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| Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story | 
 enlarge | Authors: Lang Lang, David Ritz
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $12.50
You Save: $12.45 (50%)
New (38) Used (8) from $11.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 34072
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 2
ISBN: 0385524560
Dewey Decimal Number: 786.2092
EAN: 9780385524568
ASIN: 0385524560
Publication Date: July 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: May have small remainder mark on bottom. 100% money back guarantee. All books shipped from Strand Bookstore, New York City, USA.
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Product Description
“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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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Hollow and clunky - a missed opportunity July 16, 2008
28 out of 35 found this review helpful
While recognizing that he is still early into his career, and as someone who appreciates the piano work of Mr. Lang, I was surprised at how hollow, clunky, and one-dimensional this autobiography came across -- even with an English-speaking co-writer. The difficult relationship between Mr. Lang and his father, who overzealously pushes his son to an almost abusive level, is the predominant narrative here -- while there is little about Mr. Lang's love of particular pieces of music, his vision for bringing Chinese musice to Western audiences, or anything of depth written about his art itself.
Too bad. I would have liked to have read those things. Mr. Lang does so well in interviews in making classical music accessible to audiences, often his enthusiasm doing most of the talking! That doesn't come across here.
Nor does one really get a sense of Mr. Lang as a person. One gets the sense that his father has trained him to be a piano-playing machine -- cut off from anything resembling real life, asexual, and flat. Where is the living, breathing man? One fears that the sterility of life as depicted in "Journey of a Thousand Miles" will only have a negative impact on his art in the long run -- unless there's much more to Mr. Lang than what is conveyed here in this autobiography. If so, it's a missed opportunity, and doesn't make for an interesting read.
 awed by the power of his father's love July 27, 2008
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I picked up the book reluctantly, expecting it shallow and celebratory. Loving Lang Lang's music, I had no intention to idolize him however. But the book turned out to be well written and surprisingly rich in meaingful details.
The book is more about human bonding amid struggles, the power of passion, the cut-throat but still humane environment in today's China, than about parading the gamut of Lang Lang's musical feelings. The tone of the book is honest and sincere.
I am moved particularly by the character in Lang Lang's father. The book depicts him as relentless, maniacal, absurd, but utterly committed to his son and capable of all-out self-sacrifices. He represents a familiar truth that has terrified many people in the past - a father's love is most revealed in his despair. When he despairs, he is at the most destructive.
Most Outstanding Autobiography I've Ever Read August 7, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book absolute blew me away by the powerful experiences related by this equally brilliant musician. I read it 3 x times within the first 3 weeks after release. I will cherish and read this book over and over again. It feels to me as if Lang Lang is standing or sitting next to me telling me his life story personally.
I believe reviewer "G. Hansman "jakebc" (Vancouver, Canada)" was reviewing an altogether different book when he wrote his review of this same phenominal title. I hope to have Lang Lang sign my book in the near future to cherish even more for years and decades to come. I have and will continue to recommend this outstanding book to any possible real reader of good books. Not only is the content extremely moving and moved me to tears on every reading whether Lang Lang achieved success or whether he failed, but the presentation style is extremely accessible and of a deeply personal nature.
Lang Lang absolutely bared his soul to readers and lovers of his brilliant music CDs & performances. I will also forever in future when I see, watch or hear any other talented person - not only in music - remember that the artist I'm enjoying may have gone through an often brutal training and preparation phase to produce that which I'm enjoying now.
To every person who loves reading good Non-Fiction: Buy this book immediately - I can hardly imagine anyone not getting his/her value for their money and time reading this amazing book!!
A moving tale of a dream pursuit journey July 25, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Lang Lang... It seems that he turned into a classical mega star overnight, but the suffering and struggle he had gone through to achieve his dream was draw dropping and tears bursting. Thank God, no, thanks to Mr. Lang and his father's strong will that makes Lang who he is and where he is today, and bring us so much content and emotion in his music-making.
Except being a success story of a celebrated pianist, the book also gives us a lot of insights into Chinese' culture and society, and the behind-the-curtain stories in the Chinese classical music circle back in the 80s.
For me, what makes this book most valuable is its motivating factor. After reading it, one can't stop but collecting one's goals, will and power and fighting for those goals and dreams. After reading this book, I so deeply agree that the opportunity only falls on those who are prepared, so no matter what life gives one now, there's no reason not to always improve oneself.
I think it's also a good book for parents to help their children to achieve their best. Of course, Lang Lang father's model is an extreme and in no way to be immitated, but I see something golden in it. The father sacrificed his own happiness to help his son realize a dream. He just has so much faith in his son's ability and is so tightly grasping on every opportunity for his son when the son's too little to hold on to those opportunities. Much respect to the father!
There are much more to the music, the great stories with the other mastros, etc. Overall, it's an utterly moving and inspiring book. I would strongly recommend it to anyone, even the non-classical music listeners.
commerce vs. art July 29, 2008
3 out of 11 found this review helpful
Okay... Lang Lang is a phenomenon; Young, talented and entertaining. Be that as it may, wanting to be "Number One" is a reasonable pursuit for an athlete---NOT for an artist. It's a shallow aim, and speaks nary a word about vision, individual expression, or artistic integrity.
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