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The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword-Sharp Principles for Success
The Courage of a Samurai is a Japanese American's journey into bushido, the samurai's code of ethics. Each chapter features a timeless message about Japanese and Japanese Americans who applied the principles of courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty to overcome life's challenges, and emerge stronger individuals. The Courage of a Samurai provides the reader a look ‘inside’ this ancient code through the lives of inspiring individuals. Why did Chiune Sugihara, aka the Japanese Schindler , save the lives of Polish and Lithuanian Jews during World War II against the orders of the Japanese and Lithuanian governments? Understand the meaning of Honor in Saigo Takamori’s, aka The Last Samurai , determination to preserve the samurai’s way of life. Learn why “Go for Broke!” was the motto of the famous World War II all-Nisei 100 th /442 nd RCT, and discover why this simple motto reflects the essence of the way of the warrior. The Code of Bushido can guide us through the challenges we all face, and inspire us to live a life of honor, courage, and integrity in today’s fast-paced and changing world. Sharpen your sword, and let the journey begin!
- GenresNonfiction
264 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 31, 2016
The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword-Sharp Principles for Success by Lori Tsugawa Whaley is a most incredible book. I am not a huge fan of self-help books, having read a few and decided that many sort of chewed over the same advice. This is not a self-help book. This is a book that awakens those dim memories of being taught when young how to live properly, of doing the right thing, and living a life of integrity and moral uprightness. In the preface the author speaks about things that will have readers nodding in agreement—how do you live your life according to principles when most people these days seem to have tossed ethics, integrity, truthfulness, and honour out the window? How can one pursue a life of doing what is right when everyone else seems to be doing what they want or what they think is right for them? How does one live ethically in a society dominated by materialism, selfishness, and the prevailing ideology of “me first!” in society and government.
The author uses the code of bushido, the principles of the samurai, the code of chivalry that permeates Japanese society, to awaken in readers what we know is right, and to encourage us to pick up those principles and use them, making our lives worthy and honourable. The author introduces the history and culture of Japan, the rise of the samurai class, the way of the warrior, in an engaging way that makes the history lesson really palatable and enjoyable. You’ll love learning these facts which open the reader’s eyes to Japanese society and behaviour, especially in times of terrible disasters.
Each chapter is devoted to a principle: Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty. Each chapter is prefaced with a kanji, the Japanese ideogram for the meaning of the word. I found this so interesting and unusual. Lori uses stories of great and memorable people, many of them humble folk who would not consider themselves to be great or extraordinary at all—their deeds of heroism, their acts of selflessness, their “doing the right thing” illustrate that people who maintained these principles in their lives and actions rose to stand out above the rest. Much of this heroism happened during World War II and some stories brought me to tears. Lori also outlines the history of the Japanese people in the USA and their shocking treatment at the hands of the American government during the war, with the internment camps and alien classification because they were Japanese.
The book is so beautifully laid out in a way that facts and figures do not overwhelm the reader, but can be absorbed easily. Lori’s tone is conversational and laid-back, but amazingly enough, she manages to cover much ground and deep thinking in this fashion. This review cannot accommodate just how much interesting information is covered, and the author’s incredible research is very evident. I learned a great deal and my views on what is the right way to conduct oneself during life were reinforced. Relevant and appropriate quotes from leaders, philosophers, philanthropists, humanitarians, and deep thinkers are included as well.
I have always been fascinated with Japan, the samurai class, the way of the warrior, and I absolutely love the story of the 47 Ronin who sacrificed themselves to avenge the needless death of their master, to put right a great wrong. The fact that these samurai are still celebrated in Japanese culture today speaks volumes for what they stood for.
The author aims to inspire, empower, and educate readers, and by the end of this book, your faith in doing what you know is right, living by what could be construed as “old fashioned” values is reinforced. You’ll be inspired to forge your own warrior’s code and create a life of success and meaningfulness, using principles that will help you face and conquer today’s challenges, both personally and professionally. This is a must-read for anyone interested in finding the keys to creating a life lived well and lived worthily. Thought provoking, spiritual, and very moving. A stellar achievement by Lori Tsugawa Whaley.
