days as a nightclub bouncer, and Hollywood figures including the directors of his posthumously released films.
-
-
The Moving Story of a Man Who Touched Our Lives
- By Susie on 04-14-14
By: Dan Bischoff
-
Robin
- By: Dave Itzkoff
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his rapid-fire stand-up comedy riffs to his breakout role in Mork & Mindy and his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations - all with mercurial, tongue-twisting intensity as he inhabited and shed one character after another with lightning speed. But as Dave Itzkoff shows in this revelatory biography, Williams’ comic brilliance masked a deep well of conflicting emotions and self-doubt.
-
-
Disappointing but worth a read
- By Joe Moore on 05-18-18
By: Dave Itzkoff
-
The Good Neighbor
- The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
- By: Maxwell King
- Narrated by: LeVar Burton
- Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first full-length biography of Fred Rogers, The Good Neighbor tells the story of this utterly unique and enduring American icon. Drawing on original interviews, oral histories, and archival documents, Maxwell King traces Rogers’s personal, professional, and artistic life through decades of work, including a surprising decision to walk away from the show to make television for adults, only to return to the neighborhood with increasingly sophisticated episodes, written in collaboration with experts on childhood development.
-
-
Fred Rogers was the person you saw on TV
- By Adam Shields on 10-03-18
By: Maxwell King
-
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: The Life, Lessons & Rules for Success
- By: Influential Individuals
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Howard
- Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’re looking to be inspired by someone who has truly made the most of life’s opportunities, then listen to this remarkable story of one of today’s most well-known celebrities. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is best known as a former professional wrestler who later came to dominate Hollywood with a series of blockbuster movies. His powerful on-screen presence and strong physique give the impression that he effortlessly reached global success, yet Dwayne faced a series of challenges and setbacks as he rose to the top.
-
-
A well told story of facts.
- By Brick on 07-16-19
-
Outlaw Marriages
- The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couples
- By: Rodger Streitmatter
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than a century before gay marriage became a hot-button political issue, same-sex unions flourished in America. Pairs of men and pairs of women joined together in committed unions, standing by each other "for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health" for periods of 30 or 40 - sometimes as many as 50 - years. In short, they loved and supported each other every bit as much as any husband and wife. In Outlaw Marriages, cultural historian Rodger Streitmatter reveals how some of these unions didn’t merely improve the quality of life for the two people involved but also enriched the American culture.
-
-
Sames Sex Couples Through History
- By Susie on 12-11-12
-
The Collaborative Habit
- Life Lessons for Working Together
- By: Twyla Tharp
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In a career that has spanned four decades, choreographer Twyla Tharp has collaborated with great musicians, designers, thousands of dancers, and almost a hundred companies. She's experienced the thrill of shared achievement and has seen what happens when group efforts fizzle. Her professional life has been - and continues to be - one collaboration after another. In this practical sequel to her national best seller The Creative Habit, Tharp explains why collaboration is important to her - and can be for you.
-
-
Awful narration
- By Anastasia Lattanand on 05-14-16
By: Twyla Tharp
-
James Gandolfini
- The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano
- By: Dan Bischoff
- Narrated by: John Ventimiglia
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano is the first biography of the actor, who died in June 2013 at age 51, widely recognized as one of the best - and most defining - actors of his generation. The audiobook, as performed by Gandolfini's Sopranos co-star John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco), is informed by fresh interviews with Sopranos actors, HBO executives, the star’s acting teachers and coaches, his childhood friends, buddies from his days as a nightclub bouncer, and Hollywood figures including the directors of his posthumously released films.
-
-
The Moving Story of a Man Who Touched Our Lives
- By Susie on 04-14-14
By: Dan Bischoff
-
Cary Grant
- A Biography
- By: Marc Eliot
- Narrated by: Marc Eliot
- Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bringing up Baby. The Philadelphia Story. North by Northwest. An Affair to Remember. When Cary Grant passed away at age 82, fans from every generation mourned. Nearly 20 years later his star shines just as brightly from television and revival-house screens; his name remains synonymous with effortless charm.
-
-
Very Entertaining
- By David on 01-29-05
By: Marc Eliot
-
Tom and Jack
- The Intertwined Lives of Thomas Hart Benton and Jackson Pollock
- By: Henry Adams
- Narrated by: Wayne Thompson
- Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The drip paintings of Jackson Pollock, trailblazing Abstract Expressionist, appear to be the polar opposite of Thomas Hart Benton's highly figurative Americana. Yet the two men had a close and highly charged relationship dating from Pollock's days as a student under Benton. Pollock's first and only formal training came from Benton, and the older man soon became a surrogate father to Pollock.
-
-
I suggest you READ, not listen...
- By Grace O'Malley on 07-01-16
By: Henry Adams
-
The Method
- How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act
- By: Isaac Butler
- Narrated by: Isaac Butler
- Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On stage and screen, we know a great performance when we see it. But how do actors draw from their bodies and minds to turn their selves into art? What is the craft of being an authentic fake? More than a century ago, amid tsarist Russia’s crushing repression, one of the most talented actors ever, Konstantin Stanislavski, asked these very questions, reached deep into himself and emerged with an answer.
