(Note: This is still a work in progress.)

Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco on November 27th, 1940.  Raised in Hong Kong, he returned to the United States in 1959.  After attending the University of Washington as a philosphy major, Lee established a Gung Fu institue in Oakland, California, in 1964, to teach the art he later named Jeet Kune Do.  From a young age, and throughout his seven-year television and film career, he wrote prodigiously on all topics that attracted his interest -- particularly philosophy. 

Bruce Lee flashed brilliantly like a meteor through the world of martial arts and motion pictures.  Then, on July 20th, 1973, in Hong Kong, like a meteor -- he vanished, extinguised by sudden death due to a cerebral edema.  He was just 32.

Bruce Lee began his martial arts studies with Wing Chun, under the tutelage of the late Yip Man, to alleviate the personal insecurity instilled by Hong Kong city life.  Perhaps because his training eveloped him to the point of fanaticism, he was eventually able to refine, distill and mature into a philosopher, technician and innovator of the martial arts.

After intensive study of different martial arts styles and theories, Lee developed a concept of martial arts for the individual man.  This concept he later labeled Jeet Kune Do, the way of the intercepting fist.  It has antecedents not only in his physical training and volumninous martial arts library (over two thousand books), but in his formal education as well (a philosphy major at the University of Washington, Seattle).

Lee also combined his martial arts expertise with his knowledge of acting skills and cinematic techniques, starring in several motion pictures: The Big Boss, Fists of Fury, Way of the Dragon and Enter the Dragon.

Timeline

1940 November 27
San Francisco- In the The Year of the Dragon between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. (the hour of the dragon), Lee Jun Fan (meaning return again Lee), Bruce Lee is born at the Jackson Street Hospital in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Lee Hoi Chuen, Bruce's father, was performing with the Cantonese Opera Company in America.
At three months old, Bruce debuts in "Golden Gate Girl" in San Francisco.
He plays role of a female baby, carried by his father.

1941
Hong Kong - Bruce and his parents return to Kowloon, their family home. They move into an apartment at 218 Nathan Road, Kowloon district. The apartment is located on the second floor of a building containing a store on the first floor.

1946
Hong Kong - Bruce makes his first major childhood movie in The Beginning of a Boy. He also performs in The Birth of Mankind, and My Son, Ah Cheun. During the later years of his childhood, Bruce appears in 20 more films. At this time Lee also becomes nearsighted and starts to wear glasses. (He will later wear contacts, suggested to him by a friend who is an optometrist.)

1952
Hong Kong - Lee begins attending La Salle College, a Catholic Boys school.

1953
Attended St. Xavier College - a high school. Hong Kong - After being beaten up in a street gang altercation, Bruce begins to take Gung-Fu lessons. He begins to train under Yip Man, master of the Wing Chun system of Gung-Fu.

1954
Hong Kong - Bruce takes up cha-cha dancing.

1958
Studied Wing Chun with Wong Shun Leung.
Hong Kong - Bruce wins the Crown Colony Cha-Cha Championship. Bruce has a leading role in the film The Orphan. This is the last movie Bruce makes as a child actor. This is the only movie where Bruce does not fight. Hong Kong - Bruce enters the 1958 Boxing Championships and defeats the reigning three year champion, Gary Elms.

1959
Hong Kong - Bruce's street fighting was becoming a problem.  Bruce's father and mother decide that Bruce should take a three week voyage to the United States. San Francisco California, Chinatown. Lee returns to his birth-place to claim his American Citizenship. San Francisco - Seattle - With $15 from his father, and $100 from his mother, Bruce arrives in the United States, living with an old friend of his father. He works odd jobs around the various Chinese communities. Moved to Seattle to work for Ruby Chow, another friend of his father. He lives in a room above her restaurant while working as a waiter downstairs. He eventually enrolls in Edison Technical School and earns his high school diploma. Bruce begins to teach his Martial Arts. 

1961
Seattle- Bruce enrolls at the University of Washington, studying Philosophy. He teaches Gung-Fu to students at school.

