5 comments about Shadow of the Sword: A Marine's Journey of War, Heroism, and Redemption.

1. This book was very insightful and well written. Books like this are hard to capture in a review. One cannot capture the pain the author experienced while serving in Iraq. You cannot, it would not do his account justice. All I would say is that you should take the time to read this book for yourself. It will move you and leave you in awe of what our soldiers put on the line when they serve our nation. This hero provides an insight into what war does to a man, and thereby does a good job of showing us what we do not have to risk because others do it for us. Very, very good military story.



2. "Shadow of the Sword" by Jeremiah Workman & John R. Bruming
   
   Staff Sergeant Workman and his platoon were assigned a house to house clearing assignment in a section of Fallujah on 12/23/2004 and his platoon stumbled into a huge firefight that lasted for an extended period of time and solders were lost. Now, stateside again Staff Sergeant Workman is trying to deal with what happened in Iraq and the lasting effects it has had on him.
   
   Shadow of the Sword isn't your typical Iraq story as most I have read focus solely on the time spent at war. Shadow focuses mostly on what happens when a solider comes home and his dealings with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder however there are several portions of the book that deal directly with his time in Iraq.
   
   The Good: This book was very informative as I had no idea about PTSD and how seriously it affects people. It seems like a lot of soldiers are quickly forgotten after the conflict is over and this book spotlights a serious issue that needs to remain at the forefront. The book gives a good mix of the fighting in Iraq and brings the new perspective dealing with the aftermath.
   
   The Bad: Nothing memorable. If you are expecting non stop action or a book focusing solely on time spent in Iraq this may not be for you.
   
   Overall: A good informative read, worth checking out.



3. I did enjoy Sully's book, and am certain my background with an Air Force pilot husband was a contributing factor.



4. As a civilian I have had some stressful emotional experiences, of course nothing compared to the magnitude of the firefight-description nicely interleaved with his personal accounts of flashbacks triggered by literal-pattern-matches. For example having difficulty climbing a stairwell because the firefight involved a stairwell so this triggers a flashback, though today's stairwell be thousands of miles removed from the conbat zone.
   I also like Laurence Gonzales's "Deep Survival" book for the insight it provides into our Emotional Brain, you've probably heard the term "Amygdala Hijack". Getting a scientific-grade handle on the PTSD mechanism is important for anyone, because anyone can "snap" -- the idea that by thinking hard enough you're always going to be able to override your emotions is just false, as you'll understand from these personal and insightful diary-moments.
   "Interpolate" is such a precise word for analyzing my little stresses in the light of his big stresses that I chose it even though you may need to look it up.



5. I have bought several copies of "Shadow of the Sword" to share with my friends and family.

5 comments about Sword of Honour (The Bolitho Novels, no. 23).

1. Alexander Kent (Douglas Reeman), a prolific writer, spends an entire novel in maudlin reminescence of a character's life to prepare us for that character's death. This last installment of Richard Bolitho's life deserved far better. Set around Napoleon's escape from Elba, the novel never really gives Sir Richard anything to do, except remember those he has known and act as though he is ready to die. The series, which already went about 8 books too long, is left to trickle off, instead of a spectacular finish and transition to Adam becoming the main character. I read all 23 of the set (though not the 24th, where Adam carries on) and I wish I'd stopped around 15 or so. Skip this one and continue on to Adam's first solo adventure.



2. I have greatly enjoyed Kent's Bolitho Novels, mainly because I had read Hornblower as well as the Aubrey/Maturin novels, and was infected with the love of the genre.

   I'll not compare Bolitho to those other worthies as he is not them nor they him, however I do think that Mr Kent should have killed off our more-than-maudlin Admiral in book 17 or 18.

   I found this book a nice way to spend my reading time for a day or so, but in truth, I can't recommend it as one of Kent's best.




3. I could not believe the turn this series took in the last 4-5 books: Bolitho and Herrick at each other's throats, all the double entendre sex and romance, and then with this novel---killing off the fellow the whole series was built around! Not too smart to kill off your hero, Mr.Kent. The nephew is not a well fleshed-out character in any of the previous books and now the author wants to devote the remaining books to telling about his so-called adventures? Ridiculous! I wonder if all the romantic stuff sneaked in (it really does increase after book 15 or 16) after the author remarried a somewhat younger woman (see his website for author biography). Whatever the reason, Patrick O'Brian he ain't and none of these books are as well written as the Aubrey-Maturin series, no matter how many reviewers have claimed it so. O'Brian was in a league of his own. Kent is in the mediocre one with many others. I stopped reading the series when finished with this book, and am currently looking for a new one to inform and entertain.



