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jot2301 's review for:
A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy
by Miyamoto Musashi
This is a hyper condensed guidebook on applying the martial parts of martial "arts". The old maxim, "he who lives by the sword dies by the sword" applies here.
I recommend this to anyone interested in fighting/combat sports - you will find individual sentences that can explode into life-long practices/training. There's a lot of content behind not a lot of words.
Because it paints in such broad strokes, readers can apply it's principles to other areas of life. This book is usually mentioned alongside The Prince and Art of War. Admittedly, I cringe a little when I read/hear about people using these works as a way to get ahead in business. I feel like the author's life experiences are cheapened by our modern interpretations (of works like this) as a way of making money, finding "success", getting the girl, becoming the "alpha"... If you Google "why should I read A Book of Five Rings?", you'll know what I mean.
To be fair, the author does mention that some of the principles can be used outside of fighting so I wouldn't want to completely write off that aspect. But that's martial arts in general, no? You cultivate and find your potential. I think where we need to pay a little more attention to is that there's always someone out there that can defeat you.
I recommend this to anyone interested in fighting/combat sports - you will find individual sentences that can explode into life-long practices/training. There's a lot of content behind not a lot of words.
Because it paints in such broad strokes, readers can apply it's principles to other areas of life. This book is usually mentioned alongside The Prince and Art of War. Admittedly, I cringe a little when I read/hear about people using these works as a way to get ahead in business. I feel like the author's life experiences are cheapened by our modern interpretations (of works like this) as a way of making money, finding "success", getting the girl, becoming the "alpha"... If you Google "why should I read A Book of Five Rings?", you'll know what I mean.
To be fair, the author does mention that some of the principles can be used outside of fighting so I wouldn't want to completely write off that aspect. But that's martial arts in general, no? You cultivate and find your potential. I think where we need to pay a little more attention to is that there's always someone out there that can defeat you.