▷▷▷▷▷ Great Price for $3.64

The Book of Five Rings Review

Miyamoto Musashi was renowned as a self-taught, undefeated masterless Samurai (Ronin) in Japan in the early 1600s. To this day he is considered a national hero to the Japanese, a kind of Robin Hood-like figure. It's said he killed his first opponent at age 13. He fought all comers until age 29, when he turned to teaching his techniques to students. At age 60, Musashi retired to a Zen monastery where he wrote his unpolished but insightful guide to living, THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS.

Like Sun Tzu's THE ART OF WAR and Machiavelli's THE PRINCE, THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS has been seized upon by the shark-eating man population as a life's little instruction book on how to get the drop on your competitors, and there is that side to it. But like Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, Mushashi's lesson really is more about how a well-prepared warrior need not engage in violent, self-injurious combat to overcome his adversaries.

This edition also contains THE BOOK OF FAMILY TRADITIONS ON THE ART OF WAR written by Yagyu Munenori, a contemporary of Mushashi's. But where Mushashi was unlettered, rustic, masterless and entirely self-made, Munenori was the Shogun's tutor and head of the Imperial Secret Police, the quintessential insider.

It is fascinating to compare and contrast the writing styles, lessons and conclusions of the two men, so far apart socially, who are not so far apart in thought as might be imagined.

The Book of Five Rings Feature

ISBN13: 9781590302484
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Book of Five Rings Overview

The Book of Five Rings is one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture. Written not only for martial artists but for anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their life, the book analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction.

The Book of Five Rings was composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Thomas Cleary's translation is immediately accessible, with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition. Along with Musashi's text, Cleary translates here another important Japanese classic on leadership and strategy, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori, which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Customer Reviews

English not so great, but idea is fantastic - G. Chen - USA
The grammar and english is not that great. I'm not saying that my grammar and english is superb, but the language in this published book can be hard to follow. Perhaps, a very literal translation of The Book of Five Rings could be improved. Some of the sentences, you have to pause extra long to reflect on.

The idea of this book basically describes the way to achieve success. It applies ruthlessness and advocates that in order to achieve a goal, your mind must be put in a certain mindset. You must focus all your energy to achieve the thing you are looking for. I think the samurai and his sword can be used as a metaphor for any life goal.

My jujitsu instructor made me read this as part of required reading material. I think it was very interesting, despite the grammar and outlandish sentence structure.

not for the foregtful - cavemanballs -
the book was way small and i forgot it by my boy jordan's house while on vacation in redondo beach ca.

Great product, fast delivery! - LA Muñoz - San Antonio, Texas
Thanks for the fast shipping and perfect condition of the book. Would buy from this seller again...and again.

LM

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 09, 2010 10:11:06

Books Sports

Thursday, September 9, 2010