The author uses the code of bushido, the principles of the samurai, the code of chivalry that permeates Japanese society, to awaken in readers what we know is right, and to encourage us to pick up those principles and use them, making our lives worthy and honourable. The author introduces the history and culture of Japan, the rise of the samurai class, the way of the warrior, in an engaging way that makes the history lesson really palatable and enjoyable. You’ll love learning these facts which open the reader’s eyes to Japanese society and behaviour, especially in times of terrible disasters.
Each chapter is devoted to a principle: Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honour, and Loyalty. Each chapter is prefaced with a kanji, the Japanese ideogram for the meaning of the word. I found this so interesting and unusual. Lori uses stories of great and memorable people, many of them humble folk who would not consider themselves to be great or extraordinary at all—their deeds of heroism, their acts of selflessness, their “doing the right thing” illustrate that people who maintained these principles in their lives and actions rose to stand out above the rest. Much of this heroism happened during World War II and some stories brought me to tears. Lori also outlines the history of the Japanese people in the USA and their shocking treatment at the hands of the American government during the war, with the internment camps and alien classification because they were Japanese.
The book is so beautifully laid out in a way that facts and figures do not overwhelm the reader, but can be absorbed easily. Lori’s tone is conversational and laid-back, but amazingly enough, she manages to cover much ground and deep thinking in this fashion. This review cannot accommodate just how much interesting information is covered, and the author’s incredible research is very evident. I learned a great deal and my views on what is the right way to conduct oneself during life were reinforced. Relevant and appropriate quotes from leaders, philosophers, philanthropists, humanitarians, and deep thinkers are included as well.
I have always been fascinated with Japan, the samurai class, the way of the warrior, and I absolutely love the story of the 47 Ronin who sacrificed themselves to avenge the needless death of their master, to put right a great wrong. The fact that these samurai are still celebrated in Japanese culture today speaks volumes for what they stood for.
The author aims to inspire, empower, and educate readers, and by the end of this book, your faith in doing what you know is right, living by what could be construed as “old fashioned” values is reinforced. You’ll be inspired to forge your own warrior’s code and create a life of success and meaningfulness, using principles that will help you face and conquer today’s challenges, both personally and professionally. This is a must-read for anyone interested in finding the keys to creating a life lived well and lived worthily. Thought provoking, spiritual, and very moving. A stellar achievement by Lori Tsugawa Whaley.
May 22, 2017
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This book wasn’t at all what I expected - but in a good way. Although at times it seemed somewhat like reading a sermon, the simplicity of the moral code presented in the book is in especially sharp contrast with the current political climate. Presented through the stories of distinguished Japanese-Americans, the author describes a simple code of conduct derived from the samurai or warrior culture of Japan.
As a student of Japanese law and history myself, I found a lot of the stories in the book fascinating, giving me a completely new perspective into the history of the second world war and the cultural nuances of Japanese society. The principles described in the book may be familiar, but they are made new and interesting through the lens of the stories that accompany each principle and illustrate it. I found myself fascinated and read through the book in a few days.
The Courage of a Samurai reminds us that timeless principles like loyalty, honor and integrity can be guiding lights, regardless of who we are and where we come from, and especially when times are hard and we are tempted to give in to complaint and bitterness and complacency, we can live a completely different life by simply making different choices.
August 13, 2017
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting after reading the synopsis. First, let me tell you my impressions of the book:
It was laid out like a devotional, with a page or two about one of the seven tenets of bushido and then a couple of examples of people who embodied these qualities.
I don't think it's any coincidence that the layout reminded me of a devotional as there were several references to the Bible throughout.
Most of the examples were about Japanese or Japanese-American people during WW2, which, though inspiring and meaningful, weren't really examples that could be applied today as suggested in the book's description.
This book was straddling a line, trying to be one of two things but couldn't decide which to go with - a book about the treatment of Japanese Americans during WW2 and a book about applying Samurai qualities today. Both of these are excellent areas to cover, but by trying to do both, the message didn't pack the punch it could have done.
This is a book I'd recommend more for its historical content, especially the messages about the US concentration camps that were kept hidden for so long. The author's pride in her heritage is heartwarming and something that anyone reading this book will be able to appreciate.