1963 Summer
Hong Kong - Bruce proposes to Amy Sanbo but is turned down. Bruce returns to Hong Kong with friend Doug Palmer for the first time since his arrival in the U.S. to visit family. He then returns to Seattle at the end of summer to continue his education. 

1963 October 25
Seattle - Bruce takes out Linda Emery (his future wife) for their first date. They have dinner at the Space Needle. Bruce gives notice to Ruby Chow and leaves her restaurant. He starts the first Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute.

1963 Fall
Seattle - Bruce moves his Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute into a building (4750 University Way) near the university campus. Wrote the book Chinese Gung Fu: The philosophical art of self defense. Lee teaches anyone of any race, (Asian Martial Arts schools would only teach people of their own race) At Garfield High School, Bruce demonstrates the "One-Inch Punch". This is the punch he would later make famous at the 64' Long Beach Internationals.

1964
Bruce meets Jhoon Rhee at the International Karate Championships. The two would remain good friends and Lee would use the high flashy kicks that Rhee taught him in the Green Hornet series and in the rest of his movies. While he believed that kicking a man in the head was like punching him in the foot, he knew the kicks looked good on film even if they were impractical for real self defense.
(Jhoon Rhee will invite Bruce to Washington, D.C. to appear at tournaments.)

1964 June
Oakland - Bruce discusses with James Yimm Lee plans to open a second Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute in Oakland, CA.

1964 Summer
Oakland - Plans are finalized, and Bruce leaves Seattle to start a second Jun Fan Gung-Fu school in Oakland.
James Yimm Lee is Co Instructor, the only person who ever received equal with Bruce Lee teaching status.

1964 August 2
Long Beach, CA - Ed Parker, known as the Father of American Kenpo and also Elvis Presley’s body-guard and karate teacher, invites Bruce to give a demonstration. Bruce shows off his "one-inch punch," and his two-finger push-ups. At his first International Karate Championships, Jay Sebring, the hair stylist for Batman, William Dozier, a producer, who is looking to cast a part in a TV series he was developing. Sebring then gives a film of Bruce's demo to Dozier who is impressed with Bruce’s abilities. Bruce flies down to Los Angeles for a screen test.

1964 August 4
Oakland - Bruce leaves for Seattle. He will propose to Linda.

1964 August 17
Bruce returns to Seattle to marry Linda. They soon move to Oakland, living with his good friend and Co Instructor at the Oakland school James Lee.

1965
Oakland - Several months after he begins teaching, he is challenged by, Wong Jack Man, a  Gung-Fu practitioner in the Chinatown Community. They agree: If Bruce looses, he will, either close his school, or stop teaching non Asians or white ghosts; and if Jack looses, he will stop teaching all together. Jack Man thinking Lee is a blow hard, feels he will back down and delays the match. Bruce becomes angered and insists that they not wait. Wong then tries to put limitations on techniques. Bruce refuses "rules" and the two go no holds barred. Bruce begins to pound his opponent in only a couple of seconds. As Bruce pounds him, Wong attempts to run, but is caught by Bruce.
Bruce begins to beat him on the ground. Students of the other teacher attempted to step in and help their teacher, James Lee, Bruce's good friend and body builder prevents this. Later he is bothered on why the fight took so long and begins to re-evaluate his style. He is determined to fix the problems with gung fu. Jeet Kune Do (JKD), "The art of the intercepting fist" is born. JKD is an art including techniques from American Boxing, Wing Chun, and French Fencing. Bruce is signed to a one-year option for The Green Hornet. He is paid an $1800 retainer.

1965 February 1
Oakland, CA - Brandon Bruce Lee is born.

1965 February 8
Hong Kong - Bruce's father passes away in Hong Kong. Bruce returns to Hong Kong for his father’s funeral. As tradition dictates, in order to obtain forgiveness for not being present when his father died, Bruce crawls on his knees across the floor of the funeral home towards the casket wailing loudly and crying.

