The Pocket Essential Bruce Lee by Simon B. Kenny

Bruce Lee is a deserving subject of an essential guide but this just isn’t essential enough. Lee brought a dancer’s grace to martial arts and the martial arts movie – he was the Fred Astaire of asskicking. But this book concentrates too evenly on all sections of the life of the Baryshnikov of battery. The parts that analyse his efforts to improve his fighting skills are worth reading. The parts that summarise every episode of his TV show The Green Hornet are not since they all say The Green Hornet and Kato: smash a drugs ring/ foil an art heist/ uncover an MP’s expense claims, etc. Too much emphasis is also put on the Gene Kelly of GBH as a philosopher. His thoughts were admirably egalitarian, but lack complexity. Later, when the book gets to the part where the Nureyev of nunchucks became a film star, there are some good anecdotes. However, the speculation about his early death just adds to the mystery. If you do want to read a book about the, um… George Sampson of giant fly kicks, there are better books available. [Keir Hind]