Friday, July 04, 2025

Book Review - Be Water My Friend

Several months ago, a fellow martial artist recommended a book, which I bought and had on my desk to read, titled "Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee" by the Author and his Daughter, Shannon Lee. You don't have to be a Martial Artist to appreciate and get value from this book.

This was a very insightful reading. I love how she wove his teachings into various stories and real-life examples. I also appreciated how she incorporated his philosophy into self-care, extending beyond just martial arts. I was so impressed that I went out and bought the box set of Bruce's Movies to see what she was referring to. I have seen these movies a lot over the years, but it was good to see them from a different perspective.  

Many people only think of Bruce Lee as an action star, but he was also a deep thinker and quick to embrace people as friends, regardless of Race, color, or other differences. He truly lived his life to the fullest.  

In her book, I felt the most fantastic example of Bruce's impact on human existence was the statue they erected in Bosnia after their civil war. He had no cultural ties to Bosnia, but the leaders said, "One thing we all have in common is Bruce Lee."  Shannon indicated that "He was seen as a symbol of someone who bridged cultures and brought people together and made them feel uplifted."

After reading this book, I came away with the impression that Shannon has learned a lot more about her dad than most people generally know about their parents. Granted, her dad was very special and documented a lot, along with her mother maintaining his legacy, but that doesn't mean that we can't also be special. What legacy will you leave your kids, family, and Friends?