The Book of Five Rings: The Classic Text of Samurai Sword Strategy (Illustrated Edition)

Experience needed, not just for reading

This book is intended to be read while practicing Martial Arts. In theory, one would read a chapter, wander off and practice it for a few years, return to the next chapter, and then repeat the process. Simply reading the book will not turn you into a Ninja or Zen guru. Practice is required. Re-reading it after physical practice can often be enlightening. Like many Samurai type books, the author focuses on the "Martial" part of Martial Arts. That is, the practice is intended to kill, not just disable, the opponent. Modern practice sees it differently.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

awesome, i love it!

this is a great book-although i have only read 40 pages- its just great. i am now a green belt in the korean art of haidong gumdo, which means korean sword art of the eastern sea. i am 13 now and this book can be hard to understand at times, but if you just keep reading that line that you dont understand a few times, you should come to understand it. also, one thing that helps me is to grab a stick or a wooden sword or whatever you can find that somewhat resembles a sword and do what the book says. all in all i just think this book is great and fun to read!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

'Rurouni Kenshin' fans enjoy

I read this because I am a big fan of 'Rurouni Kenshin' and due to a magazine I read 'Kenshin' was based off that Samurai so I said 'What the heck' and read it

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!

Miyamoto Musashi is one of if not the most profound and prolific authors of his and our time. He writes from the perspective of a self experienced man. If you get past the surface of this manual of life you will see that the art that is being disected is for the development of a well rounded person. Only if you can get by the military surface you will see this. He (Mr. Musashi)challenges us to study what he has written and also to apply the principles so that we can see the spirit in which he writes. If you are interested in maintaining a demeanor that is unlike any other in your immediate circle of friends and constituents please purchase this book!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Deserves a readthrough.

This was a very strange book. It tended to ramble a bit and digress into sub topics. However, that being said, I did manage to gleen several good ideas and perspectives from the master.

What a delightful lesson!

Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings is a must read! Not only does this book, which is charming in its own right in that it is conveyed through a series of comics, talk about strategy as a superficial goal, but it also has underlying tones of how to balance yourself to get through daily battles and be happy in life. What a great book!

Amazing!

Musashi was probably one of the most profound writers in Japanese history. This book is amazing, it applies to not only swordplay but to business and live in general. I'd recommend it to EVERYONE.

Samurai Wisdom

Minamoto Musashi was a master swordsman of feudal Japan he was an undefeated dueler and a master fighter, although most famous for his two sword fighting style the book of five rings goes above and beyond swords. Musashi also covers over strategy and military strategy in this book and his logic is proved from experience. In the course of reading his five scrolls of wisdom you will discover much wisdom from this Samurai Legend.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enlightening read

I bought the book after watching a TV show about Musashi and becoming facinated by him. I chose this translation without knowing anything about Thomas Cleary, other than upon quick glance, his seemed the best version of the book that I could find in the store.

Eastern philosophy is new to me, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Although some of the passages required slow and careful consideration, it wasn't difficult to grasp the basic concepts as well as delve deeper into the teachings.

What I found surprising was that the second book included here, "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori was actually my favorite of the two. While both books opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at life and how I can best try to master my own, Muneori's book seemed more applicable to life outside of the martial arts.

This is a book that I will keep for life and reread every now and again to try to get a better understanding as I get older and hopefully wiser. And I now find myself looking at the bibliography in this book to find my next purchase...probably "Zen Essence."

I highly recommend this book whether or not you have had any martial arts training, as you can apply the teachings to many aspects of your life. If you have never read any books on Eastern philosophy, it will definately whet your appetite for more.

Great book can't read it

Greedy bastards put a DRM on it so now I've got to risk my computer security to get a pirating tool so I can put it on my Kindle. When will they learn that making it harder for lawful user doesn't even slow pirates down. They should have let me know before I bought it.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

Great book of Musashi and his ideals. He explains the art of killing and fighting vividly, which might bother some, but it is a great read. After reading this, onemight want to read, Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Bushido: the Warrior's Code by Nitobe.

Incredible philosophy!

This is a philosophy that caters to a particular type of person. "See what can not be seen", sounds silly however it has its pure logic to the practitioner. Study and train. Defeat a man with a look. The books of Earth, Water, Wind, Fire and lastly and most difficult to understand... Void. These are not easy to understand. How to stand, flare your nose, belly out, bend your knees... Imagine your opponent defeated. One must study at length and beyond and still possibly not grasp what is being said. I cannot vouch for a particular translation. I have read two and thre is something to be learned from both. This is a very serious read. Not lengthy, just complicated. Written by Japan's most revered Samurai. This will help you grow as a practitioner and a person.

