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The Complete Book of Five Rings
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins
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The Art of War
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- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
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The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
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interesting
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Living and dying with bravery and honor is at the heart of Hagakure, a series of texts written by an 18th-century samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo. It is a window into the samurai mind, illuminating the concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die.
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I love this book! Thank you Brian!
- By Anonymous User on 2020-03-18
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One of the most significant books ever written by a head of state, the Meditations are a collection of philosophical thoughts by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 ce). Covering issues such as duty, forgiveness, brotherhood, strength in adversity and the best way to approach life and death, the Meditations have inspired thinkers, poets and politicians since their first publication more than 500 years ago. Today, the book stands as one of the great guides and companions - a cornerstone of Western thought.
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Man’s Search for Meaning is the chilling yet inspirational story of Viktor Frankl’s struggle to hold on to hope during the unspeakable horrors of his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of those he treated in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.
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True soul of humanity
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Smile at Fear
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Chögyam Trungpa offers us a vision of moving beyond fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and delight in life that lies at the core of our being. Drawing on the Shambhala Buddhist teachings, he explains how we can each become a spiritual warrior: a person who faces each moment of life with openness and fearlessness. "The ultimate definition of bravery is not being afraid of who you are," writes Chögyam Trungpa. In this audiobook, he offers the insights and strategies to claim victory over fear.
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A must read.
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Musashi
- Written by: Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 53 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival.
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Great story
- By Matt Watson on 2020-03-27
Written by: Eiji Yoshikawa, and others
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The Art of War
- Written by: Sun Tzu
- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
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interesting
- By Anonymous User on 2018-09-20
Written by: Sun Tzu
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Hagakure
- The Book of the Samurai
- Written by: Yamamoto Tsunetomo, William Scott Wilson - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Living and dying with bravery and honor is at the heart of Hagakure, a series of texts written by an 18th-century samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo. It is a window into the samurai mind, illuminating the concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die.
-
-
I love this book! Thank you Brian!
- By Anonymous User on 2020-03-18
Written by: Yamamoto Tsunetomo, and others
-
Meditations
- Written by: Marcus Aurelius, George Long - translator, Duncan Steen - translator
- Narrated by: Duncan Steen
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most significant books ever written by a head of state, the Meditations are a collection of philosophical thoughts by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 ce). Covering issues such as duty, forgiveness, brotherhood, strength in adversity and the best way to approach life and death, the Meditations have inspired thinkers, poets and politicians since their first publication more than 500 years ago. Today, the book stands as one of the great guides and companions - a cornerstone of Western thought.
-
-
Listed dozens of times
- By Steven on 2018-08-18
Written by: Marcus Aurelius, and others
-
Man's Search for Meaning
- Written by: Viktor E. Frankl
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Man’s Search for Meaning is the chilling yet inspirational story of Viktor Frankl’s struggle to hold on to hope during the unspeakable horrors of his years as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps. Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of those he treated in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose.
-
-
True soul of humanity
- By Bruce on 2019-07-24
Written by: Viktor E. Frankl
-
Smile at Fear
- Awakening the True Heart of Bravery
- Written by: Chögyam Trungpa, Carolyn Rose Gimian - editor, Pema Chödrön - foreword
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Karen White, Steven Crossley
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Chögyam Trungpa offers us a vision of moving beyond fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and delight in life that lies at the core of our being. Drawing on the Shambhala Buddhist teachings, he explains how we can each become a spiritual warrior: a person who faces each moment of life with openness and fearlessness. "The ultimate definition of bravery is not being afraid of who you are," writes Chögyam Trungpa. In this audiobook, he offers the insights and strategies to claim victory over fear.
-
-
A must read.
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-01-03
Written by: Chögyam Trungpa, and others
-
Musashi
- Written by: Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 53 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival.
-
-
Great story
- By Matt Watson on 2020-03-27
Written by: Eiji Yoshikawa, and others
Publisher's Summary
The Complete Book of Five Rings is an authoritative version of Musashi's classic The Book of Five Rings, translated and annotated by a modern martial arts master, Kenji Tokitsu. Tokitsu has spent most of his life researching the legendary samurai swordsman and his works, and in this book he illuminates this seminal text, along with several other works by Musashi. These include "The Mirror of the Way of Strategy", which Musashi wrote when he was in his 20s; "Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy", and "Forty-two Instructions on Strategy", which were precursors to The Book of Five Rings; and "The Way to Be Followed Alone", which Musashi wrote just days before his death.
