Since I have previously written reviews on each of the four original paperback volumes, I am going to limit this review to the concept of putting all four paperback volumes into one hardback volume, rather than rehashing the contents of the book(s) since it is the same identical information in each version, although the hardback version has been nicely restored and improved, but more on that later.
I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about getting this book since I already owned the four paperback books (Bruce Lee's Fighting Method, Vol. 1: Self-Defense Techniques (Bruce Lee's Fighting Method), Bruce Lee's Fighting Method, Vol. 2: Basic Training (Bruce Lee's Fighting Method), Bruce Lee's Fighting Method, Vol. 3: Skill in Techniques (Bruce Lee's Fighting Method), and Bruce Lee's Fighting Method, Vol. 4: Advanced Techniques (Bruce Lee's Fighting Method)) that were used to create this particular book, which encompasses all four paperback volumes into a single hardback volume.
However, after picking this book up and skimming through it I decided to purchase it. After getting home and sitting down to actually give it a more intense scrutiny, I realized that although I had the same exact information in my four old paperbacks that were contained in this single hardback, the publishers had done an outstanding job at restoring the photographs and improving the layout of text and photographs in such a way that it really showed a noticeable improvement in the information provided in this hardback version compared to the individual four paperback versions.
Now I know that you are asking yourself if you really need to get this book since you already have the four paperback versions. Same exact question I asked myself before I eventually purchased this book. If you would allow me a few moments, I would like to give you my reasons why you should purchase this book.
1. Due to the publishers taking a considerable amount of time to restore the photographs and improve the layout and text, this version actually makes it a bit easier to comprehend and retain the information provided within it. Trust me on this one, I actually pulled out my old paperback books and compared them to this one, and this one wins hands down.
2. The hardback version is quite a bit larger than the paperback versions and therefore, making the photographs themselves a bit larger which in turn makes the entire book a lot easier to read.
3. All four paperback volumes are now in one single hardback version which makes it not only more convenient to read, but also should make the book last a lot longer than its previous multiple paperback versions.
4. From a collectors standpoint, having the hardback version to reference frequently will save a lot of wear and tear on your original paperback copies.
If you would like to read my reviews of each of the original four paperback volumes, feel free to click on their respective links at the beginning of this review and then search for the reviews I have written on each one.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Creator of numerous books and DVD's.