Musashi: An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era

See the three movies about Japan's most famous duelist and skip this book. This should have been three books instead of one set in type that's too damned small. If you're determined and motivated you'll learn a lot about this fascinating man than you'll find in the movies. Get a magnifying glass to read the text.

An authentic insight into the samurai era for Westerners whose previous exposure to this era has been samurai movies w/ English subtitles or novels written from a Western perspective. A great adventure.

Great book, great plot, great characters. If your not from Japan the only thing that gets a little confusing would be the names and places but you get used to it. Reading Shogun now and am also really liking that book.

Enjoyed the insight into the world of the Japanese during the early years of the new Shogunate. Lots of fun to read following the stories of the four main characters, how they develop and mature. Long book but moves quite quickly.

While only a bit predictable towards the end, this is a wonderful story that is steeped in the rich history of feudal Japan. Musashi becomes the type of warrior/poet that typifies the Samurai ethos and a hero that you will find yourself rooting for the entire time. While intermingled with actual events and historical figures, this is both an entertaining and informing experience. Highly reccomended.

Anyone who enjoys historical fiction, martial arts & fighting, war, Japanese culture, Samurai, Knights, or a good gripping read, seriously do yourself a favor and purchase this book.

I just could not put this book down. When I had finished the novel I found myself wishing the story was longer than it already is (970 pages). I also found myself literally missing the story's characters.

This purchase was truly worthwile. Knowing how good the story is now I would have happily paid more. Very highly recommended.

I learned of the book listening to a Jocko Willink podcast featuring a Tim Ferriss. Both spoke reverently of the book and read passionately from select passages they found inspiring. I found it to be mesmerizing and immediately followed-up Bu purchasing and reading the book. It is a historical novel with the grandeur of Shogun. It provided insights into the period, the culture its people and methods. It is full of swashbuckling adventure, unrequited love and the battle between good and evil. It is an inspiration to all that follow the way and seek to master themselves.

Very good, if not monumental novel. Great summer read. A little repetitive and tedious in places. The famous fights are glossed over to focus on the endless love intrigues. Abysmal Kindle editing. As usual. A LOT Of mistakes in spelling, grammar and formatting. Prefer hard copy.

Anyone remotely interested in the thought behind marshall arts movies or the Samurai culture of 16th Century Japan should set aside a sizable slot of time and sink into the reading of this saga. It's easy to read in small sections because it was run in Japan as a series (in a magazine or newspaper?). It is an enlightening look at one man's journey from neighbor thug to master of an entire school of marshall arts. It is my understanding that the Japanese still use the characters from this story to describe persons (as we would with GONE WITH THE WIND): "He has a Rhett Butler charm."

Amazing story. I have seen the film version starring Toshiro Mifune many times and finally read this book and there is so much more to discover in this great story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.