10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Interesting text, imperfect book, 2004-10-01
I enjoyed reading this book. However there are two things that could make it better:
1. Print the title on the spine of the book.
2. Reduce self-importance in the translator's preface.
I have tremendous respect for the translator's martial arts achievements and his fluency in Japanese and I appreciate his regard for the warrior's way. But I would enjoy the book better-- and I think it would appeal to a wider audience-- if Mr. Tarver relaxed some of his us-versus-them attitude in the preface. For example:
"Whether enlisted in the military or not, the burning desire to protect is one of the things that separate us from the sedate, self-infatuated crowd."
When I buy a book to learn about traditional samurai values-- values like humility and respect for the people you serve-- I find it distracting to have this kind of self-congradulatory language in the preface.
Otherwise I found the book interesting and useful.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent!!, 2004-06-03
I read this book and found it very moving. I became interested in the Samurai after watching The Last Samurai and I read several books on the subject. This book is a great guide to the mind and insight of the Samurai and it has caused me to reevaluate my view of many important life issues. I bought the Last Samurai DVD and understand the culture in the movie much better now. I cannot recommend this book enough.
11 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent book and translation, but read below, 2004-04-05
This book is an easy to read basic guide for warriors at any stage of their development. As with most Asian guides to war and martial arts, the advice might appear basic, and even elementary, but to really understand, and to incorporate it into their life, it will take the reader years of training and study. Mr Tarver's background also gives him a special understanding of the original text, so the translation really feels right, and lot of power in it.
Unfortunately, Mr Tarver loses a bit in credibility with his foreword. He appears naive. He blames "wealthy liberals" for their antimilitarism, while totally forgetting the greed that has driven many of the USA's wars. That mars an otherwise excellent achievemnt. Mr Tarver would do well to remember that you can be a honest warrior, but be in the service of an evil master. Just see what happened to the millions of Germans, Japanese, Italians, etc., that sacrificed their lives in WWII.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
Warrior ethics never change!, 2003-07-10
It is amazing to me that such a small book can cover so many deep and life changing principles. This is not just a code of conduct for warriors it really should apply to all people. The concepts of loyalty, bravery, and honor are brought out and explained in a clear straightforward manner. I really enjoyed reading this book though I have never trained in martial arts or studied anything about the samurai. I became interested because of our American warriors overseas and decided to give this a read. I am blown away that all the same principles apply to warriors today as several hundred years ago.
16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
A warrior's perspective!, 2003-06-21
I have been teaching martial arts for years and have read every book I can find on the warrior culture of the samurai. My curriculum for martial arts students includes several books that my students must read and write reports on in order to move up a belt rank. I had been using The Code of the Samurai but I have switched for several reasons. 1. I never liked that the other book used the work Knight when talking about the Samurai Warrior. I prefer to stay with a Japanese feeling when reading this type of book and Knight just wasn't as comfortable.
2. I feel that this book is brings the concepts and the mind of the warrior out in a more clear and complete way.
3. It is completely evident that the author has a lot of experience in the martial arts and the way of the warrior. This can make a huge difference in what you take away from the read.
I first heard of the warrior series when a friend loaned me a copy of The Book of Five Rings by the same author. I liked it so mush that I bought my own copy and this book at the same time.
If you are interested in learning about the warrior mind from a warrior's perspective then this is your book.