4. The war against Napoleon is over. Napoleon lost his battle and abdicated his throne and is now exiled to an island to be emprisoned. Dick Bolitho is recalled from Halifax to make room for a more senior admiral who is charged with bringing the war against the U.S. to an end; Adam Bolitho remains as Keen's Flag Captain, but Keen is more concerned with his romancing a new woman and ensuring his career to go out to sea any more; and Lady Somerville is awaiting her hero back in England.
   
   Sounds like a wrap up of a series, no?
   
   Well, it's not. There is still plenty of action in this story. While Dick Bolitho is sent back to England, it is only for a few weeks and then he is off again to command a squadron of frigates in the Mediteranan sea - chasing after pirates. This series has had to deal with many contortions lately to keep things goins and this book is no different - For instance, while Dick Bolitho (as a full Admiral no less!) is given command of a few frigates in Malta, a newly-hatched Commodore takes over Adam Bolitho's frigate squadron the active war zone of Halifax. Then, it is also hard to explain how come Read Admiral Keen is recalled from Halifax, and given the port admiral duties in Portsmouth AND promoted to a Vice Admiral without setting foot on a fighting ship again. And on, and on, and on.
   
   I think that even Mr. Reeman has reached the end of the rope on that convoluted storyline, so he decides to end the whole thing with Dick Bolitho. Before your outrageous howls about giving up the storyline, please note that the last four or five books in the series had a timeline of Richard Bolitho's life printed in them and they all stated that he dies in March 1815 in this book. So, even coming into it, we all knew that Richard Bolitho will get killed here. The question for me was, how? The answer to that waits until the very last page of the very last chapter as Bolitho manages to get involved in Napoleon's escape from Elba.
   
   There are plenty of sea tales in this book and actually it is much better than several of the previous volumes in the series. Since this book is an end of an era, it is not too surprising that many of the old characters make cameo appearances - like Herrick who appears for a page or two. In addition, Adam Bolitho starts taking on a more prominent role in this book. Which makes sense since he will carry the series from here on out, and we start seeing more of the Bolitho 'magic' being bequeathed to him. As usual, there is the pat circumstance of a superior officer who is really unworthy of command - and who gets killed during an engagement; very convenient.
   
   So, a mixed bag deserving of the three star rating I give this book.



5. I had not heard of Alexander Kent until I complained at a book store that they had no copies of Patrick O'Brian's books. The owner said, "Have you read any of Alexander Kent?" I had not, and that began a wonderful new adventure. Kent writes naval stories about the same historical time period as O'Brian, but Kent often has more action scenes, which I thoroughly enjoy. If you like O'Brian, you will love Kent.
   Prentice Kinser III, D.Min., Author of:Limitless Living, A Guide to Unconventional Spiritual Exploration and Growth

5 comments about Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross.

1. I have read many books on WWII taking an interest in the life of the german forces either during their advance or punishing retreat. As an action/adventure book, "Sniper on the Eastern Front" is gripping, but, honestly, I am not too keen on books of fiction advertised as the contrary. There are many instances in which the sniper's exploits seem too fantastic to be true. Also, the passage in which a handful of medical orderlies witness the massacre of their wounded comrades while, as stated in the book, they had no clue as to what the Russians were saying yet the orders and conversations of the latter are not only narrated to us, but also translated in detail. So, who told Sepp exactly what the Russians were saying? Obviously this is pure artistic liberty and that, in my opinion, is unacceptable in a historical context. If the author added fictional elements then his work becomes fiction. In all, reading "Sniper on the Eastern Front" felt as if I was reading a Hollywood script. The constant cheerleading of this seemingly superhuman marksman will definitely give some readers a thrill. A true one-man battalion, a WWII german "Rambo", but if I wanted to read on fictional wars I would have ordered a book on the "War on Drugs", "War on Poverty" or "War on Terror". Thank you and good luck.