1965 May
Bruce uses the retainer money from the Green Hornet and flies himself, Linda, and Brandon back to Hong Kong in order to settle his father's estate affairs. While in Hong Kong, Bruce takes Brandon to see Yip Man to persuade him to perform on tape. Bruce wants to take the footage back to Seattle and show his students what the man looks like in action. Yip man declines the offer.

1965 September
Seattle - Bruce, Linda, Brandon return to Seattle.

1966
Los Angeles - Bruce and family move to Los Angeles to an apartment on Wilshire and Gayley in Westwood.

This is where he begins working on a new TV series called The Green Hornet as Kato. The Green Hornet series starts filming and Bruce is Paid $400 per episode, where Lee perfects his famous flashy kicks taught to him by Jhoon Rhee. Bruce buys a 1966 blue Chevy Nova.
He later opens third branch of the Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute in Los Angeles' Chinatown.

1966 September 9
Los Angeles - The Green Hornet series premiers.

1967-1971
Hollywood - During this time, Bruce lands bit parts in various films and T.V. series. He also gives private lessons for up to $250 an hour to personalities Steve McQueen, James Coburn, James Garner, Lee Marvin, Roman Polanski, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Bruce meets Chuck Norris in New York at the All American Karate Championships in Washington D.C. Chuck fights Joe Lewis and wins.

1967
Washington, D.C. - Bruce meets Joe Lewis at The Mayflower Hotel while both were guests at the 67' National Karate Championships. Joe is competing in the tournament and Bruce is making special appearances as Kato.

1967 February
Los Angeles - Bruce opens a 3rd school at 628 College Street, Los Angeles, CA. Dan Inosanto serves as assistant instructor.

1967 July 14
Los Angeles - The last episode of The Green Hornet Series airs.

1969 April 19
Santa Monica, CA Shannon Lee is born.

1969
A scriptwriter is hired and paid $12K by Stirling Silliphant and James Coburn to write a script for the Silent Flute. (Later to be played by David Caradine) The script produced is unacceptable, and no other scriptwriter could seen to do the job. They then decide to write it themselves.

1970
Los Angeles - Bruce injures his sacral nerve lifting weights and experiences severe muscle spasms in his back.. Doctors told him that he would never kick again. They were wrong, but Lee suffered pain almost constantly. During the months of recovery he starts to document his training methods and his philosophy of Jeet Kune Do.  Later published as The Tao of Jeet June Do.
Hong Kong - Bruce and Brandon fly to Hong Kong and are welcomed by fans of The Green Hornet Show.
Bruce sends Unicorn to talk to Run Run Shaw on his behalf and inform Shaw that he would be willing to do a movie for him for $10K. Shaw makes counter-offer of a seven year contract and $2K per film which Bruce declines.

1971 February
India - Bruce, James Coburn, Stirling Silliphant fly to India to scout locations for The Silent Flute. They spend one month searching but are forced to call off the search as Coburn backs out of the project. This trip gives Bruce the idea for Game of Death, where a fighter, mastering in several techniques, will go from one level to the next in a temple: the first level (the level of weaponry), the second level (the level of the nine degree black belt), and the third level ( "The level of the unknown.")

1971
Hong Kong. - Bruce takes a short trip back to Hong Kong to arrange for his mother to live in the U.S. Unknowingly to him, he had become a superstar for The Green Hornet was one of the most popular TV shows in Hong Kong. Later, he is approached by Raymond Chow, owner of a new production company, and offered the lead role in a new film called The Big Boss. Bruce accepts. Bruce is supplied with small apartment at 2 Man Wan Road - Kowloon, HK. Brandon attends La Salle College. The same school Bruce attended only 15 years before. Bruce is interviewed by Canadian talk show host Pierre Berton for a TV program being filmed in Hong Kong.

1971 July
Thailand - Filming begins for The Big Boss (released in the U.S. as Fists of Fury). The Big Boss opens in Hong Kong to great reviews and mobs of fans. Proceeds to gross more than $3.5 million in little than three weeks.

