 | The Martial Artist's "Book of Five Rings": The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy by Stephen F. Kaufman
Buy used from: £1.50 A translation by an accomplished Martial Artist for Martial Artists - it doesn't try and turn it into a text for Businessmen
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 | The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of Shogun by Yagyu Munenori
Buy new: £8.05 / Used from: £5.44 Different from Musashi this text tries to place the martial arts in a social context
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 | The Unfettered Mind: Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman by Takuan Soho
Buy new: £9.25 / Used from: £9.97 Takuan Soho provides wise insight into the mindset of a martial artist
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 | Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Buy new: £4.30 / Used from: £1.54 Short passages make this an accesible entry point into Samurai philosophy
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 | The Samurai and the Sacred: The Path of the Warrior (General Military) by Stephen Turnbull
Buy new: £14.00 / Used from: £3.76 A secondary source this book provides insight into the belief systems of the Samurai
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 | The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi by William Scott Wilson
Buy new: £9.41 / Used from: £9.00 A brilliant biography of a man who has come to embody the modern concept of a warrior
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 | The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori by Mark Ravina
Buy new: £12.32 / Used from: £2.78 An excellent account of the "Last Samurai"
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 | Samurai: The World of the Warrior (Special Editions (Military)) by Stephen Turnbull
Buy used from: £4.92 A brilliant overall account of the Samurai
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 | Samurai Invasion: Japan's Korean War 1592-1598 (Cassell Military) by Stephen Turnbull
Buy used from: £37.50 Masterful account of the invasion of Korea with a balanced view of both sides
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 | The Code of the Samurai: A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke.: A Contemporary Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke by Daidoji Yuzan
Buy new: £6.94 / Used from: £2.60 A code of conduct that was designed for younger Samurai.
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 | Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan by Oscar Ratti
Buy new: £19.99 / Used from: £2.22 A good overall account of the evolution of martial arts in Japan - though be warned it is Aikido biased!
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 | The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Buy new: £3.00 / Used from: £3.40 Although not Japanese, it was highly influential in the Samurai's thinking
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