Iron and Silk

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Summary: Hope this books gets on high school reading lists
Review: As a Chinese, I read Iron And Silk and am amazed at how much Mark got into the soul of the ordinary Chinese people. Written in simple, elegant language, there were so many enchanting anecdotes in the short-story-like segments, that it moved me to find an American knowing so much about China. As a naturalized American, now raising my children in the U.S., I have seen books such as Joy Luck Club on the reading lists of my children's high school English classes. It disturbs me that Joy Luck Club really presents a psudo, stereotypical China. I hope high school English teachers will take a look at this book, and include Iron And Silk in the reading lists for their students. I want my children to read good books that tell about a real China. In my opinion this book is much better than Joy Luck Club for high school education. The back cover of this book tells me Mark Salzman graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude from Yale in 1982 with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature. This book is much more than a martial arts book. While it is fun to read as a series of short stories on an American martial arts student's journey in China, it really teaches so much about how the Chinese society is. I highly recommend it for high school reading lists.

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Summary: This book is the bomb.
Review: This book is the best book that wasn't fantisy that I have read in awhile. It is teaching you something if you take the time and read the book. Most books that are educational it is boring and dull i was on the edge of my sit the whole time it was deffinitly the book that never thought it would be.THANK YOU MARK FOR THE WOUNDERFUL BOOK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO READING MORE OF THEM SOMETIME SOON HOPFULLY. YOU BIGEST FAN END

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Summary: Not really a martial-arts book, but a beatiful one
Review: Mark Salzman's "Iron & Silk" is a beautiful account of his two-year experience as an English teacher in Hunan Provice, China. The book consists of delightful vignettes of his encounters with different people, from bureaucrats to medical students to fishermen to calligraphers to martial artists, and when each vignette is finished we experience an epiphany because we know so well what the human issues involved are. "Iron & Silk" deserves to be read not as a travelogue or a martial-arts book (it doesn't really compare to C. W. Nicol's "Moving Zen"), but as dignified book full empathy and respect for people who live in a culture that has been shaped by different forces than ours.

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Summary: The voice of Mark Salzman speaks right to my heart.
Review: There is no other writer to whom I look forward with more excitement than Mark Salzman. This book is completely satisfying in story, content, and style. I cared about every character and wanted to hear more and more. A masterpiece!

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Summary: a gem!
Review: a wonderful book for an afternoon read. neither romanticised nor sappy. i would also recommend the film as well, my favourite martial arts movie and no one gets killed! jean claude van dam could take a lesson from this great movie

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Summary: Travel, people, and martial arts - good stuff!
Review: For those beginning to learn about the martial arts or who want to expand their horizons a bit, there are three books you must read: Moving Zen (C.W.Nicol), Autumn Lightning (Dave Lowry), and Iron and Silk (Mark Salzman). Iron and Silk is a solidly written tale of Salzman's journey to China. It details both the physical and mental/spiritual aspects of his journey, and explores not just what but why. I prefer books that engage me rather than just tell me, books that make me feel I am participating rather than receiving. Iron and Silk is such a book.

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Summary: An absolute delight!
Review: Iron & Silk was the only optional book on our list of reading for a Freshman Symposium course on Chinese culture. It turned out to be the only enjoyable book of the lot! Salzman's writing is beautiful, delicate, deeply touching and often humorous. I've been a fan ever since. I was lucky enough to meet him when he visited our college campus, and he is by far more hilarious than any comic I've ever seen! (When queried about symbolism of the book's title, he replied, "I just wanted the title to have two nouns, with an 'and' in between." The look on the professors' faces was priceless!) Salzman's books are a joy to read. Every line should be savored! (And don't miss "Lost in Place" - the delightful and witty account of his youthful fascination with China.)

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Summary: Great movie deserves 5 stars! Horrid DVD deserves none!
Review: Returned this one right away. Lions Gate has produced a full-screen only DVD with no extras! Wow full screen that's new I wonder how it will look on a wide screen TV? Probably pretty cool. The movie is a true story starring the man who lived it, along with a co-star who also lived it. It is a great movie, with a very nice flow, and it should be out on DVD, but not just full screen with no extras (that is what VHS is for). If you are a fan of full screen you should get it get it.