1971 December 7
Hong Kong - Bruce receives telegram, notifying him that he had not been chosen for the part in the upcoming series, The Warrior. This series was later released as Kung-Fu, staring David Caradine, as the studios felt that the American public would not accept an Asian in a leading role on television. Kung Fu aired as ABC-TVs Movie of the Week on February 21, 1972.

1972
Hong Kong - Fist of Fury (released in the U.S. as The Chinese Connection) is released. It grosses more than The Big Boss and further establishes Bruce as a Hong Kong superstar. Bruce gets a larger budget, a larger salary, and more power of directing in this film. Bruce begins work on Game of Death and films several fight scenes including Dan Inosanto and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bruce appears on Hong Kong's TVB channel for a hurricane disaster relief benefit. In a demo Bruce performs, he breaks 4 out of 5 boards, one of which is hanging in the air with a line of string. Brandon even performs and breaks a board with a sidekick!
Rome, Italy - Location shots are made for Bruce's third film The Way of the Dragon (released in the U.S. as The Return of the Dragon). This time Bruce gets almost complete control the movie, which he writes, directs, and stars. Chuck Norris is Bruce's adversary in the final fight scene. Again, this film surpasses all records set by his previous two films.

1972 December 30
Oakland – James Yimm Lee, dies of Black Lung disease from his years of welding.

1973 February
Hong Kong - Bruce gets his chance at American stardom as filming of Enter the Dragon begins while Game of Death is put on hold. It is the first-ever production between the U.S. and Hong Kong film industries. On February 20, Bruce is guest of honor at St. Francis Xavier's school for Sports Day ceremonies.

1973
Hong Kong - Filming of Enter the Dragon is completed. Bruce is at Golden Harvest Studios in Hong Kong dubbing his voice for "Enter The Dragon". The air conditioners had been turned off, so the microphones won't pick them up. The temperature soared. Bruce takes a break looping lines to go to the bathroom and splash water on his face.
In he bathroom, he passes out on the bathroom floor. He revives twenty minutes later just as assistant sent to find out what was keeping him walks in and discovers him on the ground. He tries to conceal his collapse by acting as though he has dropped his glasses on the floor and is searching for them and is helped up by the assistant. As they are walking back to the dubbing room, Bruce collapses again and is rushed to a nearby hospital.

1973 July 10
Hong Kong - Bruce Lee is walking through the Golden Harvest Studios and overhears Lo Wei in a nearby room bad mouthing him. He confronts Lo Wei who retreats and summons the local police. When the police arrive Lo Wei falsely accuses Bruce of threatened him with a knife concealed in his belt buckle. He further insists that Bruce sign a statement that he will not harm him. Bruce signs the statement to get Lo Wei off his back although Lo Wei lied to the police and Bruce never had a knife nor threatened to kill him. That same day, Bruce appears on the Hong Kong TV show, Enjoy Yourself Tonight with host Ho Sho Shin. Bruce alludes to his problems with director Lo Wei, but does not mention him by name. Bruce is asked to display his physical prowess and demonstrates his abilities. Bruce demonstrates a technique and Shin is knocked across the stage.

1973 July 16
Hong Kong - Heavy rains fall caused by a typhoon off the coast of Hong Kong. Bruce makes a $200 phone call to speak to Unicorn in his hotel room, who is filming a movie in Manila. Bruce tells Unicorn that he is worried about the many headaches he is experiencing.

1973 July 20
Hong Kong -  Early that morning Bruce types a letter to his attorney, Adrian Marshall, detailing business ventures he wants to discuss on his upcoming trip to Los Angeles. Bruce had tickets already set to return to the US for a publicity tour and was scheduled to appear on the Johnny Carson show. Raymond Chow goes by Bruce's house and the two discuss plans for their upcoming movie Game of Death. Linda kisses Bruce good-bye and says she is going out to run some errands and will see him later that night. Raymond and Bruce visit Betty Ting Pei at her apartment to discuss her role in Game of Death. That evening plans had been made for them all to meet George Lazenby over dinner and enlist him for a part. Bruce explains that he has a headache, takes a prescription pain killer offered by Betty, and lies down on her bed to rest prior to dinner. Raymond Chow departs and says that he will meet them later. Raymond Chow and George Lazenby meet at a restaurant and await Bruce and Betty's arrival, but the two never show up. At 9:00 p.m. Chow receives a call from Betty; she said that she has tried to wake Bruce up but he won't come to. Betty summons her personal physician who fails to revive Bruce and who has Bruce taken to the hospital. Bruce does not revive and is pronounced dead. Bruce Lee dies in Hong Kong of an apparent cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). Doctors declared the death of Bruce Lee as "death by misadventure." The premier of Enter the Dragon was pushed back by four days due to the actors death.

