Ninja: The Invisible Assassins

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad
Review: Not bad for being published about 30 years ago (my copy says 1970,if I read it right) The author researched it well, citing several sources with the photo's provided by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi. Information on history and the development of the art while not exhaustive is useful to anyone researching Ninjutsu and it's origins. It does have sections on the weapons and other tools used by the historical ninja and does attempt to dispell some of the myths by explaining how the myths were possibly started. If you are a new student to the Bujinkan then you should consider taking a look for the historical perspective. Not a bad book overall, a bit dated in publishing technique and definatly not an exhaustive source of information but worth a look.

Rating:
Summary: An informative book on the basis of ninjutsu.
Review: This book is a general information book on the art of ninjutsu, and its followers. It touches on many aspects of it, yet not too deeply. It is a good book for someone who is seeking knowledge on the subject, about what he/she does not know a whole lot about. Unfortunately many who are familiar with the art will look at it and say, "oh, no, not another one". On the lighter side, I found no misrepresantions or bending of facts in the book. All that the author says is true, and he is knowledgable. I have also found that in my copy of the book about 30 pages toward the end have been reprinted, even with the same page number. So as it is, the pages go 1, 2,...87, 88, 65, 67.. So you get the same information twice. I do not know if it is only a misprint of my copy, or it is in all versions.

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad
Review: What we have here is a general overview of traditional Japanese Ninjutsu, the author has even featured and spoken to Grandmaster Hatsumi. The book has large B/W photos of Ninjas in various posers and off the unique weaponry of their warrior class. The book opens up with two chapters on the origins and history of the ninja, then its onto weaponry and some ingenious tools of the trade.Following chapters include : poisons and curatives, physical and mental training, strategy, espionage, warfare, penetration of enemy strongholds, tricks, escaping and hiding,famous ninjas in history and the modern day ninja. The book is generally quite informative and anybody interested in the art should be encouraged to read this. No specific techniques are shown and as I have said the book is very general in nature. Enjoy the read.

Rating:
Summary: A general Ninja overview
Review: What we have here is a general overview of traditional Japanese Ninjutsu, the author has even featured and spoken to Grandmaster Hatsumi. The book has large B/W photos of Ninjas in various posers and off the unique weaponry of their warrior class. The book opens up with two chapters on the origins and history of the ninja, then its onto weaponry and some ingenious tools of the trade.Following chapters include : poisons and curatives, physical and mental training, strategy, espionage, warfare, penetration of enemy strongholds, tricks, escaping and hiding,famous ninjas in history and the modern day ninja. The book is generally quite informative and anybody interested in the art should be encouraged to read this. No specific techniques are shown and as I have said the book is very general in nature. Enjoy the read.