The Book of Five Rings (Shambhala Library)

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Summary: A Work for Martial Artists--Business People Need Not Apply!
Review: A copy of Thomans Cleary's translation of Musashi's classic A Book of Five Rings was presented to me several years ago by a fellow martial artist. I have read and re-read the text many times over as I progressed in different martial arts. This is a book written by a martial artist, for martial artists. Musashi wrote this work in order to pass on the truths of martial strategy that he learned from a lifetime spent as a genuine warrior...Musashi was the real deal and had taken many a human life by the time he sat down to write at age sixty. Because of this, it is best that A Book of Five Rings be read with a certain seriousness of purpose and an understanding of why it was written. If you are a serious martial artist, it was written just for you.

It is not an easy read for contemporary western minds because its thoughts are sometimes fragmented and esoteric. However it is anything BUT worthless. Those with a true interest in Japanese (and other Asian) martial arts can gain much from Musashi's wisdom if it is approached with the proper mindset.

A warning: A Book of Five Rings is not, as many would have you believe, a book for business strategists (although I suppose one can take many of Musashi's lessons metaphorically and apply them to business and life in general). If you are not of the martial mind, and are looking for a great book to apply to daily life or business, look elsewhere--you won't get much from this book (unless of course you are looking to appear exotic to your friends for quoting from it). However, if you are interested in a true glimpse of the martial mind and are willing to read it with the proper mindset, you cannot do better.


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Summary: Bonus Material Not Found in Other Translations
Review: This classic text deals with the delicate art of leadership, and was composed originally in 1643 by the famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi. But this book isn't just for those involved in the martial arts, as the previous reviewer suggests, no far from it; it's for anyone who wants to enjoy the neverending wisdom contained within this text. Thomas Cleary's translation of Miyamoto's masterpiece is comprehensible, with an introduction that presents us readers with the spiritual backdrop of the warrior tradition that is vital for the rest that proceeds. This most up-to-date edition also embraces one more important Japanese text - "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War" by Yagyu Munenori; here the book highlights insights of Zen and Taoism as they pertain to the way and life of the warrior. Enjoy the book! Cleary is a terrific translator.

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Summary: the book of five rings
Review: This is a great book. You must get this book to become extremly
disciplined. Only great samurai have the ability to master this code and still few suceeded, I for one have suceeded and am now a great ronin warrior. If you buy this book be prepared for extremly onfusing lessons.