2. Having bought and read this book based on the good reviews here I must say I personally disagree. The text is repetitious and smells a little too much of a whitewash with just enough contrary evidence given to play the game of balancing scales. Constantly the author stresses that Sepp did what he had to do in the horrors of war as if to justify his actions and I found this totally uneccessary the first time but in the end I found him protesting a too much. In no way could this be described as a first hand account as many times the author looses himself in his own prose and 'Sepp' is always mentioned in the 3rd person. Also the author starts by stating that he has changed the name of Sepp to protect him so even at the begining I have questioned the value of what I have read. The Russians are likewise treated in a very steriotypical manner and some accaounts appear to be out of place, as in could have happened in 1941 or early 1942 but fail to look into how the Soviet Army changed after this.
   
   On the whole I found the style of the book tiresome in the extreme and found myself fast reading certain sections. It touches reality but in a remote way. Compared to what I consider good memoirs such as 'At Leningrad's Gates: The Combat Memoirs of a Soldier with Army Group North' this book comes out very poorly. In the end this book suits best those who already have an outdated view of the Eastern Front and are pro-German in thinking. By todays standard it is best avoided. I am giving this book 1 star as a waste of my time and money, there are plenty other and much better books out there to waste time with this one.



3. I have read dozens of German ww2 memoirs and this is the book that has it all! The actions described in this book are highly detailed and graphic for sure but it also captures the feelings of other soldiers relating to snipers in general, friend or foe. In one account the author stirs things up with the enemy, and upon his return to friendly lines has a less than cordial greeting from his comrads as hell is right behind him. This is just one example that makes this book so honest. Some of the graphic depictions of torture and violance kept me thinking for days. I lay awake at night trying to comprehend such horrors that were lived by many. As a marksman I found the remarks about bullet drop and trigger control extremely accurate. This book really gave the feel of the Eastern Front, and I came away from it with a feeling of hatred against the Soviets. As well described in the book, this war became one of no rules, no respect for the enemy, no forgiveness. A well done book! This one kept me reading every free second until it was done, and then I went back to read it again.



4. 
   Not worth a long review really. Except for the title ans its cover the book's empty. Nothing much on sniping, even less on the Wehrmacht's smipers. Poor read, erroneous at best. Comment ends.



5. Not overly flowery on the writing like The Forgotten Soldier. Very good descriptions of the soldier's feelings, angst, confusion, frustration, strategies during battles. Very much enjoyed the descriptions of the grinder like destruction of the human life, shocking and realistically graphic while not being gratuitous in its gore, it hit home with the senseless death in war, made me stop several times and digest what I just read. My favorite read of the Eastern front so far. Highly recommend it.

5 comments about The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun.

1. This is without doubt, one of the best, deeply philosophical treatises on swordsmanship, zen, and the proper mindset of a swordsman. If you found Musashi's Go Rin No Sho a bit difficult to follow, this book might be for you.



2. First and foremost this is not a story for entertainment nor is it a manual that will teach you how to use a sword. This is a deeply philosophical investigation into the Zen mind required to master the sword. Experienced practitioners will get the most out of it. Beginners will stumble through it and most of the value will be lost. It requires many reads and deep contemplation together with practice to really come to life.
   
   The first 60-pages of the book are very interesting, as Wilson takes us through a brief synopsis of the life and times of Munenori with some descriptions of his character and people he associated with. Munenori was a very colorful character who was a teacher and adviser to shoguns, winning the post against Musashi himself.
   
   The Yagyu clan is an old ninja family who live in the mountains outside Nara. Their village is surrounded by rice paddies and is difficult to approach. At one point Musashi traveled there to challenge Munenori (who was conveniently not present) and instead wound up dueling and killing a master of the kusurigama, a sickle with a chain and weight on the end and a common ninja weapon.
   
   The actual Life Giving Sword is about 70-pages long and is mostly a philosophical zen treaty with application for any martial art, but geared to the Way of the sword. Also included are 28 prints from the Illustrated Catalog of the Shinkage-ryu, which offers brief descriptions of the techniques and includes the "Tengu Series".
   
   This is an essential book for any sword practitioner, or anyone involved in the martial arts. I can't recommend it enough.



3. Even though I liked Musashi's Book of Five Rings better, this informative text explains the philosopical principles of Zen as it relates to swordsmanship. The advice and lessons in this text are of value for anyone who follows the way of the warrior. The two texts every serious martial artist should have in his/her library is this one and Musashi's book of five rings. Reading this book first will make it easier to understand other treatises having to do with Budo(way of the warrior).
   In conclusion, this book is a classic for all martial artists. Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Martial Art Myths, Season of the Warrior: a poetic tribute to warriors, Tanto-Jutsu Manual, Wakizashi-Jutsu manual, Use of the Monadnock Straight Baton, PR-24 Police Baton Advanced Techniques).