1973 July 25
Hong Kong - A funeral ceremony is held for in Hong Kong over 25,000 people were in attendance.
Bruce is dressed in the Hifu he wore in Enter the Dragon.

1973 July 30
After a smaller second ceremony in Seattle, Washington at Butterworth Funeral Home on East Pine Street, Bruce Lee is buried at Lake View Cemetery. His pallbearers included Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Dan Inosanto, Taky Kimura, Peter Chin, and Robert Lee his brother.

1973 August 24
Hollywood California - Enter The Dragon premiers at Graumann's Chinese Theater.

Books

Tao Of Jeet Kune Do
by Bruce Lee (1975)

After intensive study of different martial arts styles and theories, Bruce Lee developed a concept of martial arts for the individual man which he labeled Jeet Kune Do, the way of the intercepting fist.  This international best-seller explains the philosophic basis of Jeet Kune Do in the original words and drawings of the late martial artist and film star himself.  Lee's views on Zen, physical training, combat, martial virtues and failings, and many other topics are all presented here.  In Tao of Jeet Kune Do, Lee integrates his philosophy of martial arts with his philosophy of living.

Chinese Gung Fu
The Philosophical Art of SELF-DEFENSE
by Bruce Lee (1963)

Bruce Lee's Fighting Method
Self-Defense Techniques - Volume 1
by Bruce Lee and M. Uyehara (1976)

The only record of Lee's incomparable Jeet Kune Do style begins with Volume 1.  Here, carefully compiled and fully illustrated with photos, are techniques of how to survive attacks on the street.  Defenses against surprise attacks, against armed and unarmed assailants, against one attacker or many, and techniques to be used when in a vulnerable position, are among the topics covered by the legend whos fighting methods were as practical as they were efficient.

Bruce Lee's Fighting Method
Basic Training - Volume 2
by Bruce Lee and M. Uyehara (1977)

The originator of Jeet Kune Do sets forth an intelligent, well-rounded and tremendously effective series of techniques through which the martial arts student can achieve rare combinations of power, speed and overall physical conditioning.  This fully illustrated book covers the fighting man's excercise system, the on-guard position, footwork, power training, and speed training including the nontelegraphic punch and training in awareness.

Bruce Lee's Fighting Method
Skill In Techniques - Volume 3
by Bruce Lee and M. Uyehara (1977)

To help the student refine and polish his self-defense techniques as well as make use of the well-conditioned body, Bruce Lee teaches how to develop skills in body movement, in hand techniques, kicking, parrying, striking vital target points, and sparring.  Lee also compares the classical methods of hand techniques and parrying with the methods of Jeet Kune Do and clarifies the differences.

Bruce Lee's Fighting Method
Advanced Techniques - Volume 4
by Bruce Lee and M. Uyehara (1977)

Intended primarily for the student who has already availed himself of the first three volumes, Bruce Lee presents the advanced tehniques of his fighting method.  All fully illustrated, chapters include: Hand Techniques for Offense Attacks With Kicks, Defense and Counter, and Attributes and Tactics, which includes a comparison of the mechanical versus the intelligent fighter.

The Bruce Lee Library
Words of the Dragon - Volume 1
Interviews, 1958-1973
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1997)

Here they are, available for the first time in one collection, Bruce Lee's conversations with the press from 1958 to 1973.  Words of the Dragon is a anthology of rare newspaper and magazine interviews with Bruce Lee, many not previously published in the United States, revealing new words and explanations of Bruce about himself, his art, and philosophy.