It was laid out like a devotional, with a page or two about one of the seven tenets of bushido and then a couple of examples of people who embodied these qualities.
I don't think it's any coincidence that the layout reminded me of a devotional as there were several references to the Bible throughout.
Most of the examples were about Japanese or Japanese-American people during WW2, which, though inspiring and meaningful, weren't really examples that could be applied today as suggested in the book's description.
This book was straddling a line, trying to be one of two things but couldn't decide which to go with - a book about the treatment of Japanese Americans during WW2 and a book about applying Samurai qualities today. Both of these are excellent areas to cover, but by trying to do both, the message didn't pack the punch it could have done.
This is a book I'd recommend more for its historical content, especially the messages about the US concentration camps that were kept hidden for so long. The author's pride in her heritage is heartwarming and something that anyone reading this book will be able to appreciate.
May 27, 2017
This book tells the about the seven principals of being a Samurai. The seven principals are Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor, Loyalty, and Ganbaru. Each of the seven principals is broken into a chapter and we get to see what the definition of each word is and then the author goes into examples of how these principals have been shown in the past.
I loved how the author setup this book with explaining the principals and then giving amazing examples of how they were demonstrated. The author took a large amount of time to research the different events that she referenced and the people she studied. We get to learn a lot about the treatment of Japanese American’s during the war and how much the Japanese American’s helped during World War II. I love reading books that contain a lot of learning and showing examples of how people apply these principals works perfectly for this book.
We also get to learn a lot about Japanese business culture and how it stays constant with the guiding principles brought from the Samurai. The author does a great job making references to home life as well as business culture in this book.
I didn’t know too much about Japanese culture before reading this book, but I do feel I learned a decent amount about the Japanese culture that shows from the past to the present. The author does a great job explaining all about Japanese culture in this book. The book flows very naturally and the topic covered are very enlightening.
I could have liked to read more about the treatment of the Japanese American’s that were held in the camps. We got to hear more about the people that left and where successful in war, but I bet being in that contained area must have also had people showing the courage of a Samurai. This book does make me want to research and learn about the Japanese during World War II because I don’t remember a lot of this being taught at school and want to know more about this topic now.
I received a copy of this book from Firetalker PR to provide an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.
I loved how the author setup this book with explaining the principals and then giving amazing examples of how they were demonstrated. The author took a large amount of time to research the different events that she referenced and the people she studied. We get to learn a lot about the treatment of Japanese American’s during the war and how much the Japanese American’s helped during World War II. I love reading books that contain a lot of learning and showing examples of how people apply these principals works perfectly for this book.
We also get to learn a lot about Japanese business culture and how it stays constant with the guiding principles brought from the Samurai. The author does a great job making references to home life as well as business culture in this book.
I didn’t know too much about Japanese culture before reading this book, but I do feel I learned a decent amount about the Japanese culture that shows from the past to the present. The author does a great job explaining all about Japanese culture in this book. The book flows very naturally and the topic covered are very enlightening.
I could have liked to read more about the treatment of the Japanese American’s that were held in the camps. We got to hear more about the people that left and where successful in war, but I bet being in that contained area must have also had people showing the courage of a Samurai. This book does make me want to research and learn about the Japanese during World War II because I don’t remember a lot of this being taught at school and want to know more about this topic now.
I received a copy of this book from Firetalker PR to provide an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book.
December 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I don't typically read much non-fiction (though it seems like I have been reading more these past few years.) I decided to read this book because it featured Japanese culture and values and I wanted to learn about those things. Many of the examples used came from WWII heroes. That was a dark time in American history when we put people in internment camps simply because of their national origin. America put people in prison (even if they were born as American citizens) based on their racial background "just in case" they were Imperial Japan sympathizers. I enjoyed reading about those heroic events, then I set the book aside and forgot where I placed it so a few months went by... and recently I found it and finished it.