4. If you're looking for practical teachings, read the Book of Five Rings and the Art of War.



5. A good book on the way of the sword/warrior and the combination of Zen thought within this art. I look forward to reading the translator's (William Scott Wilson) bio of Miyamoto Musashi- The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi.

5 comments about Swords: An Artist's Devotion.

1. I gave this to my nephew last Christmas. He absolutely loves the detailed pictures, clear and concise descriptions, and organizations of swords to cultures. It's one of his favorite books. Mother approved as well.



2. Incredible detail and knowledge.This author really knows his history. Illistrations are so precise. I have it on my coffee table and guests are always looking at it and find "Swords" interesting. I am sure the author has spent his life investigating this topic.



3. I bought this book based on the descriptions of other Amazon reviewers and was not diappointed. I bought it for my 10 year old nephew's birthday, and he absolutely loved it. The pictures are so beautiful, and the pages so well designed. The text about the cultures that the swords come from is especially nice. I'd highly recommend it.



4. I purchased this book for my sword-loving son for his 7th birthday. He absolutely loves it. The drawings are unbelievably realistic and descriptions of the various swords are very informative. It has become his preferred bedtime reading!



5. I bought this book for my 18 year old grandson. I couldn't see his reaction, because we don't live in the same town; but, I was told that he loves it. I looked through it before wrapping it, and I was impressed. The illustrations were great, and it appeared to be well written.

5 comments about The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB.

1. A revealing exposition of KGB practices from an insider. The book indicates that Western intelligence was much less developed before than after World War II,when several spies at high positions in US and UK agencies were exposed. The book evokes the idea that political espionage was not very productive. Much political information transferred to the USSR was not believed by political leaders that wanted to stick to their conspiracy theories. Scientific and technological espionage benefitted the military, but not the larger economy. An interesting aspect involves the motivation of these recruits to betray their country and live a double life with great risks. Ideological conviction seemed to have prevailed in the early years, but was surpassed by greed at a later date.



2. Christopher Andrew uses a ridiculous amount of information to create a vivid picture of Soviet operations, policies and views during the Cold War era.
   
   Andrew has a gift. He takes boring documents and weaves them into a tapestry that is worth reading. This book is an amazing addition to any history or spy buff's library. There is no more definitive or realistic look of Soviet espionage available.
   
   Soviet fears, goals, problems and strengths are all covered without bias. Andrew has no agenda in this book. He is neither an apologist nor an attacker. He is a chronicler.
   
   The portions covering the Majestic 5, a British spy ring that reached deep into British foreign and intelligence agencies, is gripping. The Soviet Union seems almost paralyzed by its own success, unable to trust the very people handing them the keys to the kingdom.
   
   The late chapters dealing with Poland and the Pope John Paul II are also striking. Andrew presents a coherent and engaging tale about people sitting around worrying. That is no small task.
   
   There are many histories of this sort that are boring and dry. Andrew finds a narrative voice that helps push the true story of history forward. This book is good, very good. I highly reccomend it.



3. This book - "The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB" is very important, scrupulous and unique scientific-research work on the history of the KGB. It is based primarily on significant and top secret archival material. This monograph will become a valuable reference work for professional historians and for those, who are interested in the secret history of the KGB. This book of Professor Christopher Andrew is an outstanding contribution in the study of the history of the Soviet State Security system - great enemy for the democratic world.
   
   With kind regards,
   
   Dr. Levan Z. Urushadze,
   Scientific Co-ordinator of the Museum
   of the Soviet Occupation of the Georgian
   National Museum, a Fellow of the World
   Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)
   
   Tbilisi, August 29, 2008



4. An amazing story - be sure to get the second book "The World was Going Our Way." It is just as fascinating, but even more readable.



5. The book received within the promised time and in conditions as advertised. Good service!

5 comments about Escape from Warsaw (Original title: The Silver Sword).

1. Book Review on Escape from Warsaw
   I did the book Escape from Warsaw written by Ian Serraillier. This book is realistic fiction.
   In 1942, Ruth, Edek, and Broina, make a safe escape from a bombing at Warsaw. When their Mother and Father are both in different prison camps for crimes they did not commit, it is up to Ruth, Edek, and Broina to find and save them. When they find out their Father has escaped from prison, they travel to Switzerland in hope to find him. On the way they meet loving friends that they will hold deeply to them forever.
   I thought the book was well written and fast paced. It was an excellent book to read and it held my interest. It was very intriguing and would be best suited for a person who loves to read the history of World War 2. Most of it is based on true events and actual accounts. This story is great for a reader that likes to learn about addicting stories of World War 2.
   A.R.: 6 PTS.



