The Five Rings: Miyamoto Musashi's Art of Strategy

I was introduced to Miyamoto Musashi's writings and books some time ago. And over the course of years, I constantly go back to his 'teaching' to refresh my knowledge and thoughts. A premier writer who was ahead of his time when it came to his philosophies and thoughts about life. He was a great samurai but wasn't noted for his writing until later. Through his writings and through his history, he has a way of capturing simple everyday experiences and provide the reader with insight and wisdom to take you through your life. This is not a book about "his" life. It is about his experiences and how it 'changed' his life and with some insight can change yours. Taking the aspects of Bushido, developing the perfect fighting warrior, and then adapting that ideology and slowly, but deliberately making it your own. Well worth the time and effort to read it and hopefully grasp the time-honored traditions of the master teaching the student how he should live and fight the battles of life with honor, integrity, and discipline.

I bought this book because I was interested in learning about strategy, but I ended up getting a lot more out of it than I expected. What stood out to me most wasn't the martial arts aspect—it was the lessons about mindset and self-control. Reading Musashi's thoughts on discipline, focus, and staying calm made me think about my own habits and how often I let emotions or distractions take over. The book pushed me to be more aware of my thoughts and reactions instead of acting on impulse. Some parts are definitely dense and require a second read, but that's part of what makes it worthwhile. I found myself stopping often to reflect on what I had just read and how it applied to my own life. One of the biggest things I learned from this book was that mastering yourself is often more important than trying to control external situations. That idea has stayed with me long after finishing the book. This isn't the kind of book you read once and put on a shelf. It's one I'll come back to because each time I think I'll take something new from it. If you're interested in personal growth, mental discipline, or understanding yourself better, I highly recommend it.

Love it so far. Have a deep desire to learn more military history and methods. And this book doesn’t disappoint. Super quality on beautiful paper. Looks pricy. But isn’t.

A hard read, but the insights into the mind of a true warrior are worthwhile. I like this translation, but it is direct and sometimes difficult. Read slowly. As Musashi says “think on these things.”

It’s a great read, I’m not going to go into detail. It’s like trying to describe a sunset, I honestly can’t do it justice.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The physical quality is superb, but more importantly, it is translated by the ideal Japanese 'warrior-scholar'. Groff is a meticulous researcher, an accomplished practitioner of various martial arts, and very well versed in traditional Japanese culture. His prose feels at once modern and timeless, and is never overwrought--a danger, given the age and gravity of the source material. A true pleasure to read.

...learn from the past to create a better future!

First I would like to state how well made this book is. The material covered hard back is very upscale. The illustrations are also exceptional. I purchased this translation from reading other reviews stating how true the wording is. Do not hesitate to order this book. Cheers.

I looooove this edition. It's well made, heavy and well printed. A must for anyone into budo history and Japan to some extent.

This was a Christmas gift and I was delighted when it arrived before Christmas, rather than January. The recipient is very happy with it.

This is my favourite version of the classic work on strategy: The Book of Five Rings. A fascinating reference to the ancient art of samurai warfare.

Good quality

Best translation. Beautiful quality.