Shannon Lee

The Teachings of Bruce Lee

Be Water, My Friend

Melanie

When you stop resisting life-even the hard parts of life- then you start to be a part of life, and life takes you under its wing and says to you, "Look. This is how we live." And after a time, you realize you are ready to stop swirling around and around in that little eddy at the riverbank because you know yourself to be the stream, and it becomes safe to let yourself flow forth again.

Anthony

I've been a fan of Bruce Lee for as long as I can remember. My father was a big fan of Green Hornet when I was growing up. The only thing I remember from that show is the character Bruce Lee played: Kato. I had no idea what kung fu was. I had no idea who Bruce Lee was. But for me, he was the star of the show.

Last year I read Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly. It was an exceptional lens into the life of Bruce Lee. A life that was rich, inspiring, and one that ended far too early. It's hard not to be inspired by the things Bruce Lee accomplished in his short time on Earth. He achieved incredible mastery over who he was, a "human, fully expressed."

I have to admit, my admiration for Bruce Lee probably adds an extra star onto this review. Be Water, My Friend actually starts off quite strong. Shannon does a great job distilling written work from Bruce Lee and turning them into consumable chapters of self-help material. It's not all that surprising that the ideas aren't entirely original (what is these days?) as Bruce Lee talked strongly about taking ideas and turning them into your own. He appears to have been quite the master in that regard.

Shannon weaves many practical stories into the philosophical lessons throughout the book. Some come from Bruce Lee's life and some come from here own. This is pretty common with self-help literature. I think it lends to the humanity behind the lessons and serves to drive the lessons home. The stories from Bruce Lee's life certainly aren't as extensive as in Matthew Polly's book but that shouldn't be expected.

The book loses a bit of momentum in the closing chapters. That being said, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I'm happy I picked it up because, like I mentioned, I'm bound to enjoy work related to Bruce Lee. It's been 47 years since he walked the Earth and he continues to influence people around the world.

Originally posted on my blog: https://anthonymorris.dev/books/be-wa...

Keven Wang

Jessica Sennebogen

Bruce Lee’s daughter illuminates her father’s most powerful life philosophies—demonstrating how martial arts are a perfect metaphor for personal growth, and how we can practice those teachings every day. "Empty your mind; be formless, shapeless like water." Bruce Lee is a cultural icon, renowned the world over for his martial arts and film legacy. But Lee was also a deeply philosophical thinker, learning at an early age that martial arts are more than just an exercise in physical discipline—they are an apt metaphor for living a fully realized life. Now, in Be Water, My Friend, Lee’s daughter Shannon shares the concepts at the core of his philosophies, showing how they can serve as tools of personal growth and self-actualization. Each chapter brings a lesson from Bruce Lee’s teachings, expanding on the foundation of his iconic “be water” philosophy. Over the course of the book, we discover how being like water allows us to embody fluidity and naturalness in life, bringing us closer to our essential flowing nature and our ability to be powerful, self-expressed, and free. Through previously untold stories from her father’s life and from her own journey in embodying these lessons, Shannon presents these philosophies in tangible, accessible ways. With Bruce Lee’s words as a guide, she encourages readers to pursue their essential selves and apply these ideas and practices to their everyday lives—whether in learning new things, overcoming obstacles, or ultimately finding their true path. Be Water, My Friend is an inspirational invitation to us all, a gentle call to action to consider our lives with new eyes. It is also a testament to how one man's exploration and determination transcended time and place to ignite our imaginations—and to inspire many around the world to transform their lives.

Be Water, My Friend The Teachings of Bruce Lee

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