Hagakure (Shambhala Pocket Classic): The Book of the Samurai (Shambhala Pocket Classics) Paperback – December 2, 2014

This particular eBook translation - the $0.99 one - is rife with errors in both spelling, translation, and formatting. Bargain bin prices for a reason.==I liked the little bits of philosophy in Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai. This book is where those quotes were pulled from, and I was very interested in reading it.Aside from the occasional bit of weird commentary, this book does have a lot of interesting lessons from the perspective of a lifelong servant. This is a book that doesn't just teach you what it means to serve - it teaches you what it means to live a life of service.The book itself is also very sturdy and can take quite a bit of abuse. I've spilled a drink on the cover once or twice, I've dropped it... hell, I used it as a coaster, once. And it still lasts to this day. I've since given it away as a gift and I'll be buying it again when I can get a reprint of the same size and quality.

This is my third time buying this particular printing of the hagakure. I have a beat up, years old version of this same hardcover edition without the dust cover, a paperback copy that i lent out and never got back and now this fresh clean brand new hardcover copy. This book helped me discover strength and courage within myself.

It's impressive

Hagakure is a guide to the proper roll of a samurai during feudal times. Things such as expected behaviour, dying with honor, obeying one's lord, etc...For today's reader, this book offers several tips on the proper mindset when in combat from a samurai's point of view. Still, Some of these rules are, to say the least, a little strange.For a serious martial arts student, this book will probably find a place on your bookshelf (if it hasn't already). However, if you saw the movie "Ghost Dog" and were expecting a book of straight warrior-wisdom, you may wish to consider the fact this book has a lot of Japanese history in it. Some of Hagakure's content is a little dry, and although it offers profound insight in some places, it can be a bit hard to sort out what is useful in today's world.Hagakure is also not put together in an user-friendly format. You have to search for specific quotes, because there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it's layout. This can be tough when you want to go back and review how something was phrased to better understand it.Still, this book is well worth the time and money. I have read it several times, and I'll probably read it several more...

The "hidden leaves" of Yamamoto Tsunetomo were collected, between 1710 and 1716, by a young samurai. Tsunetomo had been a samurai himself, when his original master died. Prevented by imperial command fromfollowing his lord into death, and unable to accept the new lord, Tsunetomo withdrew into monkhood. This collection summarizes the wisdom gained in his career.This book collects passages, a few lines to a page long, on a wandering range of topics. Some reflect on historical events, others on proper behavior, yet others on Zen and bushido. The range of topics appeals to me, making it easy to open the book at random and read until something touches on my current thoughts.One recurring theme is acceptance of human failure, with examples on pp 28, 42, and 113. By analogy, a wooden beam may be a little out of true or hold little knots and weeps, but still be strong and sound - perfect boards are rare, and very rarely needed. He also acknowledges (p.52) that "great genius matures late," that one can not reach the highest achievements without twenty or thirty years of development. This has meaning for me personally, and I hope for the best.I have a few reservations about this translation, no matter how much I like it. It abridges the original 1300-plus passages down to 300, and abandoned the traditional organization of passages. I appreciate the brevity, but I wonder how much this non-native translator may have sacrificed in the abbreviation.This is an important look into the samurai's heart and mind - I do not see that becoming a monk ended his life as a samurai. It is cryptic at times, but describes difficult matters. It is as relevant today as when it was written, almost three centuries ago.//wiredweird

One of the main works (among the top 5) to understand Japanese culture.Need to be treated as a filosofical work.Not for the “general public”.It’s all about analogies and methafors.

Livro versão pocket muito bom pra carregar consigo. Boa qualidade e recebi bem antes do prazo.

Pienamente soddisfatta

J'avais acheté cet ouvrage une première fois, mais dans un format minuscule: ici il s'agit du format relié, taille A5 à peu près, enfin le format qui convient à un ouvrage aussi puissant: je le relis régulièrement, c'est très facile à lire, des petits morceaux de sagesse tachées de sang! C'est très guerrier et souvent violent, tout n'a pas forcément de sens, mais certains passages sont des perles à méditer.

Handbook. Invaluable thoughts.