content: This book is the best account of Shaolin and its practices available. It appears to be the only book written with inside knowledge of the real Shaolin order. Wong Kiew Kit's "Art of Shaolin Kung Fu" is one of the better "outside looking in" books dealing with Shaolin, but it is clearly not authoritative. "Bodhisattva Warriors" by Shifu Tomio Nagaboshi, - and even though it denies the existence of Shaolin - gives an excellent look at the esoteric union of Buddhism and martial arts, but it is a mess organizationally and delves a little too deeply into esotericism.The Grandmasters' text has the most complete package of history, philosophy and martial practices of the Shaolin order available to anyone. It is destined to raise controversy as it challenges many of the current assumptions about the state of Shaolin in the world today. Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in Shaolin, Buddhism or the martial arts in general.