Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story Summary and Reviews

Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story
by Lang Lang, David Ritz

Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story
List Price: $24.95
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Book Summary Information

Author: David Ritz, Lang Lang
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-15
ISBN: 0385524560
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Product features:

Book Reviews of Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story

Book Review: Lang Lang comes back from abusive childhood
Summary: 4 Stars

We didn't expect some extraordinary comebacks while reading this book, (classical music is an avocation and we were "off duty" while reading this) but were struck in the face with one, as it were, here. After failing to gain admittance to Beijing Conservatory at the tender age of 9, Lang Lang's hyper-driven, raging father suggested -- quite seriously -- the young pianist kill himself, providing two practical suggestions: 'here, take all 30 of these pills....or jump from the 11-story balcony.' That would give any kid a complex if he didn't already have one, and it knocked young Lang Lang off the keyboard for months (as well as fostering a loathing for his father). But with the help of a new friend, Uncle No. 2, his old teacher, his mother, and friends in the school chorus, Lang Lang found his way back to music. He even reconciled with his father. Not long after, he was the top student in China, and not long after that, he was winning international competitions. Today, he is perhaps the leading young pianist, playing with technique to burn. [...]. We are hearing a lot about child abuse now in the aftermath of Michael Jackson's untimely passing, but here's an encouraging story that shows a person can emerge from a scarred childhood and still be a productive adult, even in the hothouse world of classical music. Tremendous comeback, tremendous story. Starts a bit slow, stay with it, after about one-fourth of the way in it won't let you go.

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