Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee

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.

ISBN-13: 9781250206688

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publication Date: 10-06-2020

Pages: 240

Product Dimensions: 5.60(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)

Shannon Lee is the CEO and Owner of the Bruce Lee Family Companies and President of the Bruce Lee Foundation, as well as the daughter of the legendary martial artist and cultural icon, Bruce Lee. Shannon’s mission is to provide access to her father’s philosophy and life through education and entertainment. She is the creator of Camp Bruce Lee through the Bruce Lee Foundation, and has spoken at TED, TEDx, and Creative Mornings, to name a few. Shannon lives in California with her daughter, Wren, where she co-hosts the Bruce Lee Podcast and executive produces Cinemax’s Warrior.

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

1 The Water Way 11

2 The Empty Cup 33

3 The Eternal Student 56

4 The Opponent 81

5 The Tools 104

6 The Obstacle 132

7 The Rainstorm 150

8 The Living Void 166

9 The Way of the Intercepting Fist 188

10 My Friend 208

Epilogue 225

Acknowledgments 227

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