About the Author

Derek Padula is the author of The Dao of Dragon Ball website and book series; the first to reveal the deep history, philosophy, and cultural roots of the world's #1 anime and manga. Derek's journey begins when he sees the Dragon Ball anime in 1997. His love for the series inspires him to start martial arts training in Sh�ol�n gōngfu, t�ij�-qu�n, q�gōng, karate, and Fǎl�n D�fǎ meditation. He earns his B.A. in East Asian Studies and a minor in Chinese from Western Michigan University. Then he studies abroad in Běijīng, China where he trains with the Buddhist Sh�ol�n monks and a D�oist t�ij� sword master. After returning home he begins his life's work. He is now an authority on Dragon Ball and loves to share his understanding of this profound series that changes lives.

Reviews

Dragon Ball Culture is an AMAZING resource. I guarantee you will learn a lot. You'll not only get your deepest Dragon Ball questions answered, you'll also get answers to questions you never thought to ask! -MistareFusion

Give Volume 2 a read, you won't be disappointed! Derek Padula discusses Akira Toriyama and how hidden spirituality and symbolism helped make the Dragon Ball series such a great success. - dragonballinsider.com

An excellent companion to the series. The book goes beyond what official sources would do by providing insights into Toriyama's creative process, his motivations, and his plotting techniques. Dragon Ball Culture is one of the most accurate and complete sources of information about anything Dragon Ball related. It could give you a new perspective on the series. - toonbarn.com

The amount of in-depth Dragon Ball information contained in this book is "Over 9,000!!" If you are a fan of Dragon Ball, I highly recommend this book. It's a must have for any fan of Dragon Ball or for someone who wants to learn more about Eastern culture. - Connor Terrell, YouTube Reviewer.

It's such an illuminating read. Chapter after chapter, you never let me down. I'm really happy with the outcome and the fact that something like this exists and is accessible to the fans. - Joanna, Reader Testimonial