I do find WWII era stories interesting when they are based on real events and real people. I read a book in the series for children called "I am America" and they shared historical information that children need to know. Until I read that book for my son's library at his school I didn't know anything about the internment camps. Then I found out some were still around and can be seen today (though no longer used) like the one in Arizona near Gila River.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the examples the author used. In some ways the way the book was written was simplistic enough to understand, yet deep enough to be meaningful. The takeaway value in this books is self-sacrifice for honor is a beautiful thing. I hope to remember that the next time I want to put myself first and am feeling self-centered. We all have our days since we are human, but there is a part of me that wants to embody the traits of the Samurai that are outlined in the book.
I do find WWII era stories interesting when they are based on real events and real people. I read a book in the series for children called "I am America" and they shared historical information that children need to know. Until I read that book for my son's library at his school I didn't know anything about the internment camps. Then I found out some were still around and can be seen today (though no longer used) like the one in Arizona near Gila River.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the examples the author used. In some ways the way the book was written was simplistic enough to understand, yet deep enough to be meaningful. The takeaway value in this books is self-sacrifice for honor is a beautiful thing. I hope to remember that the next time I want to put myself first and am feeling self-centered. We all have our days since we are human, but there is a part of me that wants to embody the traits of the Samurai that are outlined in the book.
July 12, 2017
This review was originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2017/06/2...
am an advocate of the self-help book. They might seem cheesy, and they won’t change your entire life, but you always finish up one having learned a thing or two. You may also think that they are all the same, but you are wrong.
The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword-Sharp Principles for Success by Lori Tsugawa Whaley is a self-help book with a difference. It is broken into several chapters which focus on the samurai’s code of ethics, and each chapter tells the stories Japanese and Japanese Americans who applied the principles of courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honour, and loyalty to their own lives.
Why did I like this book? Maybe because it wasn’t condescending. Every piece of advice was offered as a suggestion rather than something considered a “must-do” and forced down your throat. I wasn’t left feeling overwhelmed. This was helped by the examples given, the stories of people who stuck to one or more of these ethics and made a positive change in life. Therefore, Tsugawa offered more so approaches to life rather than a hard set of guidelines which just had to be followed. I was able to take from the information of the page and interpret it to fit my own needs. The recollection of these stories left me really believing in this ethics and making a conscious effort to live by them more.
I babble a lot about learning about points of history from books and this review will be no different. Even without the self-help aspects, I enjoyed the information this book offered me from a new culture. My samurai knowledge was zero before this book; I hadn’t even seen The Last Samurai! But now I feel compelled to learn more about their culture, as well as that of Japanese Americans, especially their treatment during WWII. If I book leaves you wanting to learn more, then I think it is a winner.
So, if you want a self-help book with a difference, The Courage of a Samurai is for you.
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
am an advocate of the self-help book. They might seem cheesy, and they won’t change your entire life, but you always finish up one having learned a thing or two. You may also think that they are all the same, but you are wrong.
The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword-Sharp Principles for Success by Lori Tsugawa Whaley is a self-help book with a difference. It is broken into several chapters which focus on the samurai’s code of ethics, and each chapter tells the stories Japanese and Japanese Americans who applied the principles of courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honour, and loyalty to their own lives.
Why did I like this book? Maybe because it wasn’t condescending. Every piece of advice was offered as a suggestion rather than something considered a “must-do” and forced down your throat. I wasn’t left feeling overwhelmed. This was helped by the examples given, the stories of people who stuck to one or more of these ethics and made a positive change in life. Therefore, Tsugawa offered more so approaches to life rather than a hard set of guidelines which just had to be followed. I was able to take from the information of the page and interpret it to fit my own needs. The recollection of these stories left me really believing in this ethics and making a conscious effort to live by them more.
I babble a lot about learning about points of history from books and this review will be no different. Even without the self-help aspects, I enjoyed the information this book offered me from a new culture. My samurai knowledge was zero before this book; I hadn’t even seen The Last Samurai! But now I feel compelled to learn more about their culture, as well as that of Japanese Americans, especially their treatment during WWII. If I book leaves you wanting to learn more, then I think it is a winner.
So, if you want a self-help book with a difference, The Courage of a Samurai is for you.
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2017
Lori Tsugawa Whaley is proud of her Japanese heritage and believes others can learn valuable lessons from it, which is why she has titled her book The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword-Sharp Principles for Success.
