How Rhodes Scholars Think

Dear Friends,

For most of the publishing world, October 2nd represents the release of Stephen Colbert's America Again. But for those of you who are citizens of The Polly Nation, tomorrow is the glorious day when the paperback version of Tapped Out drops like the Hammer of Thor, because unlike the photoshopped bruises on Colbert's cover, I actually got punched in the face for mine. Basically, I'm just like Stephen, only more bloody and less funny.

The reviews for Tapped Out have been very positive. The New York Times called it "Hypnotic." Sports Illustrated said it was "A vivid, breezy read." AndThe Bleacher Report declared it "The Best MMA Book of 2011." As part of the media tour, I had the chance to do a podcast with June Thomas at Slate, banter with Bas Rutten on Inside MMA, and join Ariel Helwani for a roundtable on The MMA Beat. 

To celebrate the paperback release, my publisher is offering a special deal: a signed, personalized copy of the paperback for $15 (including shipping in the U.S.) to the first 25 people who email me. Tell me how you'd like it personalized, and I'll hit you back with a paypal request.

For those of you who already have a copy, thank you. Feel free to follow me on Twitter or Facebook. And if you want to tweet about the paperback release, call up all your friends, or, say, forward this email to your entire contact list, who am I to object. Spread the good news.

Cheers,

Matthew Polly

Matthew Polly (Princeton University, 1995, B.A., Religion and East Asian Studies; University of Oxford, 1998, M.A., Politics and Philosophy; Rhodes Scholar) presents himself to the world as an endearingly shambolic doofus in his wonderfully entertaining books, though he is clearly as sharp as a tack.

Five years ago he reached out over the interwebs with a gracious thank you when his first title (American Shaolin) won our prestigious El Grupo award (see Icons passim). Subsequently he also generously engaged the left half of his brain to answer some of my questions about Bodhidharma.

I've already read his new book, but when the email above dropped into my inbox this morning, I had no hesitation in passing it on (with a hearty recommendation) to anyone who happens upon this spoondrift.

Bruce Lee: A life

Dear Friends,

After seven years of research, I am proud (and very relieved) to announce the release of my new biography, Bruce Lee: A Life. It is available everywhere today, June 5! First week sales numbers largely determine how much marketing push a publisher puts behind a particular book, so if you can purchase it early, a big thanks to you!

The response to the book has been amazing. It was selected for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Publisher's Weekly's "Best Summer Books" lists. And the reviews have been glowing:

"The first noteworthy treatment of its subject—and a definitive one at that...Fascinating narrative threads proliferate."

—The New York Times

"The biggest book I'm suggesting you bring to the beach is 'Bruce Lee: A Life.' It's the first authoritative biography of the martial arts teacher and movie star."

—The Los Angeles Times

"This thorough, well-sourced biography from Polly is an engrossing examination of the life of the martial arts movie star and his shocking early death...The definitive biography."

—Publisher's Weekly

You also might enjoy the new animated trailer for the book. It focuses on one of its many new revelations—Bruce Lee was descended from a Jewish butcher in Rotterdam, Holland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjNuzbQIF48

Thank you to everyone for all your support over the years. It is greatly appreciated. I couldn't do it without you!

Be water, my friends,

Matthew Polly

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Disclaimer: Mr Polly is a friend and correpondent of these pages; See Icons passim.

The History of Mr Polly

The latest meeting of "El Grupo" is not until later tonight but, as Dave and Chris have already nominated their choices for the commingling after that, I may as well shoot my load.

Inspired by this article in The Times, I nominate American Shaolin:

P. J. O'Rourke 'I loved AMERICAN SHAOLIN. Reading it was like being abducted by an alien - a brilliant, funny and hospitable alien'
Dan Rather 'Tells more about what's going on in China, has more insights into the real China, than anything in recent years'

I'm already interested in the Bodhidhama, the Indian monk who seems to have been pivotal to the development of Zen and the Shaolin temple. so I may learn some more about that from the book, but I'm also partial to travelogues with jokes.

Rather sportingly, according to his website, the book's author Matthew Polly is "happy to answer a few questions by email or schedule a 30-minute conference by speakerphone when you’re reading American Shaolin!" That might be fun.

Serendipitously, given the amount of time I spend at Jackapong, here he is on Muay Thai - my boy's hobby - in Slate earlier this month.

Hunan, All Too Hunan

Last August, when the profit burglar and I visited The Dragon Castle we dined Cantonese style, leaving Anhui, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Szechuan and Zhejiang on our to-do list of the "Eight Great Traditions" of Chinese cuisine.

This week, we visited Hunan in Pimlico; an establishment - like the Sappho Meze Bar - that does not have a menu. On arrival we were issued with spicy peanuts, pickled cucumber and the wine list, then Mr Peng the proprietor came over for a chat about our likes and dislikes and decided what we were going to have. Nothing as vulgar as money would be mentioned until we got the bill.

I remember that we started with soup from little wooden bamboo barrels but after that details escape me as we were served with dish after dish. It was all delicious. I particularly remember pig's ears and frog's legs but only because they were unexpected ingredients. Mr Peng - definitely the governor - paid close attention to our reactions to each dish, coming over occasionally to demand that we spooned more suace from the serving dish over our plates etc. I can see how that might irritate some, but I was more than happy playing aspirant to his adept. It is a long way from Matthew Polly "eating bitter" in Hunan's Shaolin monastery.

A great meal consisting of about twenty delicate courses and unencumbered by any rice or noodles. Six more Chinese styles to go.

Follow the links for our real and imaginary destinations as we eat our way around the world in London.

Return to the Shaolin Temple - A lifetime of devotion to kung fu. By Matthew�Polly. All from Kerala remember.