Heard together, these five texts give listeners an unusually detailed, nuanced view of Musashi's ideas on swordsmanship, strategy, and self-cultivation. Tokitsu puts all these writings into historical and philosophical context and makes them accessible and relevant to today's listeners and martial arts students. Tokitsu understands Musashi's writings - and Musashi as a martial artist - unusually well and is able to provide a rare insight into the man and his historical contribution.
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What listeners say about The Complete Book of Five Rings
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Brendan Kirchner
- 2020-07-28
Exceptional
the additional context added by the narrator really brings the philosophy into a better light. His performance is exemplary and he brings a great deal of understanding to a complicated work. The nuances of technical sword technique are of course difficult to understand for someone not familiar with the art of the Japanese sword but that doesn't take away from the rest.
3 people found this helpful
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- Alex Schenker
- 2021-04-27
Best Translation Yet
This book explores Musashi's work in a way that helps in it's understanding. I have found other translations to be vague and cryptic, like the writings of someone who is very disorganized. This translation explains much about his descriptions and the characters he used to describe it, and lay out a lot of much needed context. If you have never read Musashi's work, this is the book to get you started. If you have read other translations, this interpretation will give you the insight and context that you may not have been made aware of in other translations. Brian Nishi is an excellent narrator, and as he also narrated Yoshikawa's Musashi audio book, I feel like he has a strong connection to his legacy, and it shows in his performance.
1 person found this helpful
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- Nick Chamut
- 2020-11-25
Very interesting read
I enjoyed this book and the narration. I recommend it if you are interested in strategy.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ty
- 2019-11-20
A Masterpiece
An absolute classic on Warrior and everyday life strategy. Although unfair to judge Mushashis context by today's standards, some parts are a little tough to follow but the majority remains timeless.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-11-10
This is the best audio book I ever had!
Buy it & enjoy this magnificent story.
This is the best lessons of life from the Greatest Samuraï who ever exist.
The explanations are excellent!
Thank you very much!
1 person found this helpful
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- Massimiliano De Repentigny
- 2023-04-25
Old wisdom
Will serve a purpose in your life. Through allegory or taking it at face value.
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- Michael
- 2023-01-22
thank you.
so nice to come back to this.. a forever reread, playing it over, and over, and over again. thank you.
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- Cameron Curtis woodcock
- 2023-01-20
Very interesting
Definitely gonna have to re listen and write some things down. Great book.
Especially for getting things done and having something to listen to while working.
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- Paul
- 2022-12-30
The Way
Great insight to one mankind’s most intriguing minds. A timeless collection of thoughts to a way of life.
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- The Great Cornholio
- 2022-09-12
deep read on tactics
if you want to understand how to read your adversary this book is a companion to the art of war from a warrior rather than the commander.
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- DW
- 2016-05-27
Best translation I have encountered.
I read Go Rin no Sho for the first time when I was just a lad of fifteen, and have read and reread it many times since then. It has informed and enriched my martial arts practice considerably. The translation I had was Thomas Cleary's, published by Shambala, but until listening to this translation I never knew what I had been missing all these years. The translator, of course being Japanese, imbues the text with a layer of nuance that, sorry to say, had been absent from other translations. His prose is at the same time elegant and concise, and I could really feel Musashi speaking through him, with very little if anything lost in the translation. What a pleasure as well to hear it narrated by a Japanese man with proper pronunciation of the language, something that bugged me incessantly when listening to the audiobook of James Clavell's Shogun: the fact that Clavell's grasp of Japanese was shaky at best was exacerbated by the Narrator's hideous pronunciation and diction. I will definitely seek out other titles by this translator and narrator.
70 people found this helpful
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- Jason P
- 2015-10-09
A Manual for a Martial Artist, Not a Strategist.
This book was an interesting listen. It gave me some insight and a better understanding of some of Japan’s history and culture. However, this was a manual to train swordsman in a particular school of swordsmanship. Most of the book is how to hold the sword, your body, attack and guard. There are some deeper meanings and philosophical ideas within the text, but they are few and far between. Not a good listen for the average reader. A martial artist or swordsman might love this book. For a strategist I recommend instead Sun Tzu’s The Art of War.
61 people found this helpful
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- SAMA
- 2016-05-08
Prepare to Pause and Ponder
This is not a book to listen to passively while driving to work or taking the train. This is a book that demands you to actively think, pause, and make connections to real life events, whether they happened to you, someone close to you, or some public figures.
One listen will never be enough, as you will have to come back again and again to gain a deeper understanding of the subject.