According to her bio, Whaley "is a third-generation Japanese American and a descendant of the samurai. As a baby boomer, she grew up in a predominately Caucasian logging and farming community in rural southwest Washington state. Lori's character and work ethic were formed by working hard alongside her parents on the family farm. She struggled with being different, especially during the school years." She is now on a "mission to inspire individuals to apply the code of bushido (the way of the warrior) to tap into their sole purpose in life."
Her seven principles are courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. And for good measure she adds an eighth: ganbaru, the verb that my dictionary defines as "be tenacious; be persistent; keep at it; do not give up easily; give all one has got; hold out; stick to it; be full of energy; insist that; stick to; keep saying/repeating; continue to claim . . ." But you get the idea. It's a word you hear a lot in Japan.
Whaley describes each principle and illustrates its application through Japanese-related examples. Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese counsel in Kaunas, Lithuania, signed thousands of transit visas in 1940 for mainly Jewish refugees to escape the Germans, violating orders of his own Foreign Ministry—demonstrating courage.
Michi Nishiura Weglyn researched and wrote a book about the American government's shameful incarceration of Japanese-Americans at the beginning of WWII—integrity.
Dr. James K. Okubo won a Silver Star as a medic in all-nisei (second-generation Japanese-American) 442nd Regimental Combat Team—benevolence.
The Military Intelligence Service, the Japanese-language interpreters, translators, radio announcers, and propaganda writers during the Pacific war illustrate integrity in some way. The way people acted after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami illustrates honesty. Saigo Takamori, the Kyushu samurai who led a rebellion against the new Meiji government in 1876, illustrates honor.
If you know nothing about Japanese history or culture and nothing whatever about the Japanese-American internment or the 442nd, The Courage of a Samurai is an introduction. I'm not sure how useful it is as a way to lead readers "on a path to personal and business fulfillment" as one reader claims. Be courageous she urges! Have integrity! Be benevolent! Show respect! Be honest, honorable, and loyal!
Well, yes. Who would argue otherwise? But how exactly do you cultivate these principles in yourself?
Moreover, what do you do when one principle appears to contradict another? Sugihara was not loyal to his government by signing visas (and I suspect his Christianity had more to do with his actions than bushido, a faith Whaley does not mention). Takamori did not respect the new Meiji government and raised an army. An overweening sense of honor can lead to disloyaltiy.
Also, Whaley, by reducing the samurai code to seven (or eight) principles, oversimplifies Japanese culture. She never mentions tatemae or honne, both important in Japanese life. The first is what one professes, or says in public; your official position, public stance. The second is one's true feelings; what one is really thinking or underlying motive. I would like to have seen a discussion of how one justifies or reconciles a contradiction between the two.
There is nothing wrong with The Courage of a Samurai and Lori Tsugawa Whaley is right to be proud of her heritage. I am sorry only that her book does not meet her own goal of inspiring and empowering the reader.
According to her bio, Whaley "is a third-generation Japanese American and a descendant of the samurai. As a baby boomer, she grew up in a predominately Caucasian logging and farming community in rural southwest Washington state. Lori's character and work ethic were formed by working hard alongside her parents on the family farm. She struggled with being different, especially during the school years." She is now on a "mission to inspire individuals to apply the code of bushido (the way of the warrior) to tap into their sole purpose in life."
Her seven principles are courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. And for good measure she adds an eighth: ganbaru, the verb that my dictionary defines as "be tenacious; be persistent; keep at it; do not give up easily; give all one has got; hold out; stick to it; be full of energy; insist that; stick to; keep saying/repeating; continue to claim . . ." But you get the idea. It's a word you hear a lot in Japan.
Whaley describes each principle and illustrates its application through Japanese-related examples. Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese counsel in Kaunas, Lithuania, signed thousands of transit visas in 1940 for mainly Jewish refugees to escape the Germans, violating orders of his own Foreign Ministry—demonstrating courage.
Michi Nishiura Weglyn researched and wrote a book about the American government's shameful incarceration of Japanese-Americans at the beginning of WWII—integrity.
Dr. James K. Okubo won a Silver Star as a medic in all-nisei (second-generation Japanese-American) 442nd Regimental Combat Team—benevolence.
The Military Intelligence Service, the Japanese-language interpreters, translators, radio announcers, and propaganda writers during the Pacific war illustrate integrity in some way. The way people acted after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami illustrates honesty. Saigo Takamori, the Kyushu samurai who led a rebellion against the new Meiji government in 1876, illustrates honor.
If you know nothing about Japanese history or culture and nothing whatever about the Japanese-American internment or the 442nd, The Courage of a Samurai is an introduction. I'm not sure how useful it is as a way to lead readers "on a path to personal and business fulfillment" as one reader claims. Be courageous she urges! Have integrity! Be benevolent! Show respect! Be honest, honorable, and loyal!
Well, yes. Who would argue otherwise? But how exactly do you cultivate these principles in yourself?
Moreover, what do you do when one principle appears to contradict another? Sugihara was not loyal to his government by signing visas (and I suspect his Christianity had more to do with his actions than bushido, a faith Whaley does not mention). Takamori did not respect the new Meiji government and raised an army. An overweening sense of honor can lead to disloyaltiy.
Also, Whaley, by reducing the samurai code to seven (or eight) principles, oversimplifies Japanese culture. She never mentions tatemae or honne, both important in Japanese life. The first is what one professes, or says in public; your official position, public stance. The second is one's true feelings; what one is really thinking or underlying motive. I would like to have seen a discussion of how one justifies or reconciles a contradiction between the two.
There is nothing wrong with The Courage of a Samurai and Lori Tsugawa Whaley is right to be proud of her heritage. I am sorry only that her book does not meet her own goal of inspiring and empowering the reader.
February 19, 2017
"Ishi no ue ni mo san nan,
Sit on a cold rock for three years until it becomes warm."
This was a quick and delightful read about the seven principles that make up the code of the samurai. I especially enjoyed the real-life case studies of Japanese and Japanese Americans who exhibited these traits.
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about Japanese heritage and for anyone who really enjoyed the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. The Courage of a Samurai has a collection of real-life stories which I did indeed find inspirational. It's marketed as a self-help book, though the personal implementation plan in the book isn't robust. I left the book feeling positive and uplifted, but not with a clear plan of how to improve my life.
The format of the book follows the seven principles of the samurai: Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty an eighth concept- ganbaru- a Japanese concept without a direct English translation but essentially means extreme persistence. Each principle has a separate chapter. There's a brief discussion of the principle and then a case study of an individual who provides an A+ example of living out that principle despite hardship.
Also, some of the stories deal with topics such as individual strength in historical periods when refugee crises and racial discrimination were hot issues, which I found quite apropos for 2017.
The author sent me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
Sit on a cold rock for three years until it becomes warm."
This was a quick and delightful read about the seven principles that make up the code of the samurai. I especially enjoyed the real-life case studies of Japanese and Japanese Americans who exhibited these traits.
I would strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about Japanese heritage and for anyone who really enjoyed the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. The Courage of a Samurai has a collection of real-life stories which I did indeed find inspirational. It's marketed as a self-help book, though the personal implementation plan in the book isn't robust. I left the book feeling positive and uplifted, but not with a clear plan of how to improve my life.
The format of the book follows the seven principles of the samurai: Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty an eighth concept- ganbaru- a Japanese concept without a direct English translation but essentially means extreme persistence. Each principle has a separate chapter. There's a brief discussion of the principle and then a case study of an individual who provides an A+ example of living out that principle despite hardship.
Also, some of the stories deal with topics such as individual strength in historical periods when refugee crises and racial discrimination were hot issues, which I found quite apropos for 2017.
The author sent me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2016
Book Review: The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword – Sharp Principles
for Success
The Japanese culture is both fascinating and multifaceted; the philosophy of the samurai is one such example. “The way of the warrior” also known as the Bushido – this is the name given to the guiding principles of the Samurai: defined as the feudal code of the Japanese Samurai, stressing self-discipline, courage, and loyalty. Lori Tsugawa Whaley, the author of book “The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword – Sharp Principles for Success, takes the reader on a unique and insightful journey back into a period in Japanese culture where the legacy of the Samurai provided high principles for success.
“The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword – Sharp Principles for Success” is an inspiring and empowering story which is based on real life experiences of Japanese Americans, who applied the principles of the Samurai to specific events in their lives. The main themes of this book are courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honour, and loyalty – each theme is the topic of each chapter, the author takes an analytical approach to the explanation of each theme, by sharing examples of heroic individuals demonstrating the Samurai principles throughout their lives. The reader is able to capture that the spirit of the Samurai warrior is a philosopher, teacher and master and will begin to understand why the meaning of the Samurai transcends.
The author encourages the readers to always “do the right thing”, by following “old fashioned” value systems. This book is very educational for someone who wishes to learn about Japanese history and culture. You will be inspired to create a life of success, with meaningful principles that help to empower you to conquer today’s challenges in such a diverse society. I enjoyed reading this book, in which I learned a lot about the Japanese culture and it’s definitely a must – read for book lovers and readers.
for Success
The Japanese culture is both fascinating and multifaceted; the philosophy of the samurai is one such example. “The way of the warrior” also known as the Bushido – this is the name given to the guiding principles of the Samurai: defined as the feudal code of the Japanese Samurai, stressing self-discipline, courage, and loyalty. Lori Tsugawa Whaley, the author of book “The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword – Sharp Principles for Success, takes the reader on a unique and insightful journey back into a period in Japanese culture where the legacy of the Samurai provided high principles for success.
“The Courage of a Samurai: Seven Sword – Sharp Principles for Success” is an inspiring and empowering story which is based on real life experiences of Japanese Americans, who applied the principles of the Samurai to specific events in their lives. The main themes of this book are courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honour, and loyalty – each theme is the topic of each chapter, the author takes an analytical approach to the explanation of each theme, by sharing examples of heroic individuals demonstrating the Samurai principles throughout their lives. The reader is able to capture that the spirit of the Samurai warrior is a philosopher, teacher and master and will begin to understand why the meaning of the Samurai transcends.
The author encourages the readers to always “do the right thing”, by following “old fashioned” value systems. This book is very educational for someone who wishes to learn about Japanese history and culture. You will be inspired to create a life of success, with meaningful principles that help to empower you to conquer today’s challenges in such a diverse society. I enjoyed reading this book, in which I learned a lot about the Japanese culture and it’s definitely a must – read for book lovers and readers.
December 27, 2016
This excellent book looks at the principles of Courage, Integrity, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor, Loyalty and Ganbaru, all principles which guided the traditional samurai in their duties. Ms. Whaley uses vignettes of many Japanese and Japanese-Americans to illustrate these principles and to make them relevant to the reader.
While I am interested in Japanese history and culture and have done some readings on both topics I still learned from this excellent book. Ms.Whaley knows the philosophy of the samurai and writes extremely well on the topic. I wish she had expanded on the chapter on Courage and the circumstances surrounding Chiune Sugihara, i.e. that as consul he found himself first in an independent Lithuania and then in a corner of the USSR as Stalin occupied the Baltic States as part of his devil's bargain with Hitler. Another part of that bargain was the persecution of the Jewish population of those states. It's a minor thing, but it does clarify the situation Sugihara was in.
As a book this makes you think and challenges what you think you would do in certain situations... the hallmark of great writing.
While I am interested in Japanese history and culture and have done some readings on both topics I still learned from this excellent book. Ms.Whaley knows the philosophy of the samurai and writes extremely well on the topic. I wish she had expanded on the chapter on Courage and the circumstances surrounding Chiune Sugihara, i.e. that as consul he found himself first in an independent Lithuania and then in a corner of the USSR as Stalin occupied the Baltic States as part of his devil's bargain with Hitler. Another part of that bargain was the persecution of the Jewish population of those states. It's a minor thing, but it does clarify the situation Sugihara was in.
As a book this makes you think and challenges what you think you would do in certain situations... the hallmark of great writing.
July 24, 2016
Very easy reading. Loved learning about Japanese culture
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