Interesting and insightful, Words of the Dragon provides the reader a means to understand the real Bruce Lee, offering us a unique keyhold through which to view the private life and personal struggles of the late martial arts superstar.  These interviews provide us with Lee's own interpretations of life, the martial arts, international stardom, and his cross-cultural marriage during a time of racism.

The Bruce Lee Library
The Tao of Gung Fu - Volume 2
A Study In The Way Of Chinese Martial Art
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1997)

This is a book that Bruce Lee began writing in 1964, but never published.  While written over 30 years ago, its publication now is truly a landmark event, as it not only offeres glimpses into the many martial arts of China but also offers Lee's own interpretations and comments on these arts.

Available for the first time, The Tao of Gung Fu includes not only insights into and descriptions of various Chinse martial arts, but Eastern and Western fitness methodologies, the differences between external and internal martial methods, sketches of martial arts and self-defense techniques, a contrast of various gung fu schools in China, Lee's personal scrapbook, and his famous thesis "The Tao of Gung Fu", which he wrote while attending the University of Washington.

The Bruce Lee Library
Jeet Kune Do - Volume 3
Bruce Lee's Commentaries On The Martial Way
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1997)

In 1970, Bruce Lee suffered a back injury which confined him to bed.   Rather than allowing this to slow his growth as a martial artist he read feverishly on Eastern philosophy and Western psychology, constructing his own views on the totality of combat and life.  It was during this time that Lee wrote 7 volumes containing his thoughts, ideas, opinions, and research into the art of unarmed combat, and how it applies to everyday life.  Some of this material was posthumously published in 1975, but much more existed.  This lost material is now available for the first time.

This landmark book serves as a complete presentation of Bruce Lee's art of Jeet Kune Do.  The development of his unique martial art form, its principles, core techniques, and lesson plans are presented here in Lee's own words.  It also features Lee's illustrative sketches and his remarkable treatise on the nature of combat, success through martial arts, and the importance of a positive mental attitude in training.  In addition, there are a series of "Questions Every Martial Artist Must Ask Himself", that Lee posed to himself and intended to explore as part of his own development, but never lived to complete.  Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way is the book every Bruce Lee fan must have.

The Bruce Lee Library
The Art Of Expressing The Human Body - Volume 4
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1998)

The Art of Expressing the Human Body, a title coined by Bruce Lee to describe his approach to martial art, documents the techniques he used so effectively to reach his potential.  Drawing directly from Bruce Lee's copious training records and notes, rather than from anecdote, John Little has set out in meticulous detail the ever evolving regimen employed by the most popular martial artist of our time.  With prefatory comments by Bruce's friend and training partner Allen Joe and Linda Lee Cadwell, this book sets out Bruce's general thoughts on perfecting the body for superior health and dazzling muscularity.  Included are Bruce Lee's specific routines to attain those goals, as well as thoughts on nutrition and fueling the body, stretching, running, interval training, and cardiovascular development.

In addition to serving as record of Bruce Lee's own training, The Art of Expressing the Human Body, with its easy-to-understand and simple-to-follow training routines, is a valuable source book for those who seek dramatic improvement in their health, conditioning, physcial fitness, and appearance.

The Bruce Lee Library
Letters of the Dragon - Volume 5
Correspondence, 1958-1973
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1998)

Letters of the Dragon: Correspondence, 1958-1973 is a fascinating glimpse of the private Bruce Lee behind the public image -- a man with the patience and concern to dedicate as much effort to crafting a thoughtful personal answer to the letter of a young fan as to those from his old friends and associates; an extremely active man never too busy to make time for an old family friend in need of simple companionship; a man who never wrote wihtout careful thought, and never thought from the head alone, but always from the head and heart together.  The letters in this inpiring book track Bruce Lee's career and development from his decision, made while he was still in secondary school, to move to the U.S. to further his education, through the many setbacks, rededicated efforts, and triumphs of life that shaped his martial art and humanity, all the way to the last letter he ever composed, just hours before his sudden death.