-
-
Where is the Thesis?
- By Frances L. on 07-27-22
By: Isaac Butler
-
Paradise Lost
- A Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald
- By: David S. Brown
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Pigeonholed in popular memory as a Jazz Age epicurean, a playboy, and an emblem of the Lost Generation, F. Scott Fitzgerald was at heart a moralist struck by the nation's shifting mood and manners after World War I. In Paradise Lost, David Brown contends that Fitzgerald's deepest allegiances were to a fading antebellum world he associated with his father's Chesapeake Bay roots. Yet as a midwesterner, an Irish Catholic, and a perpetually in-debt author, he felt like an outsider in the haute bourgeoisie haunts.
-
-
The newest definitive Fitzgerald biography
- By Praxia on 01-08-18
By: David S. Brown
-
Ava Gardner
- A Life in Movies
- By: Kendra Bean, Anthony Uzarowski
- Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan
- Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ava is a tribute to a legendary life. Authors Kendra Bean and Anthony Uzarowski take a closer look at the Academy Award-nominated actress' life and famous screen roles. They also shed new light on the creation and maintenance of her glamorous image, her marriages, and friendships with famous figures such as Ernest Hemingway, John Huston, and Tennessee Williams.
-
-
An enjoyable shorter book about Ava
- By Kindle Customer on 04-18-21
By: Kendra Bean, and others
-
The Many Lives of Catwoman
- The Felonious History of a Feline Fatale
- By: Tim Hanley
- Narrated by: Rachel Dulude
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than 75 years, Catwoman has forged her own path in a clear-cut world of stalwart heroes, diabolical villains, and damsels in distress. Her relentless independence across comic books, television, and film set her apart from the rest of the superhero world. When female-led comics were few and far between, Catwoman headlined her own series for over 20 years. But her unique path had its downsides as well.
-
-
Another Foray into Comic Book History
- By Ray M on 08-06-18
By: Tim Hanley
-
Michael Landon
- The Career and Artistry of a Television Genius
- By: David R. Greenland
- Narrated by: Nat Segaloff
- Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Michael Landon was an actor, writer, director, and producer. For over three decades, Michael Landon's creative gifts touched millions of viewers around the world on Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven, and in several other productions. This is the first detailed examination of his work both in front of and behind the camera, including information about every Landon script.
-
-
Michael Landon? = GREAT - Narrator? = Not So Much!
- By Jamie M. on 11-08-20
-
Miyazakiworld
- A Life in Art
- By: Susan Napier
- Narrated by: Susan Napier
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A 13th-century toxic jungle, a bathhouse for tired gods, a red haired fish girl, and a furry woodland spirit - what do these have in common? They all spring from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest living animators, known worldwide for films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and The Wind Rises. Japanese culture and animation scholar Susan Napier explores the life and art of this extraordinary Japanese filmmaker to provide a definitive account of his oeuvre.
-
-
An amazing life
- By Michael Charboneau on 05-20-19
By: Susan Napier
-
Bruce Lee
- A Life
- By: Matthew Polly
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 19 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first authoritative biography of film legend Bruce Lee, who made martial arts a global phenomenon, bridged the divide between Eastern and Western cultures, and smashed long-held stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans. Forty-five years after Bruce Lee’s sudden death at age 32, journalist and best-selling author Matthew Polly has written the definitive account of Lee’s life. It’s also one of the only accounts; incredibly, there has never been an authoritative biography of Lee.
-
-
Best Lee biography to date, but far from great
- By Keith on 03-02-19
By: Matthew Polly
-
Kathleen Turner on Acting
- Conversations About Film, Television, and Theater
- By: Kathleen Turner, Dustin Morrow
- Narrated by: Kathleen Turner, Dustin Morrow
- Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Few actors have had a career as dynamic as that Kathleen Turner's; success has followed her from the television screen to major blockbusters, from indie films to the theater stage. Over her 40-year career, Turner has developed an instinctual knowledge of what it takes to be a successful actor, and, in her conversations with esteemed film professor Dustin Morrow, she shares these lessons with the world.
By: Kathleen Turner, and others
-
Putting the Rabbit in the Hat
- By: Brian Cox
- Narrated by: Brian Cox
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The incredible rags-to-riches story of acclaimed actor Brian Cox, best known as Succession’s Logan Roy, from a troubled, working-class upbringing in Scotland to a prolific career across theatre, film, and television.
-
-
A variety of hats and intriguing rabbits
- By C. A. Cameron on 01-30-22
By: Brian Cox
-
Sidney Poitier
- Man, Actor, Icon
- By: Aram Goudsouzian
- Narrated by: J. D. Jackson
- Length: 20 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the first full biography of actor Sidney Poitier, Aram Goudsouzian analyzes the life and career of a Hollywood legend, from his childhood in the Bahamas to his 2002 Oscar for lifetime achievement. Poitier is a gifted actor, a great American success story, an intriguing personality, and a political symbol; his life and career illuminate America's racial history.
-
-
The Man, the Star, the Lightning Rod
- By Susie on 01-28-13
By: Aram Goudsouzian
Good highlights
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.