37 people found this helpful
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- MIEK127
- 2018-07-12
instruction manual
it doesn't matter what you are up against..this is how you defeat all negativity. While listening, I have placed my personal stresses that I wish to defeat in place of the attacker Musashi mentions from his and his instructions. He found the formula that runs universally. it doesn't matter what planet you may find yourself on or even the city. this is the art of living to live, not living to die.
22 people found this helpful
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- Marv
- 2015-01-27
Great and simplistic on strategy
If you could sum up The Complete Book of Five Rings in three words, what would they be?
To the point!
Who was your favorite character and why?
Miyamoto Musashi. The author Samurai.
Which scene was your favorite?
The 5 elements are explained throughly and in clear detail. I am an advocate in the Chinese Martial Arts and found much comfort and similarities of thought. To be a successful student of the Martial Arts, you must appreciate the subtle differences in the styles. Musashi was a true master in his explanation of the "Way" And it's many nuances. An excellent book!
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I read the paper back version of this book over 30 years ago, and I must say that I got something out of it in my early days of practice and enjoyed the book then. However, my understanding and enlightment of listening to it today is like night and day to what I herd. It made a lot of sense. Glad I took the time to purchase this audio.
Any additional comments?
The narrator was really good!
16 people found this helpful
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- JakalTheOne
- 2017-12-02
You must study this book, well!
If you could sum up The Complete Book of Five Rings in three words, what would they be?
Tremendous.
Would you listen to The Complete Book of Five Rings again? Why?
Yes, you must listen, well.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
The structure of the 5 elements; Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Heaven; and how they correlate to master any craft.
What could the authors have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
Not a thing.
What about Brian Nishii's performance did you like?
Perfect. Just perfect.
Any additional comments?
Serious work must have been done, to create such a solid storyline.
14 people found this helpful
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- Fernando Dineli
- 2015-07-27
Martial Arts Masterpiece
Simple and profound.
Would you like to learn about the way and strategy this is a essential work. Written by a man who faced more than 60 life or death combats you can obtain some of his thoughts and understandings about how he achieved such feat.
In our present days of relative peace and stability it's hard to understand or even learn by real experience the art of combat, so what remains it's some of grandmasters works to reflect well on those matters.
11 people found this helpful
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- Nicholas
- 2015-06-25
Translation
Amazing translation. The five scrolls and the 21 principles were very easy to visualize and understand.
10 people found this helpful
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- There, they're, their...
- 2015-10-20
A little boring
Brian Nishi is the voice I want to read me anything Japan related. He's really great.
The story is strategy related if you want to learn sword fighting. It also has other applications to your daily life. I just feel like some other books that are strategy related have been a little easier to apply.
8 people found this helpful
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- Mr. E
- 2020-02-05
Musashi: The man, the myth, etc
This book seems like a must-"read" for fans of the famous samurai, but for those looking for a concise listen on swordsmanship and martial arts philosophy might want to pass. The book does tell you everything you could think to ask about Miyamoto Musashi; his praises, his detractors, a rough idea of when he lived and his background. The actual meat of the book, consists of Musashi explaining his approach to swordsmanship and "The Way" and what many might know as the 28 precepts. The Way, as Musashi calls it, is how a warrior trains and prepares for battle. Bruce Lee is able to explain his personal beliefs with more panache but it's hard to discount what Musashi says in this book. The narrator is even thoughtful enough to offer a few interpretations of the text as ancient Japanese is difficult to fully translate.
The 28 precepts, are a list of rules Miyamoto Mushashi created to help others follow The Way. Are they absolute? Only if you're a free-thinking samurai in the 17th century Japan. Some of it sounds extreme, and it is; like Bruce Lee, Musashi trained diligently to excel past others in his time to become legendary. Overall, the list is an intriguing code to apply as you see fit, and worth considering if you're a philosophy-leaning martial artist.
Not a bad book, a little long and takes awhile to get to the good stuff.
6 people found this helpful
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- Achraf Jday
- 2020-06-09
I'm in love.
As a practitioner of martial arts, a Japanese philosophy enthusiast and an aspiring politician, in my humble opinion, this book is a real masterpiece. I was in awe throughout the whole book. It felt like it was an essay written by Bruce Lee elaborating on Sun Tsu's Art Of War, or like a prophet conveying a divine message from his god. Miyamoto Musashi was not only a martial artist, samurai and philosopher, but also one of the pioneers in the arts of war and politics. He was truly a genius.