Words of wisdom from great samurai leaders! Samurai warrior leaders had to deal with grim conditions of life, death and survival. But such men were not simply rough uneducated fighters: they often personified the Far Eastern ideal of balancing cultural awareness and artistic expertise with high martial abilities. Their sayings, precepts and the anecdotes about them are informed by a broad spectrum of interests, many of which are still relevant today.

Advice in this book includes:

You should not envy the swords and clothing of others. It goes without saying that you should arrange your hair early in the morning if you are going out to your work, but this should be done even if you are thinking of staying at home. When you think too much, it will be difficult to win in a great battle. If you are too clever and look too far ahead, you will accomplish nothing. If you have some pressing or urgent affair, write it down with a calm state of mind. Your regular meals should be light, and you should not take a trivial liking for elegant cuisine. If someone promotes only those things the lord finds acceptable, and never remonstrates with him at all, you should watch that man carefully. No matter how wise another man may be, you should not depend on him, but rather, understand that you are on your own.

Covering topics ranging from the courage and ambition to face our daily affairs, the insights necessary for dealing with both compatriots and opponents, the value of art and literature, and even why and how to save money, this is a book whose ancient wisdom is still highly relevant and of great value to twenty-first century readers today.