Karate Is a Thing of the Spirit.

London: Secker & Warburg. 1972.

First UK edition. 197x125mm. pp. 218. Publisher's blue cloth with slight damage to spine. Original illustrated pop art dustjacket designed by Paul May in the manner of Roy Lichtenstein. Some slight rubbing to the extremities of the jacket, marking to the lower cover and creasing to the spine. Internally in excellent condition throughout. A rare book and an even rarer dustjacket.
Crews learnt karate in order to write this book - a typically immersive act. But the book is only partly about karate. Rather it is a study of the dark spirit of America - "an America obsessed with sex, violence, and violent, loveless sex. It also a book about a man's quest for faith and belief; and about being alive and wondering what the hell's going on".