Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

Do not buy the kindle version from X-ist Classics. It's an un-edited scan. You get great gems like "It is said that what is called "the spirit of an ape' ' is seine- thing to which one cannot return."

Formatting and spelling errors abound in the Kindle version. I have a paperback copy that is error free, this ebook version would make and English teacher cry.1 star for Kindle version, 5 for the hardcopy

Didn't realize before I ordered that it was a small pocket version. Maybe I missed it in the descriptions but its weird that a book like this is sold in the mini form, Personal issue more than the companies issue.

The author of this book had great wisdom to pass along with some interesting stories of his time. I have quoted him lately as I feel many things he said in the late 1600's into the early 1700's apply today as well as when first written. It can be viewed also as a guide to making oneself into a better person too. The remarks of pride and personal appearance combined with the strong sense of duty are a good role model. His references to changing times and the foolishness of youth are well expressed and they too apply to today's world all to well.Though there were a few words that were badly misspelled and somewhat confusing at first ( ie. "pot" in place of "got" "gut" for "cut") it was still easy to follow once you got past the misspelled words and worked out their true meaning. However, the content of the book was what I sought. I have read it in a matter of a couple of weeks, though it could be read in a day without interruption. But to read it quickly would be unwise. You'd miss much of what is really being said. I will read this book again in a month's time and try to absorb more of it's wisdom from the a true mast of his age.

This is a book of reflections on life written by a rather unremarkable samurai just after Japan entered into an era of peace under the Tokugawa shogunate. This made the warrior class into a class of armed civil servants - not an easy transition, begging the question what to do with the two very sharp objects tucked into their belts every waking moment of their lives. The interesting thing about this book is that as someone who has been doing business in Japan for over 15 years, I wish I had read it much earlier. That is because the current Japanese business mentality is very much a product of the two and a half centuries in which the country was run by a class of people who were armed to the teeth and had to follow bushido as a way of life, but in reality had desk jobs and administered things like rice production.Some parts of the book will sound exceedingly misogynistic and weird to our ears, but those are the parts you should pay attention to if you deal with the Japanese. Others are rather entertaining, and yet other are off the wall.In summary, if you are interested in an unfiltered glimpse into the mind of a samurai turned clerk and in getting some insight into the way the Japanese view the world to this day, Hagakure is definitely worth your time!

Hmm, I can imagine I would understand this book more if I was well-versed in Japanese culture and with little of historical background on this. From the beginning to the end was little back and forth plus with a lot of cutting down people and seppukus. At first, I thought it was more of samurais’ notes or journal rather than ton pieces of stories. Some did catch my eyes so that counted for something.

Full of useful anecdotes and life advice for people interested in strengthening their resolve, looking for direction, or (surprisingly) confidence building. Also some good etiquette lessons but I’d recommend against cutting someone down with your short sword if they’ve offended you.

The thing that comes to mind with this book is context. There are parts where context is clear. Then there are parts where there is no context at all. There is some guessing that would happen if you only went by this book. But to do so would bring up the problem of context. So you have to cherry pick what you find useful. Discard the best and there you have it. But even going that requires great context. That is why this book was a guide to the Way of the Samurai.

Turns out this was all I needed to vanquish my enemies.Running headlong into battle, the Yakuza are no longer an issue for this small village... I may however need to explain the dead boatman I cut down and beat to death for daring to not address me as "sire" as I passed him at the docks.:3

I got this having watched Ghost Dog with Forest Whitaker. Perhaps it is down to my preconception but the book doesn’t flow, jumping from passage to passage on disparate subjects. I have no idea if it is a faithful rendition of the original text. I am sure for those with a more in-depth or academic interest in the subject might be better placed to give a more appropriate and useful review.

The book is one of the samurai treatises but as opposed to some others in the same area, works a bit differently - it is a collection of thoughts, rather than a concise guide. The translator selected 300 out of the original 1300 and while most work well, it is hard to say if the complete set would make more sense.In terms of content, a lot of the thoughts are very insightful, timeless and still relevant. His thoughts on event randomness looks a bit like a 300 year older Taleb ( Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets ). On the other hand some of the other thoughts appear somewhat random, short, almost haiku-like.Unlike the other samurai treatises I have read, Hagakure touches on more topics but brushes them more lightly - so yo will have thoughts on the role of the wife, upbringing of offspring and homosexuality.While you can pick it up, open on a random page and read, like mentioned by other reviewers and therefore makes it good as a gift, I still much prefer Musashi Miyamoto's  The Book of Five Rings . It might be more accessible to a Western audience, or it might be that the completeness and structure just works much better. I suppose if you have not read much samurai writing, The Book of Five Rings might be an easier initiation to the topic, too. Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the MarketsThe Book of Five Rings

Hagakure relates the essence of the Samurai code through anecdotes and collected wisdom rather than as set scriptures to follow. From the chapter headings it is clear that this edition is not a complete and comprehensive version. Not that it matters. There is enough here to feed the interest and imagination, with enough detail to highlight a fascinating period of Japanese history and the warrior code in general. Some of the short accounts are like whole novels in themselves with the emotive contents hinted it. I can see budding story writers and young film makers having a field day with some of the material. A very satisfying purchase.

More, words of advice and etiquette for the Samuri, small wisdoms and observations, rather than a continuous read, it jumps about. Not a big read, would do for a holiday!