Super Book

Must have for any person, thats a fan of asian style books.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Classic.

This book is only a translation of the original. You may not find the extensive commentary you seek. While written centuries ago, Miyamoto Musashi, in my judgment, didn't write a book just about how to fight. Reading this book with an open mind will surprise the reader. Deep thought and reflection will be needed. The areas to which the principles in this book may be applied (such as lessons in leadership and politics) and the success in said application are only limited to the amount of imagination and study put forth by the reader. It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life, and even if you never pick up a sword, or raise your fists, you will find his philosophy extends well beyond the realm of martial arts and battle strategy. To some readers you will not be able to fully grasp all of the concepts and ideas presented after one reading. This book is invaluable and definitely invites repeated readings as new insight is to be found as your understanding deepens. I'm not sure if a single review could do this book justice because each time you re-read this book your thoughts are guaranteed to be provoked and you will definitely walk away each time with a new form of enlightenment and that is my reason for giving it Five stars *****.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a book for any one looking to better themselves.

Pretty much this is a must read for anyone who wants to learn how to weild a sword, learn the simple but effective tactics of the genious Musashi, or to try and apply to daily life. The different scrolls help percieve the world as musashi knew it. Adding to the fact that this book also comes with the Family Traditions on the Art Of War, its a very good thing. The second book written by Yagyu Minonori, another genious in his own sense, can be compared to that of Musashi. He also describes simplistic, yet effective movements and principles on the art of war itself.

A Wonderful Book for the Body and Mind

The Book of Five Rings is simply amazing. While younger, I played the Musashi video games and decided to look the character up. Instead, I found biographies of the amazing Samurai of Miyamoto Musashi and his accomplishments he achieved in his life. Musashi, although I am nowhere near his level, has a very similar way of thinking that I have been going through as I go into maturity. The text and things he says and describes are very clear if you keep a positive and open mind for anything. I now put his words into my everyday life, which makes me an overall better person, and my family can see that. I highly suggest that anyone reads The Five Rings, for you will see how much of a difference a simple book can make in your life as it did mine.

i couldn't put it down

I got this book from my father he said it was important for me to read it. once i started i coudn't stop. it got taken away from me several times in school and then someone stole it. i didn't even get to finish it. But, from what i did get to read it was great.

In depth man really gets you thinkining

This book is a must have for all of you people out there that love books like The Art of War and The Prince but this one is on a level all by itself...you can really apply the things preached in this book to everyday life...be for warned though that these type of books are for intellectual readers and what is said must really be analyzed to get the full meaning...you cant just read a book like this you must study it. The summary of the book is really written up above so i will not bother with that...Highly reccomended and if you never saw the movie 'Fighter In the WInd' i suggest you try to get your hands on it because it is a great foreign movie that will be coming to America this fall and deals with probably the most respected martial artist of all time and how he learned from the Book of Five Rings.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good Book

This was a good book but it was some things I really did not understand, but as for planning and organization its great.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Way of the Samurai

I have studied martial arts, jujitsu, specifically, and therefore had an interest in learning more about Musashi and his legend. Looking up this true warrior of feudal times, I decided to obtain a copy of his work and study it after a recommendation received by my sensei. Even though the original text is over 350 years old I feel that with deep examination and evaluation one could transfer these principal teachings of Musashi to the modern day world in whatever you do. I happen to compete in the musical arena so I will try to apply what I have learned from Musashi in the future. He teaches how to gain victory. As mentioned before, although Musashi spoke directly about swordsmanship, his way of saying what he says can be transferred to other arenas. Musashi's readings and teaching are short and concise. I read each section of the book at least twice while I was reading it. Once, to take in what was said, then I'd try to reflect how what was said applied to my life and I would read it again. I definitely have adopted a different attitude since reading Musashi and I hope to incorporate what I have learned and understood to other areas of my life where competition is evident. I recommend Musashi's teachings for anyone looking to get ahead. Like I mentioned before, I deeply analyzed what I read and looked for ways to apply these concepts to my life and what I do. If you have interest in Japanese methods, ideology, combat tactics, swordsmanship, the samurai Way, teachings with a philosophical premise, and something to make you think I recommend this book. The version I have by B&N also has a transcript of Yagyu Munenori's 'The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War' included in the version.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.