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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Not really my thing... but a must-read if you practice martial arts.
Up to the water scroll so far - this is some stilted ass prose and poorly organized paragraphs like woah, but its fun.
fast-paced
I just couldn’t find this book beneficial but I also randomly read it and don’t know what I was expecting really
This review is for the Audiobook version narrated by Ron Welch. I've read this book before and also listened to the Alec Sand narration in the past, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it again.
The Book of Five Rings is a strategy/business classic that needs to be re-read from time to time because although the advice is timeless it can be forgotten.
I thought Welch did a fine job with the narration and even prefer his reading to the previous version I listened to. He did an admirable job with the accents/pronunciations required when using the Japanese terms in the text. It was easy to follow along with his reading.
***Full Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
The Book of Five Rings is a strategy/business classic that needs to be re-read from time to time because although the advice is timeless it can be forgotten.
I thought Welch did a fine job with the narration and even prefer his reading to the previous version I listened to. He did an admirable job with the accents/pronunciations required when using the Japanese terms in the text. It was easy to follow along with his reading.
***Full Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Unlike Sun Tzu, this is a very cryptic and almost a purist's philosophical text. Very introspective in nature.
It is infinitely easier to comprehend and process (or at least begin to) with at least a basic understanding of the Kendo martial art before going into it... the psychological disciplines involved moreso than the actual swordsman techniques, though knowledge of both seems like an obvious requirement as some of the examples assume the reader knows how the mind & body flows through certain sword movements.
If one of the following applies to you, it will completely go over your head:
1) You have a politically-correct-knee-jerk-reaction to anything that is pro-warfare
2) You have a morbid fear of the concept of hermitage
3) You're one of those "martial artists" that trains just to feel "tough" about yourself
oh, and skip the intro... read a bio about Musashi somewhere else if need be, but skip it. It is so nullifying (and littered with inaccuracies) that you will need to step away from the book for at least a few hours before feeling purged and fresh again.
It is infinitely easier to comprehend and process (or at least begin to) with at least a basic understanding of the Kendo martial art before going into it... the psychological disciplines involved moreso than the actual swordsman techniques, though knowledge of both seems like an obvious requirement as some of the examples assume the reader knows how the mind & body flows through certain sword movements.
If one of the following applies to you, it will completely go over your head:
1) You have a politically-correct-knee-jerk-reaction to anything that is pro-warfare
2) You have a morbid fear of the concept of hermitage
3) You're one of those "martial artists" that trains just to feel "tough" about yourself
oh, and skip the intro... read a bio about Musashi somewhere else if need be, but skip it. It is so nullifying (and littered with inaccuracies) that you will need to step away from the book for at least a few hours before feeling purged and fresh again.
Back when I was practicing Kendo, this book would have been a tremendous help in understanding the nuances of duelling. The book is literally filled to the brim with information about how to control yourself and how to read your opponent's actions.
I went into this book, expecting the fundamentals to be applyable to everyday life. Some of them are, some of them aren't. The fact that every pointer is focused around one and the same principle (ie. to kill your opponent), makes it rather tough to apply it to a work environment for example.
However, there were several eye-opening experiences in the second part of this book, which will remain on my mind for some time yet.
And if anything, it made want to pick up my shinai again.
Thank you, Musashi-sensei, Yagyu-sensei.
I went into this book, expecting the fundamentals to be applyable to everyday life. Some of them are, some of them aren't. The fact that every pointer is focused around one and the same principle (ie. to kill your opponent), makes it rather tough to apply it to a work environment for example.
However, there were several eye-opening experiences in the second part of this book, which will remain on my mind for some time yet.
And if anything, it made want to pick up my shinai again.
Thank you, Musashi-sensei, Yagyu-sensei.
While this book is mainly about sword fighting and techniques it also give insight into self discipline and practice. The audio book is fabulous with wonderful instrumental background.
Interesting read. It's kind of a Cliff's Notes for a course that hasn't been taught in a couple of hundred years, so it's more a glimpse than anything, but definitely interesting.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced