The Ronin (Tuttle Classics)

The biggest surprise of this book is that it has never been made into a movie. The author was a script writer who obviously had a deep understanding of Zen and human nature. He was black listed during the McCarthy era in Hollywood and seems to have written this book while he couldn't get work in Hollywood. This book is written in a spare, terse fashion that is almost like a screenplay.I first encountered this book in `969-70 when it was required reading for people taking the karate class from Dr. David Krieger at the University of Hawaii. David sensei is a unique person. He worked as a reporter in Japan, He was one of the few people to defeat the fabled Chuck Norris in an open tournament and is now the head of the Nuclear Peace foundation, have grown and learned so much that he has transcended violence and the martial arts. I have cherished this book for more than 40 years and require all of my senior karate students to read it. It is a classic heroes journey with a cocky young man rising to the heights and falling to the depths and then being pursued by a young man determined to avenge the death of his father and abduction of his mother. Although sparely worded and short by most novel standards, there is depth of thought in the story that makes you spend lots of time pondering the nature of life, mankind, ambition, love, vengeance and most of all self delusion.The only complaint I have about this book is that I keep loaning it to people and never getting it back. That's understandable since it is the type of book you read and re-read.

This was a pretty good story but please remember that it is based on a Zen myth and therefore the ending is typical of a Zen myth. One bad thing about this book is absolutely cannot decide what time period it takes place in. At many places it talks about things that make you think it is set in the late 12th century, like when it speaks of "the rout of the Minamoto". However later in the book it makes an allusion to a story concerning Ieyasu which mean it has to take place after the year 1600 at least. Also some things that it refers to were not around in the 12th century. Some of that is normal with English speaking authors writing stories of Japan as they are trying to appeal to the masses and therefore often talk about Noh theatre, or warriors carrying katana when these things were not around yet. But this book pushes it a little for the someone like me a hardcore Japanese history and culture buff. All in all though it is a good story and worth a read since it a short book.

One line: "It was like being crowned emperor while having a pubic hair caught in your foreskin." Man!Human life is dissatisfaction, the Buddha said. Like licking honey off a thorn, a Dutch guy told me once.There's a lot of unromantic humorous truths in this little book.

This is a wonderful eccentric book that is not meant to be the asian version of cowboys and indians. Instead, the story reveals the path to, and meaning of, a warrior's discipline, the elusiveness of truth, and the value of non-attachment all told through a subtle and beguiling tale that (never fear) does have moments of sex and violence.I read this book 30 years ago. It was treasured, never re-sold and never re-read until recently. Now it is even more treasured.If your interest is merely expert swordplay or exquisite ceremony this is probably not for you. If your interest is more than historical and more than martial then this is a fantastic read.

Great story, violent and unpredictable. Like most folk tales much less refined than more modern stories. I would recommend for 15 yrs +. Great message though

My brother gave me this book when I was twelve to help me deal with all my freakin childhood anger and confusion. I’ve been searching for it ever since. Thank YOU Amazon. Love this book...

Not about Japan, not about samurai; all of that is just the superficial vehicle for revealing truths about human nature. You don't get to be a third person observer, either; you will see yourself. And you will cherish the book.ORand I suspect more likely, you will read a story about medieval Japan, and samurai, and like it or hate it.Sorry, but a "useful" review in which I tell you whether you will like it or hate it is impossible. It depends on who you are, and I don't know you.

I read this decades ago, and some scenes stuck with me so much that I hunted it down to read them again. On rereading, I now see things I missed before (like the inconsistent flow of years, depending on perspective); and overall, while it is (humanly) imperfect, I think it stands the test of time.

unusual but good

I found the first part of the book ugly with the focus on the atrocities of a despicable outlaw ronin .. the second half was more interesting, as any samurai type book always is, due to the focus on the training of the young warrior who wants to hunt down the outlaw ronin and exact revenge on him .. I won't say the meeting between the would-be avenger and a contrite ronin doesn't bring a pleasant Buddha-like Zen twist to the story .. but the ending is dissatisfying to say the least though I suppose that's part of the Zen weirdness of the entire tale .. I much prefer Robert Shea's Shiké and Chris Bradford's Young Samurai series. Chris's series, though ostensibly for YA, is impeccably researched and suitably intense for precocious teens and adults from 21-121.

A moral tail of life, death, revenge and honour. I learned far more the mind set of a Japanese warrior reading this than I ever thought possible.

Bought this book as it was recommended by a friend but I could not find the deep meaning he derived from the book. It was ok reading though.