After absorbing the letters in this volume, the reader will inevitably find that the private Bruce Lee was every bit as great as the public Bruce Lee, and deeper and broader by far.  Letters of the Dragon: Correspondence, 1958-1973 is conclusive evidence that a life lived well is never a life too short.

The Bruce Lee Library
Artist Of Life
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1999)

Bruce Lee has been recognized for over a quarter of a century primarily for his physical skills and the tactical principles he refined and taught in the art of unarmed combat.  But as Bruce Lee, Artist of Life reveals, such a limited perspective is completely misleading, Lee was a man who was equal parts poet, philosopher, scientist (of mind and body), actor, producer, director, author, choreographer, martial artist, husband, father, and friend - an intense man with such sheer concentration of benevolent energy that no one who encountered him, on screen or in person, could help but be willingly drawn to him and his enthusiasm for life and knowledge.  Lee was a voracious and engaged reader, who annotated his reading material extensively and returned again and again to ideas that struck a chord, synthesizing the most acute thought of the East and the West into his own unique and useful personal philosophy of self-discovery.

In this volume of the Bruce Lee Library, John Little has collected Lee's writings on both martial art and the art of living and growing wisely and well.  With an introduction by Linda Lee Cadwell, Bruce Lee, Artist of Life explores the development and fruition of Bruce Lee's thought about gung fu, philosophy, psychology, poetry, Jeet Kune Do, acting, and self-knowledge, and is capped by a selection of letters written by Lee that eloquently demonstrate how he incorporated his thought into his actions and into his advise to his friends and correspondents.  Little has included multiple drafts of some of Lee's compositions, so that the reader can see how Lee's thought evolved and was refined over the years and how the ideas he was reading and writing about were reflected in the body of his work as an actor and martial artist and in his everyday life.

Bruce Lee: Words From A Master
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (1998)

The modern era can claim few heroes as powerful and enduring as Bruce Lee.  His philosphy trancended the world of martial arts he dominated, and his thoughts and beliefs have inpired and influenced individual from all walks of life for more than half a century.  To some, Lee was the outside who crashed Hollywood's gates and introduced Americans to action films.  To others, he was the bold and capable pioneer who successfully challenged centuries of martial arts tradition.  Still others revered him as a contemporary philosopher and visionary.  Today, a new generation has discovered Lee as a model of discipline, strength, and wisdom.

Within these pages, the reader will find insight and inspiration in Bruce Lee's own words, in rare interviews never before published in book form, with all-new commentary by the original interviewers.  More than twenty-five years after his death, Lee's words still resonate, speaking truths that are as essential today as ever before.

The Bruce Lee Library
Striking Thoughts
Wisdom for Daily Living
by Bruce Lee, edited by John Little (2000)

With over 800 entries, covering more than 70 topics from spirituality to personal liberation and from family life to film-making, Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living is an amazing direct transmission of the beliefs Bruce Lee lived by.  His reading and his writing energized his own phenomenal life and career, helping him to overcome huge obstacles with seeming ease and to live a happy and assured life.  In his lifetime, Bruce Lee inspired his family, friends, students and colleagues to cut through doubt and fog in their own lives.  Now Striking Thoughts makes his inspiration and wisdom available to all of us.

• The point is the doing -- The point is the doing rather than the accomplishments.  There is no actor but the action -- there is no experiencer but experience.
• In solitude you are least alone -- In solitude you are least alone.  Make good use of it.
• Defeat is temporary -- Defeat simply tells me that something is wrong in my doing, it is a path leading to success and truth.

Striking Thoughts is a call to the spirit from a man who attended closely to his own inner life and who worked hard to live by his understanding.  Within the pages of Striking Thoughts you will find the secret of Bruce Lee's amazing success as an actor, a martial artist, and an icon to the world.  Drawing from the wisest minds of Western psychology and philosophy as well as from the wisdom of Asia -- especially from Taoism and Zen Buddhism -- and filtering all through his razor keen intellect and profound compassion, Bruce has left a great legacy, a book for all who have sought truth but not yet found it.