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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Interesting, but I think audio may not be the best way of taking this in. It's crying out for photographic examples of some of the things described in the book, such as weapons and armour for example.
But there are definitely a few memorable sections. Such as finding out why disembowelment is the preferred method of committing ritual suicide (seppuku)...
This is one to read if you're looking for an informative account of the history of the Samurai. If you're looking for something exciting and action-packed, go watch Seven Samurai instead ;)
But there are definitely a few memorable sections. Such as finding out why disembowelment is the preferred method of committing ritual suicide (seppuku)...
This is one to read if you're looking for an informative account of the history of the Samurai. If you're looking for something exciting and action-packed, go watch Seven Samurai instead ;)
Perhaps I would have enjoyed this one more if I knew more of the historical context around the developments presented here. Unfortunately, without that, this book is difficult at times to really follow. Nonetheless, it does provide useful and critical insight into the development and eventual disintegration of the samurai within Japanese history and culture. I'd like to think I'll return to this at some point, after reading more about the history of Japanese culture and society, but I suspect that's unlikely.
A disappointing history of the samurai. It was more a rambling history of historical battles, intrigue as different parts of court vied for power and at times there was a story or two about samurai, discussion on swords and how their role in society waxed and waned.
For a history of the samurai this left a lot to be desired.
For a history of the samurai this left a lot to be desired.
informative
slow-paced
very thoroughly documented and researched, i will give it that. Too detailed for its own, or the reader's, good, unfortunately. It is not a history of the samurai (class) as I expected, but a collection of many histories of some samurai (men) - the big picture cannot be seen, just and endless stream of repetitive small pictures of individuals. The author also dwells way too much into the literary/poems sources (famous for the Japanese, I think, and for him, but not for the ordinary reader), even though he admits they are not reliable historical sources.
The fact that so many Japanese names are very similar (must every samurai have a name starting with Y, damn it!?) and difficult to remember for a European is not the authors fault, but it sure does not help.
The book is too detailed and sinks too much into the individual, personal stories, failing to provide a clear history of the class itself or of the social phenomenons. And, frankly, is also very boring. I am fascinated by the samurai and read a lot about them (both historical and literary works), or zen, or bushido, but this one I just could not finish.
The fact that so many Japanese names are very similar (must every samurai have a name starting with Y, damn it!?) and difficult to remember for a European is not the authors fault, but it sure does not help.
The book is too detailed and sinks too much into the individual, personal stories, failing to provide a clear history of the class itself or of the social phenomenons. And, frankly, is also very boring. I am fascinated by the samurai and read a lot about them (both historical and literary works), or zen, or bushido, but this one I just could not finish.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Full disclosure: I "read" the audiobook. As such, the narrator, Jonathan Keeble, does factor in somewhat.
Not to mention that this is a book about samurai, Japan's warrior elite. Content warnings do apply, because... you know. Samurai are famous for certain things that are mentioned in the book.
As the title says - it's a brief history of the samurai over about a thousand years. As such it only scratches the surface and about most topics he Clements just slightly touches you could write libraries about.
But as an overview book to get into the topic? Very good. It gives you a general idea but you might be overwhelmed because so many names are dropped and if you don't know who those people are it gets confusing easily. I have some knowledge of Japanese history beforehand, but it was still a lot to take in. Going back to the book after having read up more on the topic might be of more worth.
As for the audio book - the narrator, Jonathan Keeble, had a very lovely voice. He made the time pass very quickly and as such the book did not feel slow-paced. But it was noticeable that his pronunciation of Japanese terms and names (I can't speak for the Chinese and Koreans names on the ground of not speaking those languages) was off, in some cases less so, in some cases it was distracting from the overall narrative.
Still, I am looking forward to listen to more works narrated by Jonathan Keeble. His voice was soothing and he, as a narrator, has impressive ability.
Not to mention that this is a book about samurai, Japan's warrior elite. Content warnings do apply, because... you know. Samurai are famous for certain things that are mentioned in the book.
As the title says - it's a brief history of the samurai over about a thousand years. As such it only scratches the surface and about most topics he Clements just slightly touches you could write libraries about.
