Book of Fiv e Rings, Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy (edition 1994)

Absolutely gobsmacking. Not "just" one of the finest books of martial strategy ever written, as penned by Japan's most famous swordsman, but, in parts, it's like a manual of /how to live/. I tried other English versions, but Hanshi Stephen F. Kaufman's is unquestionably the clearest and best. Try this, from Musashi's introduction: "This is a very difficult road to travel, and not many are made for it. It is frustrating, confusing, very lonely, certainly frightening, and it will sometimes make you think you do not have much sanity left to deal with the everyday surroundings of your world. Also, there is no guarantee that you will attain perfection. It must all come from inside you without any preconceived notions on your part. And so we begin…" A book to keep by you always. Essential. ( )