Reviews

The Book of Five Rings: A Graphic Novel by William Scott Wilson, Miyamoto Musashi, Chie Kutsuwada, Sean Michael Wilson

intensereader's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

coffeechug's review against another edition

4.0

I love reading ancient texts of martial arts, warriors, and the like because I find in their articulately crafted words such great wisdom about life in general. When it all comes down to it life is about that balance and realizing that everything comes full circle. Reading this book I was reminded that we must not focus all efforts into only one thing and to clear the mind of anything that could cause confusion. The illustrations were excellent to help shape the story. Perhaps things can be said best by text from the latter part of the book.
In emptiness exists Good but no evil
Wisdom is existence
Principle is existence
The Way is existence
The mind is emptiness

nickolette's review against another edition

4.0

As indicated by the title this graphic novel repeats the text from 1643 and gives it a new form. On one hand I appreciate sticking to the original. The graphic novel form allows for easier assimilation and for some of the points to better pop out. On the other hand it has less violence than one would hope for.
In the Book of Five Rings Musashi wrote down the teachings he was preaching to his students in his own dōjō, which is difficult to grasp from the original, but here this is accurately presented.

tlockney's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent adaptation of a timeless classic, to which I'll be returning before long, I hope. I hope to update this "review" with more thoughts after I've sat on this for a bit.

rita_reads_cda's review against another edition

adventurous challenging fast-paced

2.0

Not the genre for me

visualradish's review against another edition

It was hard for me "to investigate this [the precepts] thoroughly" so I can't rate the book.