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Iron and Silk: A Memoir Paperback – October 12, 1987

by Mark Salzman (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 211 ratings
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Salzman captures post-cultural revolution China through his adventures as a young American English teacher in China and his shifu-tudi (master-student) relationship with China's foremost martial arts teacher.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    October 12, 1987
  5. Dimensions
    5.22 x 0.58 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0394755111
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0394755113
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 1982, Salzman flew off to teach English in Changsha, China. He writes of bureaucrats, students and Cultural Revolution survivors, stripping none of their complexity and humanity. He's gentle with their idiocies, saving his sharpest barbs for himself (it's his pants that split from zipper to waist whilst demonstrating martial arts in Canton). Though dribs of history and drabs of classical lore seep through, this is mostly a personal tale, noted by the Los Angeles Times for "the charmingly unpretentious manner in which it penetrates a China inaccessible to other foreigners."

Review

"Salzman demonstrates with skill and subtlety just how Chinese society works."--The Washington Post

"Gong fu, or 'skill that transcends mere surface beauty'...no other term is as apt for a book that describes China and its people with such deftness and delight."--Time

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Vintage Departures edition (October 12, 1987)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394755111
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394755113
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.22 x 0.58 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 211 ratings

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Mark Salzman

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
211 global ratings
Red dot on the book?
4 Stars
Red dot on the book?
The content of the book is great, I would give it a 5/5 stars, except I am concerned about the shipment or product handling. Why is there a red dot at the bottom of the book? At first I thought it was blood, but I hope it’s just marker. It really surprised me when I noticed it after I started reading the book and I think that the sellers should try to ensure their novels are cleaner.
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Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars arrived in very good condition
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2023
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The book is in great shape. looks almost new. good purchase
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Larry J. Tedder
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating study
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
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This book is a fascinating study of a westerner's introduction to kung-fu and Chinese culture in the 1980s.
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Erik Olson
4.0 out of 5 stars A "Non-Ugly American" in China.
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2005
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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).
14 people found this helpful
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Madeline Leah Goss
5.0 out of 5 stars Really a great read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2021
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This is a fantastic first person account of a American going to China and learning kungfu (amongst other things). I loved the insights into the people and culture of China and was thrilled by his kungfu experience!
One person found this helpful
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Tony
5.0 out of 5 stars WuShu and ShuZhi
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2005
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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.
8 people found this helpful
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KC
5.0 out of 5 stars Like the Culture, Subtle Yet Strong
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2009
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Mark Salzman's quiet sketches of his time teaching in China slowly gather force and carry you away with their subtle and sensitive power. We meet obstinate bureaucrats, fellow teachers and students, artists, common fisherman, martial arts practitioners, calligraphers, elders, and children. Salzman's quite good at capturing character with a few deft strokes (it's almost like a "literary calligraphy") and has a special talent for finding the "just right" quote to end an anecdote or vignette. Though written in the 80s, cultures don't change overnight and this memoir is as accurate now as it was then. If you're interested in Chinese culture, this concise anecdotal wonder is a must. And if you're not interested in Chinese culture, you will be after reading it. Recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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George Roy
5.0 out of 5 stars The Stuff of Legends
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is the stuff of legends! 'Iron and Silk' one of a triad of books by Americans teaching in China. As a group, these books together clearly illustrate the blind men and the elephant that is China. The other two books are 'River Town' by Peter Hessler and 'Pretty Woman Spitting' by Leana Adams.
During eight years managing foreign teachers in China, the concept of a "Karmic Magnet" was my only way to account for the wide range of experiences that each teacher encountered. On that basis, Mark Salzman has proven himself to be an extraordinary individual. I can only envy him his enlightenment and his experiences. My only caution would be that the China that Salzman experienced may well be vanishing.
2 people found this helpful
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Anna Q.
4.0 out of 5 stars Red dot on the book?
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
The content of the book is great, I would give it a 5/5 stars, except I am concerned about the shipment or product handling. Why is there a red dot at the bottom of the book? At first I thought it was blood, but I hope it’s just marker. It really surprised me when I noticed it after I started reading the book and I think that the sellers should try to ensure their novels are cleaner.
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Anna Q.
4.0 out of 5 stars Red dot on the book?
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022
The content of the book is great, I would give it a 5/5 stars, except I am concerned about the shipment or product handling. Why is there a red dot at the bottom of the book? At first I thought it was blood, but I hope it’s just marker. It really surprised me when I noticed it after I started reading the book and I think that the sellers should try to ensure their novels are cleaner.
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Top reviews from other countries

Rev. B. Bain
5.0 out of 5 stars Iron and Silk
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2012
Verified Purchase
'Iron and Silk' is not only a good book, it is also a good investment for anyone!
It is a story of the many divisions and differences between West and East (on this occasion, between America and China)and of how, by Force (Iron)man can live, but by Gentleness (Silk) man will survive.
Material things become more and more unimportant as Mark, being the author as well as the main character, learns, over two years in China, how much we all have to learn.
Great Book.
Brian Bain.
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Katherine
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2015
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A must for all martial arts fans and visitors to China.
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