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Summary: A "Non-Ugly American" in China.
Review: To be a well-rounded Sensei, I must continually grow in knowledge as well as technique. To that end, I've been reading a number of books about the martial arts. One part of that genre are the autobiographical accounts of Budo practitioners. I want to gain deeper insight through what others have experienced, learned, and how they changed as a result of martial arts training. "Iron and Silk" is one such tale, written by a man who studied Kung Fu in the USA during the 70s and Wushu in China during the 80s. At a young age, Mark Salzman developed a deep appreciation for Chinese culture, martial arts included (as documented in his other fine non-fiction book "Lost in Place"). "Iron and Silk" chronicles Mr. Salzman's adventures during a two-year stint as an English teacher in China. This book is an easy and fun read, a testament to Mr. Salzman's excellent, flowing writing style and storytelling ability.

Mark Salzman is probably one of the most unique and resourceful contemporary individuals I've had the pleasure to read about. He's always ready to try something new, or step out and build relationships with total strangers. Even during adolescence, his passion for learning, combined with a good work ethic, created many possibilities. His youthful fascination with Chinese culture led to acceptance at Yale, where he majored in Chinese literature. While there, he mastered Mandarin Chinese, which opened a unique door. Despite his obsession with all things Chinese, he had no desire to see China. But in his words, he "did need a job," so he applied for and got a position teaching English at Hunan Medical College in Changsha. Funny how great experiences can come from such pragmatic decisions.

I should state that Mr. Salzman has a somewhat different perspective on the martial arts compared to, say, C.W. Nicol or Robert Twigger. Yes, he shares their fascination with the Budo. But instead of being an all-consuming focus, the fighting arts are just one part of Mr. Salzman's multifaceted life. I wouldn't call him a dilettante, but he didn't seem to have the same level of passion towards the martial Way that the other two men possessed. For example, Mr. Salzman obtains Wushu tutelage from some talented (and even famous) Chinese instructors. However, he isn't on a quest to tame his inner rage (Sensei Nicol), prove himself as a man (Mr. Twigger), or even earn a black belt. Mr. Salzman appears to already possess a solid sense of self, so Wushu is merely another interest. Instead of being a high-stakes means to an urgently desired end, Wushu is one of many activities he enjoys and learns from, like playing the cello, learning Chinese calligraphy, and simply getting to know the Chinese themselves. If I had any issue with "Iron and Silk," it was the absence of any overt character flaws on the part of Mr. Salzman, along with his ability to do just about everything well. Indeed, the Chinese nicknamed him "Huoshenxian" - an immortal in human form - because he was so "different," and made people happy all of the time. I guess I wish I was more like him, or at least knew more people created in his mold.

At any rate, the implied benefit of being centered and having an eclectic approach to life is a running theme in "Iron and Silk." Along those lines, it's more Chinese travelogue than serious immersion into martial arts study. Travel gets me out of my normal introverted shell, and Mr. Salzman's adventures remind me how much I enjoy that practice. He built many interesting relationships just by being open to possibility and respectful towards the various Chinese he encountered. Of course, the Communist government during that period was somewhat of an obstacle, but in most cases he was able to get around them quite nicely, often in a humorous and good-natured manner.

I read "Iron and Silk" in conjunction with "Angry White Pyjamas" by Robert Twigger and "Moving Zen" by C.W. Nicol to get multiple perspectives on martial arts training. It's interesting to compare and contrast Mr. Salzman's 70s and 80s presuppositions and experiences with those of Sensei Nicol in the early 60s and Mr Twigger in the 90s. Each book is a fascinating snapshot of a particular era, culture, and martial art style (Wushu, Aikido, and Karate). But despite their different philosophies, motivations, and levels of immersion, all of these men achieved personal growth and maturation through persevering within the martial arts. I found that to be inspiring, and so I recommend all three books (along with "Lost in Place" for insight into Mr. Salzman's formative years).

Rating:
Summary: WuShu and ShuZhi
Review: If you traveled, or would like to travel to China and be immersed with its culture, then this book will enhance that travel experience.

If your interest for the martial arts is because you appreciate the performing arts, then this book will contribute to that appreciation.

And if you ever taught ESL or learned English as a second language, then you will easily relate to the students' struggles and the sometimes amusing irregularities of English grammar, pronunciation and idioms.

Iron and Silk is on my list of ten books I would take on a desert island. Salzman's writing style sparkles with enthusiasm and the energy of youth; a feeling of discovery for whatever is newly learned; and a view of everyday life experiences with a feel for adventure, a conversion of the mundane into the extraordinary. Salzman not only mastered wu-shu, but he also mastered the written language that emits sparks on every page. Even his daily meditations reverberate with intensity.

This is an ideal book for a young adult who lacks motivation or skills to move onward.