3.61 AVERAGE

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

Self-improvement through the agea

Much in the same way that Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" has been applied to people in their daily lives, this book remains relevant to the non-samurai among us. The lessons can essentially be boiled down to "victory comes through mastery; true mastery (hence certain victory) comes from self-mastery."

Nice, short read.
informative reflective medium-paced

I am by no means an expert into the philosophy of the historical period that these books originate from, but I believe that this is a fascinating representation of some of the insights surrounding swordsmanship and the culture so pervasive in the time. Some of the advice offered seems sound for non-combat roles, and I look upon my experience with this book fondly. It is a fascinating gaze into the historical literature of Japan, and has piqued my intrigue for future endeavours in Japanese history.

"You should investigate this thoroughly."

It's almost comical how often ^^ is written in the book, but he writes it with truth. Not realizing what this book was about it feels like the perfect companion to my Buddhism 101 book, as Musashi seems to have the same beliefs about how to win, fight, and learn about yourself. It's a very short listen--and the voice does it superbly. Re-reading some of the quotes, I realize I should read/listen to it again. There is a lot of truth and reflection in here--and while it feels like a book about how to win a sword fight, it seems more like a book about understanding the world you live in and your part within it. Maybe too deep for some, even myself, but it intrigued and surprised me all the same.

Εάν δεν είχα διαβάσει το Νίντζα του Έρικ Βαν Λουστμπάντερ ξεκάθαρα δεν θα μπορούσα να καταλάβω κάποια "κρυμμένα" νοήματα και να διαβάσω "στο περιθώριο". Το έργο του Μουσάσι σίγουρα είναι σκοτεινό και περιέχει πολύ περισσότερες πληροφορίες για το πνεύμα των πολεμικών τεχνών απο όσες μπορεί να φανταστεί ένας απλός αναγνώστης. Δεν μπορώ να εκφράσω με λίγα λόγια την συνεισφορά του λοιπόν παρά με αυτό, Για να μάθεις την αλήθεια πρέπει να γνωρίσεις όχι μόνο το φως αλλά και το σκοτάδι.

Short, but DNF. Generic brand Art of War.

I do not know how I got here. I did not even know I had this book. But I am glad I read it.
This book was written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Japanese swordsman that had his first duel when he was 13 years old. It is divided into five “rings” (earth, water, fire, wind, void) that describe strategies and principles of martial arts, with a touch of philosophy that kept me interested.

Among all the tactics that can be used, he shared his insightful thoughts on several matters. Martial arts are not just about technique. There are some principles to follow; there is a clarity of mind to be reached. You have to be able to find a balance between a world of war and a world of peace.
The last "ring", the Book of Void... what a way to finish a book. Outstanding.


Nov 17, 13
* Also on my blog.
adventurous challenging informative inspiring mysterious slow-paced
medium-paced

Maybe it’s because our current social environment is so toxic, but I lacked the patience to try and comprehend the practical elements of this book.

It taught me how to hold swords. Not helpful in a world full of guns and bombs.

There were some strategy tips like tying up your enemies with ridiculous regulations. But overall I didn’t enjoy the book. The layout was weird, and while I normally enjoy lots of photos the photos in this book seemed completely irrelevant to the content.