Book of Five Rings, The

A timeless masterpiece from Japan's most renowned swordsman on the subtle art of leadership in the face of conflict. Miyamoto Musashi's revered manual of strategy, The Book of Five Rings, is one of the most renowned texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to ever emerge from Asia**x2014;second only to Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Composed by Musashi in 1643 CE after years of warfare and battlefield contemplation, it analyzes the processes of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlie every level of human interaction. Not merely a book of swordplay, Musashi's insight yields boundless rewards to all who seek to apply these timeless principles to their life. Thomas Cleary's eminent and long-beloved translation is immediately accessible and includes an introduction to the philosophical background of the warrior tradition.