Author Paul Bowman recasts our understanding of the history of martial arts, showing how Western media representations in the 1970s not only popularized the concept but actively created 'martial arts' as a recognizable idea and cultural phenomenon. The Invention of Martial Arts is a good read. Unlike many other scientific monographs, it is written in a manner accessible to non-specialists. It is recommended especially to martial arts researchers, sociologists of culture, and media experts.