The Book of 5 Rings by Minimoto Mushashi. I have read this book
many times. I try
to learn something new each time and add it to my knowledge of the way. Even if it is just
some new read thing to try during my practices. I don't agree with everything he teaches
but that is the part of the Way(in my opinion). Take and study the teachings and
techniques of anyone you can find. Study it carefully and if it works for you then add it
to your "Way". If it does not work for you, do not use it but remember it so you
can either counter it or teach it to someone that technique does work for. Some things
will work for you and maybe not for others and vise versa. This is can be due to
mind set, body mechanics, weight, strength and ability differences. Not a
reflection of skill in many cases if you cant make a specialty of someone else's work for
you. it might be due to the above differences between you and them.
The Code of the Samurai by A.L Sandler
This is a very small in size book, but is very good reading.
Fighting to Win -by
David J Rogers -
This out of print hard
to find book is actually exciting to read--it gets you energized. Rogers
outlines a number of (Samurai) techniques that he uses to be effective in a
business environment. It sounds corny but these techniques are easy to apply
and work quite well in anything you do including SCA. In my opinion it
works well because the book is well-written, interesting and unique. He
refers to period quotes and stories the whole time. plus he covers a section
on KI(QI) breathing which I found really useful to build energy and focus
while fighting and in daily life.
The Healing promise of QI by Roger Jahnke -
Was inspired to read this by the Fighting to Win book and my own small
success with KI breathing and having had good luck with a chiropractor
who healed some long time injuries using acupuncture and reiki which are
all Ki based. This book is a bit wordy but is a good book to get
you started on Tai Chi if your interested in building up KI
levels.
Japanese Arms and Armor by Crown Publishing hard to find but
very good book on armor.
The Art of War The Works of Sun Tzu: A famous book of
study. I hate to say this but I got very little form this book. But I
attribute that to the fact that the copy I have was badly translated. I am looking for a
better translated version.
Musahsi(fiction) Eiji Yoshikawa Yes it is fiction but its
fiction based on historical events and very motivating and fun reading if you are at all
interested in Musashi.
Samurai Warrior by David Miller
Samurai the story of Warrior Tradition by Harry Cook
Arms &Armor of the Samurai by I. Bottomley & A.P. Hopson
The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho This book was written by a
monk of great renown and a friend to Mushashi. Very deep and sometimes hard for me
to understand in some cases but the further I got into this book the more I liked it and
its ideals and understanding for me at least came the further I read.
The Code of the Samurai by A. L. Sadler Very small great book
with a good look at what period samurai were like and what a feudal lord of the times
thought the ideal samurai should do and how to act in a wide range of circumstances of
daily life.
Early Samurais by Anthony Brant
The Samurai by Anthony Brant
The Samurai by Shusaku Endo
Samurai by S.R. Turnbull I like Turnbull's books.
Worth having.
Battles of the Samurai by S.R. Turnbull
Samurai Warfare by S.R. Turnbull
Samurai Warriors by S.R. Turnbull
Samurai Warrior Class of Japan by S.R. Turnbull
Books I have read(not memorized) that I have found useful.