But as an overview book to get into the topic? Very good. It gives you a general idea but you might be overwhelmed because so many names are dropped and if you don't know who those people are it gets confusing easily. I have some knowledge of Japanese history beforehand, but it was still a lot to take in. Going back to the book after having read up more on the topic might be of more worth.
As for the audio book - the narrator, Jonathan Keeble, had a very lovely voice. He made the time pass very quickly and as such the book did not feel slow-paced. But it was noticeable that his pronunciation of Japanese terms and names (I can't speak for the Chinese and Koreans names on the ground of not speaking those languages) was off, in some cases less so, in some cases it was distracting from the overall narrative.
Still, I am looking forward to listen to more works narrated by Jonathan Keeble. His voice was soothing and he, as a narrator, has impressive ability.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide
A brief overview of samurai history up to (and briefly including) the Meiji Restoration, WWII, and cultural echoes of the samurai in modern times.
This was an informative read for anyone interested in the samurai, however the editing was a bit sloppy, and I certainly got lost in the sea of Japanese names (who was Yoshitsune, and how did he differ from Yoshitsuna, Yoshitomo, and Yoriyoshi again?) Definitely not worth the $35 I paid for it in Narita Airport, but if you can get it for $10 or less, it's worth a read.
This was an informative read for anyone interested in the samurai, however the editing was a bit sloppy, and I certainly got lost in the sea of Japanese names (who was Yoshitsune, and how did he differ from Yoshitsuna, Yoshitomo, and Yoriyoshi again?) Definitely not worth the $35 I paid for it in Narita Airport, but if you can get it for $10 or less, it's worth a read.
Not too differently than the way the cowboy kind of sums up a lot of folks' idea of America, the samurai warrior sums up a lot of folks' ideas about Japan. The strict codes of honor, fearless attitude in battle and disregard for their own safety or their lives colors a lot of images people have of even modern-day Japan, though they might be seen by modern Japanese as every bit as outdated as the cowboy does to a lot of Americans.
Jonathan Clements' A Brief History of the Samurai is exactly that, sketching how the warrior culture began in medieval Japan and grew gradually into a dominant force overpowering the nominal authority of the imperial court. He also outlines the peak of samurai power during the isolationist feudal totalitarian years of the Tokugawa Shōgunate and its decline and downfall when modernizing movements helped restore the Emperor Meiji to power. Clements touches briefly on how the samurai ethos influenced the military commanders in the years leading up to World War II as well as a lot of Japanese entertainment culture in the postwar years.
He takes seriously the word "brief" in the title, sometimes to the point of fogginess for a careless reader. Some of the principals in several episodes have similar names and losing track is easy to do -- but someone exploring the final years of the English Plantagenets could do the same trying to sort out all the Henrys. Only pivotal episodes are dealt with in any detail, but Clements includes a listing of more extensive works to explore for people who want to learn more detail of, say, the Ashikaga Shōgunate between the 1330s and 1570s.
Clements helps clarify several details about samurai culture and offers some good guides for sorting out which popular pictures are kind of lacking and which are closer to the mark, as well as the aforementioned sources for more research. Both the demystification and the overall broad history are helpful work.
Original available here.
Jonathan Clements' A Brief History of the Samurai is exactly that, sketching how the warrior culture began in medieval Japan and grew gradually into a dominant force overpowering the nominal authority of the imperial court. He also outlines the peak of samurai power during the isolationist feudal totalitarian years of the Tokugawa Shōgunate and its decline and downfall when modernizing movements helped restore the Emperor Meiji to power. Clements touches briefly on how the samurai ethos influenced the military commanders in the years leading up to World War II as well as a lot of Japanese entertainment culture in the postwar years.
He takes seriously the word "brief" in the title, sometimes to the point of fogginess for a careless reader. Some of the principals in several episodes have similar names and losing track is easy to do -- but someone exploring the final years of the English Plantagenets could do the same trying to sort out all the Henrys. Only pivotal episodes are dealt with in any detail, but Clements includes a listing of more extensive works to explore for people who want to learn more detail of, say, the Ashikaga Shōgunate between the 1330s and 1570s.
Clements helps clarify several details about samurai culture and offers some good guides for sorting out which popular pictures are kind of lacking and which are closer to the mark, as well as the aforementioned sources for more research. Both the demystification and the overall broad history are helpful work.
Original available here.