by Stephen Turnbull, Howard Gerrard; Osprey Publishing 2001; pb $17.95

Autumn Lightning:  The Education of an American Samurai

By Dave Lowry; Shambhala Publications, Inc., reprint 2001

This autobiography is the story of a life balanced between two cultures; pb $15.95

By Shuhei Fujisawa; translated by Gavin Frew; Kodansha International, 2005

A collection of eight stories by this award-winning novelist evokes life in early seventeenth-century Japan; HC $22.00

By Dave Lowry; Black Belt Communications, 1985; pb $14.95

By Miyamoto Musashi; translation by William Scott Wilson; Kodansha International, 2002

HC $19.00

A Book of Five Rings - A Classic Guide to Strategy

By Miyamoto Musashi; translated by Victor Harris; Overlook Press, reprint 2001

Famous for over 300 years as "the guide" to Kendo, A Book of Five Rings is influenced by Zen, Shinto, and Confucianism, and is equally applicable to the businessman, the philosopher, as well as the practitioner of the martial arts; HC $9.99

The Book of Five Rings (Shambhala Pocket Classics)

By Miyamoto Musashi; translated by Thomas Cleary;  Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1993; pb $7.00

The Book of the Samurai:  The Warrior Class of Japan

By Stephen R. Turnbull; PRC Publishing Ltd., 2001

With 300 line drawings, photographs, and maps; includes glossary and index; pb $17.95

By Inazo Nitobe; Kodansha International, 2002

By Jennifer Mitchelhill; photography by David Green; Kodansha International, 2003

HC $35.00

Code of the Samurai:  A Modern Translation of the Bushido Shoshinshu of Taira Shigesuke

By Thomas Cleary; illustrated by Oscar Ratti;  Tuttle Publishing, 1999

A four-hundred-year-old explication of the rules and expectations embodied in "bushido," the Japanese Way of the Warrior, which has played a major role in shaping the behavior of modern Japanese government, corporations, society, and individuals, as well as in shaping the modern martial arts within Japan and internationally; HC $14.95

The Early Samurai 200-1500 AD (Elite Series)

By Anthony J. Bryant; color plates by Angus McBride; Osprey Publishing, 1991; $17.95

Hagakure:  The Book of the Samurai

By Yamamoto Tsunetomo; translated by William Scott Wilson; Kodansha International, 1979; pb $9.00

Japan:  In the Days of the Samurai (Cultures of the Past Series)

By Virginia Schomp; Marshall Cavendish Corp., 2002

Describes the Japanese way of life during the samurai eras through information about the politics, military, culture, and belief system; also indicates the legacy of the period; includes bibliographical references and index; Age 10+; HC $28.50

By Stephen Turnbull; illustrated by Peter Dennis; Osprey Publishing, 2003

Traces the development, design, technology and history of key fortresses, strategic positions and defensive positions; pb $16.95

By Stephen Turnbull; illustrated by Peter Dennis; Osprey Publishing, 2005

With glossary and index; pb $16.95

By Boye Lafayette De Mente; Tuttle Publishing, 2005

Japanologist De Mente identifies the character traits in the samurai code of ethics that made Japan's social and economic transformations possible; he explains how these traits can be applied to anyone to enhance their own personal skills and performance; pb $12.95 

Kyudo:  The Way of the Bow

By Feliks Hoff; Shambhala Publications, 2002

An authoritative guide to the technique and philosophy of the ancient art of Japanese archery; pb $19.95

Legacies of the Sword:  The Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture

By Karl F. Friday with Seki Humitake; University of Hawaii Press, 1997; pb $14.95

Legends of the Samurai

Translated By Hiroaki Sato; Overlook Press, 1995

Translations of original samurai tales, laws, reports, and arguments from mythological times to the early eighteenth century; HC $37.95

By Yagyu Munenori; translated by William Scott Wilson; Kodansha International, 2003

The classic text on Zen and the No-Sword by Musashi's great rival; HC $19.00

By William Scott Wilson; Kodansha International, 2004

The first biography of the legendary master swordsman, spiritual seeker, and author of The Book of Five Rings to appear in English; HC $24.00

The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings:  The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy

By Stephen F. Kaufman, Hanshi 10th Dan; Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc., 1994

An interpretation of the classic "Book of Five Rings" specifically for the martial artist; pb $13.95

Musashi

By Eiji Yoshikawa; translated by Charles S. Terry; Kodansha International, 1981

A classic samurai novel about the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi; HC $35.00

Nagashino 1575 - Slaughter at the Barricades (Campaign Series)

By Stephen Turnbull; plates by Howard Gerrard; Osprey Publishing, 2000; pb $18.95

