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Tarfumes.com - Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $16.47
Your Save: $ 8.48 ( 34% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Spiegel & Grau
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 786.2092
EAN: 9780385524568
ISBN: 0385524560
Label: Spiegel & Grau
Manufacturer: Spiegel & Grau
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2008-07-15
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Release Date: 2008-07-15
Studio: Spiegel & Grau
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Editorial Reviews:
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“Number One” was a phrase my father—and, for that matter, my mother—repeated time and time again. It was a phrase spoken by my parents’ friends and by their friends’ children. Whenever adults discussed the great Chinese painters and sculptors from the ancient dynasties, there was always a single artist named as Number One. There was the Number One leader of a manufacturing plant, the Number One worker, the Number One scientist, the Number One car mechanic. In the culture of my childhood, being best was everything. It was the goal that drove us, the motivation that gave life meaning. And if, by chance or fate or the blessings of the generous universe, you were a child in whom talent was evident, Number One became your mantra. It became mine. I never begged my parents to take off the pressure. I accepted it; I even enjoyed it. It was a game, this contest among aspiring pianists, and although I may have been shy, I was bold, even at age five, when faced with a field of rivals.
Born in China to parents whose musical careers were interrupted by the Cultural Revolution, Lang Lang has emerged as one of the greatest pianists of our time. Yet despite his fame, few in the West know of the heart-wrenching journey from his early childhood as a prodigy in an industrial city in northern China to his difficult years in Beijing to his success today.
Journey of a Thousand Miles documents the remarkable, dramatic story of a family who sacrificed almost everything—his parents’ marriage, financial security, Lang Lang’s childhood, and their reputation in China’s insular classical music world—for the belief in a young boy’s talent. And it reveals the devastating and intense relationship between a boy and his father, who was willing to go to any length to make his son a star.
An engaging, informative cultural commentator who bridges East and West, Lang Lang has written more than an autobiography: his book opens a door to China, where Lang Lang is a cultural icon, at a time when the world’s attention will be on Beijing. Written with David Ritz, the coauthor of many bestselling autobiographies, Journey of a Thousand Miles is an inspiring story that will give readers an appreciation for the courage and sacrifice it takes to achieve greatness.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting, honest, glorious, and somewhat sad
Comment: Many a time, I question why some rich and famous are willing to spill their guts unconcerned about their privacy. Is it a public confession needed for redemption and in search of catharsis, perhaps? By western standards Lang Lang was abused as a child and would have been taken away from his family and placed in a foster home. His autocratic and cruel father saw in Lang Lang the opportunity to succeed in what he was never able to accomplish for himself: recognition of his talent! Lang Lang mother's love was crashed under his maniac father and she became a passive bystander in the family drama, albeit the main source of finacial support. Was all this hardship necessary for Lang Lang to materialize his artistic genius? Maybe. A professor at an Ivy League University classroom- referring to multi-task leaders resposible for qualty and outcomes- once said: "To be an SOB is bad...but it helps!"
Lang Lang, by his own admission, hated his father when he was irrationally demading. Lang Lang neeed his autobiography published in order to reconcile with his father, and to thank his family for all the sacrifices they made for him. On the other hand, we become the beneficiaries in observing how a genius reaches his pinacle.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A personal saga touches a much deeper cultural divide.
Comment: I was not interested in an autobiography of a twenty-something piano genius, but when I finished this Christmas gift in one day, I realized what I read is not just a story of his personal success, but a saga of a nation with millions of kids and their parents who are willing to endure any price for the sake of success.
In the West, we emphasize personal freedom, and this starts with kids being free from homework/ranking stress. In China, there are only few opportunities for so many people, and kids start compete from day one. Lang Lang's childhood experience, particularly his relationships to his father, is anything but healthy. Nevertheless I wonder without it he could ever have the skill and drive to become who he is today.
As another renowned pianist once told me, the list of piano players with Lang Lang's skill in China is long long. He must be right. But is the West ready for this kind of challenge?
Customer Rating:
Summary: A very moving autobiography that helps us better understand this much raved about artist...
Comment: There is a lot of hype surrounding this pianist and he's not my favorite, but this very moving autobiography certainly helped me to appreciate his journey to the stage and understand his character.
I was almost in tears at certain parts of this book, which delves into the struggle between he and his father, and the extremely competitive world of music in China.
Any musician would also appreciate reading accounts of advice given to Lang Lang by great teachers and maestros in the world of classical music along his journey.
I highly recommend checking this out. It's a very interesting and readable book.
I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day.
Customer Rating:
Summary: lang lang revealed
Comment: Reading this book makes me think Lang Lang is crazy. Let's start with the back cover. Lang Lang talks about "number one" being drilled into them, but it gives the feeling the book is all about him, and no one else. Sure, there are stories about his family, but when you read this book, you just get a lot of angst, which suggests that Lang Lang is probably good entertainment when he is at the piano, but probably wouldn't be an interesting person to talk to or relate to because the only thing he knows is piano. He is an incredibly boring person. The stories are concocted, and ghost written by someone other than Lang Lang.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story & Writing
Comment: A truly inspiring story about Lang Lang who comes from nothing and yet persevered to achieve what he has achieved. Despite all the hardship, there is a sense of optimism in his voice and his passion for piano comes through clearly. Excellent writing also. Highly recommend.
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