2. Shipping was a tad slow but not bad and the product was what I ordered.



3. This was a re-read from high school. It tells of one families to re-unite at the end of WWII. It's based on a true story and it flows nicely. It is very brief and easy to read and at sometimes simplistic but gives another look at events of WWII.



4. Awhile back I had a real interest in World War 2 fiction. This was my favorite WW2 book, and I read it several times (once to my younger siblings - and they loved it too)!!!! I agree with several of the other reviewers who said that the characters are real! I love this book!
   If you are interested in WW2 fiction I would recommend this book, and also the book titled "Snow Treasure".



5. I fisst read this book when I was a kid in the '70's. It was one of my favorite books. I'm so glad it's still in print! It's a wonderful, heart-warming story.

5 comments about Sharpe's Sword (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #14).

1. Cornwell really hit his stride with Sharpe's Sword. It has everything that has earned Cornwell his reputation as perhaps the top historical fiction writer today: a gripping plot, snappy dialogue, great characters, and, of course, a village that becomes "a killing ground ... spawned in a dark night of thunder, betrayal, and love." (Sigh.) In this novel, Sharpe is caught in a web of intrigue. His mission is to find and capture Leroux, a sadistic French officer whose knowledge of the names of British spies puts Wellington's campaign against Napoleon in jeopardy. Sharpe's obsession with a stunningly beautiful Marquesa adds extra spice to this novel, as does the mystery of the true identity of "El Mirador," Britain's top spy. High adventure, murder, obsession, betrayal ... it doesn't get much better than this.



2. One of the great pleasures of the Rifleman Sharpe series, at least for me, is the attention the author gives to explaining -- always in context, never lecturing -- exactly what was going on in the Napoleonic world and what the relevant military strategies and tactics were, and why. This installment end with such a lesson. It was settled wisdom that cavalry could not defeat infantry formed in a square. A square could be broken by artillery (obviously) or by other infantry units, but not by a bunch of big guys on horseback, and Cornwell showed us exactly why that was the case in _Sharpe's Battle_ (written later but chronologically earlier). But war, like life generally, is full of surprises and his careful depiction of the German Legion's "impossible" victory at Garcia Hernandez is not only jaw-dropping but absolutely factual. The main plot this time, however, is less about the battlefield and more about the quiet little espionage war that went on behind the scenes between the agents of both sides. Here the conflict is set in Salamanca and, again, it's true to history. Sharpe, married or not, has one of his periodic love affairs and gets caught up in that quiet but very dirty war -- and nearly dies as a result. The Sharpe novels are frequently driven at least partly by revenge and this one is no exception. Pretty good, though. By the way, because Cornwell is so careful with his history and his descriptions, it's fun to go to Google Earth after finishing one of his books and examining what the towns and battle sites are like today.



3. As always, I encourage you to read the books in this series in the order of the chronology they describe rather than by publication date. Mr. Cornwell has come back again and again to "fill in" between books with other books. You'll enjoy the series more in a logical order.
   
   At the current time, this is the 14th book in the chronological series.
   
   After the desperate battles to throw the French out of Portugal and to enter Spain by breaching two fortresses, the British and their Portuguese and Spanish allies are near Salamanca looking to set up a battle that they can win decisively against the larger French forces.
   
   As the book opens, the dangerous French Colonel Laroux has extracted some important information about a British spy ring through torture. But he's made a mistake and taken too long. He's at risk to be captured. Being a capable dissembler, Laroux soon has most of the British fooled . . . but not Sharpe. Laroux soon shows his true colors and the British realize it's essential that they contain Laroux's information before their spies are killed.
   
   In the process, Sharpe becomes fascinated by Laroux's sword and begins to wish it were his. You'll begin to wonder how that might occur.
   
   Next, Wellington has the relatively simple task of seizing three forts against far from extreme opposition after the main French army retreats. But it proves to be more difficult than expected. Someone has tipped off the French about when and where the attack will come.
   
   Sharpe meanwhile is drawn into the party life of the Spanish aristocracy, finding himself drawn to the alluring La Marquesa despite being a newly married man. Is she also interested?
   