By Stephen Turnbull; illustrated by Wayne Reynolds; Osprey Publishing, 2003

with glossary and index; pb $17.95

Persimmon Wind - A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan

By Dave Lowry; Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1998

Biography; a vivid account of the journey of a martial artist; pb $19.95

Samurai:  An Illustrated History

By Mitsuo Kure; Tuttle Publishing, 2002

With photographs of weapons from major museum collections and of meticulous reenactments of famous battles; HC $34.95

By Stephen Turnbull; PRC Publishing, 2004

Chapters include:  The World Before the Samurai; The Samurai in Early Japanese History; The Age of the Samurai; Samurai Organization and Daily Life; Samurai Armor and Costume; Edged Weapons; Missile Weapons; Battlefield Tactics; with appendix, bibliography, glossary and index; HC $24.95

Samurai:  The Story of a Warrior Tradition

By Harry Cook; Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1998

Lavishly illustrated, this guide features warriors, arms, armour, fighting methods, and stories of legendary samurai heroes; pb $17.95

Samurai:  The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior

By Clive Sinclaire; Lyons Press, 2001

Over 250 illustrations and/or photographs; HC $29.95

The Samurai (Elite Series)

By Anthony J. Bryant; color plates by Angus McBride; Osprey Publishing, 1989; $16.95

Samurai 1550-1600 (Warrior Series)

By Anthony J. Bryant; color plates by Angus McBride; Osprey Publishing, 1994

Includes information on weapons, armour, tactics, and motivation; pb $17.95

By Stephen Turnbull; Osprey Publishing, 2006

This work examines the spiritual world of the samurai from their attachment to Japan's mainstream religions of Shinto and Buddhism, to their involvement in Confucianism, Christianity and Folk Religion; HC $29.95

Samurai Armies 1550-1615 (Men-At-Arms Series)

By S.R. Turnbull; Color Plates by Richard Hook; Osprey Publishing, 1979; pb $14.95

A Samurai Castle (Inside Story Series)

By Fiona Macdonald, John James, David Antram;  Peter Bedrick Books, 1995

Traces the history of the samurai castles of medieval Japan with information on the role of samurai, shogun, and women in feudal Japanese society, on religious beliefs, and on arms and armor of the period; HC $18.95

By Stephen Turnbull; illustrated by Richard Hook; Osprey Publishing, 2005

With glossary and index; pb $17.95

By Stephen Turnbull; illustrated by Richard Hook; Osprey Publishing, 2005

With glossary and index; pb $17.95

Samurai Heraldry

By Stephen Turnbull; illustrated by Angus McBride; Osprey Publishing, 2002

Description and illustration of the heraldry of feudal armies and families of 8th through 16th century Japan; pb $17.95

By Miyamoto Musashi, Yamamoto Tsunetomo & Inazo Nitobe; El Paso Norte Press, 2006

Includes The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, Hagakure - the Way of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo; , and Bushido - The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe; pb $19.95

The Samurai Sourcebook

By Stephen Turnbull; Arms and Armour Press, 1998

A catalog of samurai history and culture, major battles from 940 to 1638; also covers religion, bushido, hara-kiri, and heraldry; in encyclopedic format; pb $19.95

Samurai Spirit:  Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life

By Burt Konzak; Tundra Books, 2002

A collection of stories, lore, and information about the samurai to help teens gain emotional and mental strength; pb $8.95

Samurai Warfare

By Stephen Turnbull; Arms and Armour Press, 1996; pb $22.95

Secrets of the Samurai:  The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan

By Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook; Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc., 1973

A definitive study of the martial arts of feudal Japan, with detailed explanations on training, weapons, techniques, strategies, and principles of combat; pb $24.95

The Shambhala Guide to Kendo

By Minoru Kiyota; Shambhala Publications, 2002

Includes history, philosophy, and practice of kendo, the Japanese "Way of the Sword;" pb $18.95

By Romulus Hillsborough; Tuttle Publishing, 2005

Shinsengumi (or "Newly Selected Corps") was a band of expert swordsmen commissioned by the shogun's administrators to eliminate the ronin and other enemies of the Shogunate who opposed the shogun's decision in 1854 to open Japan to "Western barbarians"; based on letters, memoirs, interviews and eyewitness accounts; HC $29.95

The Story of Karate - From Buddhism to Bruce Lee

By Luana Metil and Jace Townsend; First Avenue Editions, 1997

Includes glossary and index; A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age; A Society of School Librarians International Outstanding Secondary Social Studies Book; pb $10.95

By Masaaki Hatsumi; translated by Ben Jones; Kodansha International, 2004

HC $35.00

A Way To Victory:  The Annotated Book of Five Rings

Translation and Commentary by Hidy Ochiai; Overlook Press, 2001

A legend in the martial arts world, Ochiai provides both a new translation of the Book of Five Rings and annotations that clarify the text's lessons in strategy for the contemporary reader; with bibliographical references; HC $29.95