The Complete Book of Five Rings

By: Miyamoto Musashi, Kenji Tokitsu - editor/translator

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

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.

©2000 Kenji Tokitsu, English Translation 2004, 2010 by Shambhala Publications, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Great messages in the story if you understand.

Loved listening to the philosophy of strategy.
There were some parts repeated in the recording but you may not catch it because it is a re-record in different tone.
The book does seem very repetitive and you will spend an hour listening to this guy compare two of the same lists/practices with minor differences, at one point in the book.

The Book That Has Been Lived

The past 30 years I have read this at different times in my life and categorically may be the most life shaping influential book in my life. It has nothing to do with the sword but the everything to do with the death. It equally has everything to do with and about the sword while everything to do with life.
Unless you want to be a better person intentionally don't read this book unless you are ready go deep.

Thank You

Best version Ive heard yet

Best version Ive heard yet. , I would recommend this to both a new and old listener.

Inspired by the training

Training is powerful from the old teachings in this book. I will train and live by it every moment

Best for those involved with martial arts, still a good listen for anyone else

This is a very robust and insightful guide on the art of the sword and way of the warrior as viewed by Musashi, complemented with a decent smattering of Buddhist thought and stoic reflection.

An actual student of modern Kendo, and perhaps of other martial arts, will get the most out of this book.

However, for a layman it is still an enjoyable and insightful peek into the world and mindset of the Bushi.

Brian Nishii’s smooth and appropriate narration, augmented well by his being a native speaker of Japanese, serves the text perfectly.

I rate it 4/5, with the caveat that I would likely rate it as 5/5 were I an active practitioner of a martial art.

As a Western American

As a Western American I confess some of rules of The Way are lost on me. The list at the end was the best part.

okay book

Quite dry book. good were the parts where general strategies were discussed. sword techniques were not

The Way

Loved it, definitely more practical for those practicing martial arts or sword combat. The end chapters get more into hi philosophy and way of life. Good book.

need to be examined well

great book. wish i had pictures lol kinda confusing sometimes with the translations but still good.

Exceptional!

Exceptionally thorough, well written and solid translation with historical context woven throughout. I enjoyed it and learned a lot about the Book of Five Rings.