   Sharpe is now asked to solely focus on Laroux, and a fascinating sequence of unexpected events ensues.
   
   In the second half of the book, you'll find many more surprises than most Sharpe novels contain. As the historical note at the end indicates, many of these surprises follow the facts of the real history pretty closely. Within that framework, Mr. Cornwell has added his magic touch to weave some imaginary plots involving fictional characters that work seamlessly together. It's very nice!
   
   Although the battle writing cannot be nearly as engaging as usual because the nature of the battles here provide a less interesting factual basis for the descriptions, there are still some pretty neat touches in giving us a sense of how Wellington won the day against the crafty and determined marshal Marmont.



4. Not bad but at times one gets tired of the hero being put in seemingly hopeless situations which magically get solved.



5. My husband and I have now read the entire series. Cornwell is one of the best storytellers I have ever read - he takes you there. From the very first book of the series to the very last you are turning the pages as fast as you can read. As with Cornwell's other books you can't wait till the next book gets into publication. Mr. Cornwell, please keep Mr. Sharpe's adventures going.

5 comments about Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway.

1. Lots of new material here, some of it tedious at times. But so much of it lingers in the mind that the book really is a priceless contribution.
   
   U.S. Navy Ensign Osmus, for instance, has been dead for almost sixty-eight years, but I didn't know about him until I came across his story in Shattered Sword. Now I keep imagining him staring at the Japanese sailor coming at him with an axe as he held onto the chain rail on the stern of Arashi, a destroyer in Nippon's First Carrier Striking Force.
   
   Osmus, a TBD Devastator torpedo-bomber pilot from the carrier Yorktown, had crashed in the sea, been plucked out by Arashi's crew and interrogated by Captain Watanabe Yusumasa. Then Watanabe calmly ordered Osmus thrown off the stern. Osmus grabbed hold of the chain rail; hence the sailor with the axe. Odd that the ensign's Web memorial at the University of Illinois still makes no mention of his murder, though the authors know it well enough and add: "Watanabe did not survive the war. Had he lived, it is likely he would have met the hangman's noose as a war criminal."



2. I have been a history buff of WWII for 60+ years. My Dad bought 3 American Legion Books of the pictorial history of WWII and the first two years of the Korean War and I was hooked. I have now a collection of over 200 history books on the war.
   
   The Battle of Midway was always of great interest. Before the release of information of the US breaking Japan's code it was a mystery why, we did what we did.
   
   This book is the definitive study of that battle, with Japan's timeline of events driving the narrative. A great way to unroll the historical events of this most of all Great Battles in recorded history.



3. I heard about the existence of this book quite by chance. Having previously read numerous books and articles containing the "accepted" version of events, I was keen to see what this book had to say; particularly because it offered a look at the battle from the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) perspective.
   
   Within just a couple of pages I knew I was on to a good read. The book is extremely well written, the authors having a very easy-to-read style; even when explaining potentially dry subjects such as carrier aircraft handling techniques or doctrine of the IJN.
   
   Although seen from the IJN`s viewpoint, Shattered Sword is very balanced, bringing out the successes and failings on both sides; saving the biggest criticism for Admiral Yammamoto`s fatally flawed plan that led to the Battle of Midway.
   
   The big winner though is the de-bunking of a large number of myths and un-truths that have been become accepted in western re-telling of the battle. I normally treat books that promise such things with extreme caution, but this is no sensationalist, revisionist work. The authors explain where these falsehoods eminate from (the source may surprise you), how they came to be accepted and then diligently explains how each could not be true.
   
   Summary: For anyone interested in World War II, the Pacific War or naval history generally, this is a must have book.



4. The very first naval history book I ever read was my dad's copy of Gordon Prange's Miracle at Midway. I read it in junior high and spent the next several years convinced I wanted to be a WWII naval historian, right up until I hit second-semester Japanese in college. Happily, Parshall and Tully were not so easily deterred, and the result is this wonderful book. I agree with some of the other reviewers that this is not a perfect book. In particular, the research and analysis are better than the writing. One gets the sense the authors were more motivated to get the facts straight (and correct those who came up short, especially Fuchida but also Prange and others) than they were to tell a great story. The writing doesn't soar, but for me it didn't distract either, and that was good enough. There are a lot of pretty terrible naval history books out there (Edwin Hoyt comes to mind) that focused way too much on telling a fist-pumping tale of American heroism and far too little on uncovering the facts and providing reasoned analysis.
   
