The Art of the Straight Line: My Tai Chi

I'm really glad I read this book. But why? I'm not a Lou Reed fan. I'm a fan of Ren Guangyi. I'm not a Velvet Underground fan. I'm a fan of Chen style Taijiquan. This book gives an inside look at a figure who is dear and important to many people. Reading it is all I know about Lou Reed. It's an interesting thing to read such personal things about someone you know nothing about. It's very touching at times. But what's interesting to me is to see how a person so very different from myself can share in the deep love for the same art. I was fortunate to study with Lou's teacher, Ren Guangyi, for a few years back in the late 90s. That's why I purchased this book. I was glad to read things that resonated with me from my own experience, while also getting a new and different perspective. Another thing which is central to this book is the connection between practicing taijiquan and healing. Any time I have an injury or feel a little off, I fall back on my taijiquan as my physical therapy. Reading intimately about another person's struggles and how taijiquan helped mitigate them offers a valuable look into the art and into a way of living. There are many different voices and perspectives offered in this book. Not all appealed to me. I'm guessing others will find the same. But the whole picture that emerges is, as I titled this review, strangely compelling. This book also contains a wealth of beautiful images, from photographs to sketches to paintings. One photograph that I found particularly amusing was Lou Reed practicing taijiquan with members of Metallica. What a great image!

Lou was a Tai Chi devotee, great tale of his experience and the people that inspired him and were impacted by him..

This is such a good book. It's not only about tai chi and a fascinating artist and those who knew him, but about how to live an authentic life. I loved it!

An incredibly inspiring book about Lou Reed and the practice of Tai Chi. It was full of information about this important practice and how it supported the artist/musician Lou Reed in his life!

Obsessive VU / Lou Reed fan here. I've read around 50 books on the velvets, Lou, and related topics, so of course I *had to get this, even though I know nothing, nor do I care, about Tai Chi. First thing to get out of the way: this should be filed under "false advertising" as Lou Reed did not write this book. Instead it's a collection of interviews and reminiscences by a bunch of people, mostly about Tai Chi, or about Lou Reed's practice of Tai Chi. Although I did skip a few pages that were entirely about Tai Chi, with no connection to Lou Reed, I found the rest fascinating and often touching. It revealed another side of the man, and for that reason this was well worth the read. In addition, it made me think about exploring Tai Chi, clear sign that something deep was communicated in these pages. Finally, Jonathan Richman is in the book, and he is always a treat, almost worth the price of admission alone. Your mileage may vary, but if you are a VU/Lou fan AND are open to exploring new things, you may be delighted by this book.

If you like Lou, and if you like Tai Chi, this is for you!!! not doubt!

Given as a gift to my QiGong, Tai Chi instructor who studied all over the world. Not a good read. Waste of money, plus it was expensive

Lou wrote a great book.

I have always liked Lou Reeds music, especiallly with the Velvets. And I have always thought this must have been a very unique and interesting person. When I came across this title, I bought it instantly, because I'm into Qi Gong for about 10 years now and it is my way, too. It is interesting to read what other people who are convinced of the concepts of ancient martial arts think about it and how they integrated it into their lives. I admire Lou's discipline and his constant work on his physical abilities. He said he started with Taiji because he wanted to become old as a warrior, not as a senile fat slob. That was his motivation in the first place, but it changed over the years when he noticed how deeply this ancient art can influence your life. You appreciate what you've got much more. And you keep on working on yourself. You don't stop training your body and your mind. BOTH need exercise. Lou died while holding his hands in a Taiji-Qi Gong position - the cloud hands. He was a warrior in the best sense of the word. RIP, Lou. Perhaps I meet him on the other side.

As a martial artist (Karate) and a fan of Lou Reed, this was right up my alley. Lots of great stuff about how martial arts is good for people facing chronic medical conditions and content about cross-training martial arts and the martial arts boom in North America. Its also great biographical content because I never realized how serious Lou was about spreading martial arts practice. He did 6 days of Tai Chi a week for a few years before his death and trained diverse martial arts for decades. Don't be surprised if you start learning Tai Chi after reading this like I did, he would want you to!

A gift for a friend, he Loves Lou Reed, he also does Tai Chi and other marshall arts. The perfect gift.

Recibir el artículo me pareció largo el tiempo pero, el perfil de mi cuenta no es premium. Así que la entrega era en tiempo estándar.

Además de gozar de una edición excelente, con tintas a dos colores, fotografias y bocetos, la selección de entrevistas es muy interesantes. Laurie Anderson, la compañera de Lou Reed ha buscado a personas que influyeron en el cambio de vida radical de Lou Reed, pasando de ser un ser humano vencido por las drogas y la depresión, a un auténtico fanático de la práctica del Taijiquan (Taichi). Muy interesante, curioso y emotivo. Un diez.