This is a true story about the author, Matthew Polly, and his journey to the Shaolin Temple in China to learn Kung-fu. It takes place in the early 90's just a few years after the tiananmen square protest, and China was still behind economically. It's a great read for anyone into martial arts, and shows what goes on behind the scenes of the training,(at least how it was back then). It has comedy, romance, and suspense that would keep you reading till the end.