   In my view, this is the best of the Pacific naval war histories to come out in the past decade or so (not that I can claim to have them all). Judging from reviews here, I gather some would pick Hornfischer's Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors instead, but I found Shattered Sword far superior. It ranks up there with Potter's Nimitz biography, Kaigun, and, yes, Miracle at Midway among my all-time favorites.



5. An excelent and ultimate account to the Battle of Midway. This book deserves attention of everyone who is interested in the Pacific-war-topic.
   Parshall & Tully describes this famous battle from the japanese side: not necessary japanese point of view but from the decks (and under-decks) of japanese warships. They shows not only behaviour and acts of (commanding) officers and man of Kido Butai and Yamamoto's staff but also the tactics and doctrine of IJN and above all IJN's aircraft carrier operations.

5 comments about The Book of Five Rings (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior).

1. Miyamoto Musashi is a famous Japanese Samurai who was in at least 60 duels often to the death across Japan fighting various warriors from many styles of fighting. Musashi supposedly never lost a duel which is not entirely true as at least on one occasion he fled a battle when the odds were against him. Musashi lived until the ripe old age of 60 which was old back in the time of the samurai. He did not write this book until he was in his fifties after countless battles, contemplation, and practice in becoming a true martial artist. Mushashi's belief system in the five rings or elements that must be mastered to defeat your enemy is the same belief system that the Ninja in ancient Japan had. The Ninja originally adopted these ideas from an ancient Chinese scroll on warfare. The five elements or "rings" as Musashi calls them are Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Void. It is interesting to note that Musashi also believes like many people do that the greatest enemy is in fact oneself. This is a very good book from the philosophical standpoint of following Zen and overcoming obstacles and opponents. However, in later chapters Musashi goes into great detail on sword fighting techniques which are not very useful as there is no visual aide to assume the forms he describes. If you want to learn sword fighting techniques I suggest "Shinobi Gatana" (GHOST BLADE) by Steven Hayes - one of the only Americans ever trained by the last Grand Master of Ninjitsu (unfortunately it is hard to come by and only available on VHS). Musashi's book is a journey into the mind of a true martial artist, his ideals and techniques were just as relevant in his time as our own.



2. I bought it for my boyfriend as a birthday gift. I ended up reading it too because he talk so great about it. I thought it was a great book and very well written. i enjoyed it very much and my boyfriend was very happy with it we plan on buying more books like this one.



3. Written in the 1600s by one of the great Samurais in history Musashi puts forth his ideas on sword fighting combat and life. I found this interesting. While the ideas are obviously geared toward sword fighting some with a slight alteration could apply to other martial arts/fighting sports. I'll leave the all the overly contemplative philosophical musings on this book to all the Zen Buddhists out there. There was also some good biographical stuff and artwork by him in this too.



4. I am a student of Zen for over 10 years now, recently getting interested and involved with Kendo. So, this was one of the first books I thought about reading that might combine the two interests. This is a very famous book from a very famous warrior/zen student/artist/eccentric. It is definitely worth a read, but I must say that it was short on both swordsmanship and Zen. It was too broad to be taken as a helpful guide for Kendo, although I'm sure it would be a great manual to supplement a student training with Miyamoto Musashi or one of his disciples. His thoughts on Zen are a little interesting and he seemed to have obviously been steeped in Zen and its teachings, but there are much better books on Buddhist/Zen thought. I am very interested in the seeming conflict in the Buddhist ideal of not killing and yet the practice of Zen was so attractive to many Samurai/warriors. In my humble opinion, The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun by Yagyu Munenori, goes into that subject a little deeper and does make sense. I found the "Life-Giving Sword" much more interesting in terms of both swordsmanship guide and Zen thought and the combination of the two, although still not much help as a guide to Kendo without an instructor to help actually teach and guide a student through the material. I'm sure Miyamoto Musashi was an amazing person and would have been an impressive person to meet in real life, if we had time machines. ;) Still respectful of the man and his ideas, but too bad his book he left behind was more bones than flesh.



5. I've read three translations of this book thus far. One was terrible, one was excellent and this one is a good translation and a very good quality production.
   
   Unfortunately nearly every page is littered with pictures of flowers and sickles (and what appear at times to be snowflakes) behind the print. For me these images are very distracting.
   
   I give it four stars despite the images.