Try an audiobook on us
A Brief History of the Samurai
People who bought this also bought...
-
Hagakure
- The Book of the Samurai
- By: William Scott Wilson (translator), Yamamoto Tsunetomo
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Living and dying with bravery and honor is at the heart of Hagakure, a series of texts written by an 18th-century samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo. It is a window into the samurai mind, illuminating the concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die.
-
-
Samurai
- By Tyler on 03-10-16
-
Training the Samurai Mind
- A Bushido Sourcebook
- By: Thomas Cleary (translator/editor)
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Training the Samurai Mind gives an insider's view of the samurai world: the moral and psychological development of the warrior, the ethical standards they were meant to uphold, their training in both martial arts and strategy, and the enormous role that the traditions of Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism had in influencing samurai ideals.
-
-
Fantastic
- By Mr. Steve Cavanagh on 12-06-17
-
Legends of the Samurai
- By: Hiroaki Sato
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the decades, the reputation of the samurai has grown to mythical proportions, owing to such films as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, as well as works such as James Clavell's epic Shogun. In Legends of the Samurai, Hiroaki Sato confronts both the history and the legend of the samurai, untangling the two to present an authentic picture of these legendary warriors.
-
A History of Japan
- Revised Edition
- By: R. H. P. Mason, J. G. Caiger
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A classic of Japanese history, this audiobook is the preeminent work on the history of Japan. Newly revised and updated, A History of Japan is a single-volume complete history of the nation of Japan. Starting in ancient Japan during its early pre-history period, A History of Japan covers every important aspect of history and culture through feudal Japan to the post-Cold War period and collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. Recent findings shed additional light on the origins of Japanese civilization and the birth of Japanese culture.
-
Musashi
- By: Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 53 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival.
-
-
Wonderful and engaging story
- By Amazon Customer on 16-01-19
-
47 Ronin
- By: John Allyn, Stephen Turnbull (foreword)
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For those looking for the real story behind the fictionalized movie account of the 47 Ronin story, this is the definitive, fascinating account of this unforgettable tale of a band of samurai who defied the Emperor to avenge the disgrace and death of their master, and faced certain death as a result. It led to one of the bloodiest episodes in Japanese history, and in the process, created a new set of heroes in Japan.
-
Hagakure
- The Book of the Samurai
- By: William Scott Wilson (translator), Yamamoto Tsunetomo
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Living and dying with bravery and honor is at the heart of Hagakure, a series of texts written by an 18th-century samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo. It is a window into the samurai mind, illuminating the concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die.
-
-
Samurai
- By Tyler on 03-10-16
-
Training the Samurai Mind
- A Bushido Sourcebook
- By: Thomas Cleary (translator/editor)
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Training the Samurai Mind gives an insider's view of the samurai world: the moral and psychological development of the warrior, the ethical standards they were meant to uphold, their training in both martial arts and strategy, and the enormous role that the traditions of Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism had in influencing samurai ideals.
-
-
Fantastic
- By Mr. Steve Cavanagh on 12-06-17
-
Legends of the Samurai
- By: Hiroaki Sato
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the decades, the reputation of the samurai has grown to mythical proportions, owing to such films as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, as well as works such as James Clavell's epic Shogun. In Legends of the Samurai, Hiroaki Sato confronts both the history and the legend of the samurai, untangling the two to present an authentic picture of these legendary warriors.
-
A History of Japan
- Revised Edition
- By: R. H. P. Mason, J. G. Caiger
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A classic of Japanese history, this audiobook is the preeminent work on the history of Japan. Newly revised and updated, A History of Japan is a single-volume complete history of the nation of Japan. Starting in ancient Japan during its early pre-history period, A History of Japan covers every important aspect of history and culture through feudal Japan to the post-Cold War period and collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. Recent findings shed additional light on the origins of Japanese civilization and the birth of Japanese culture.
-
Musashi
- By: Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry - translator
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 53 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival.
-
-
Wonderful and engaging story
- By Amazon Customer on 16-01-19
-
47 Ronin
- By: John Allyn, Stephen Turnbull (foreword)
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For those looking for the real story behind the fictionalized movie account of the 47 Ronin story, this is the definitive, fascinating account of this unforgettable tale of a band of samurai who defied the Emperor to avenge the disgrace and death of their master, and faced certain death as a result. It led to one of the bloodiest episodes in Japanese history, and in the process, created a new set of heroes in Japan.
-
The Punjab
- The History of the Punjabis and the Contested Region on the Border Between India and Pakistan
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Punjab is defined by the floodplains of the five rivers that give the area its name, and as a result, it is one of the most fertile regions of South Asia. However, since the 1947 partition of India, the “Land of Five Rivers” is something of a misnomer, as the partition not only divided India but also the Punjab. The eastern part of Punjab remained a province of India while the western section was ceded to the newly created Pakistan.
-
Bushido: The Samurai Code of Honor
- The Truth About Japanese Samurai Wisdom
- By: James Walker
- Narrated by: Coby Allen
- Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Experience the fantastic world of the highly-skilled Japanese samurai, and learn the code, or Bushido, that these men followed to live up to honor and loyalty, and discover how you can apply the eight virtues to improve your life in the modern world.
-
-
Great
- By Megan C Parkes on 05-07-18
-
The Foundations of Western Civilization
- By: Thomas F. X. Noble, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Thomas F. X. Noble
- Length: 24 hrs and 51 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.
-
-
Loved it - I'll be ordering more
- By First Impressions on 21-09-16
-
The Sign and the Seal
- The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant
- By: Graham Hancock
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 21 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fate of the Lost Ark of the Covenant is one of the great historical mysteries of all time. The Bible contains hundreds of references to the Ark's power, but the Ark itself mysteriously disappears from recorded history sometime after the building of the Temple of Solomon. After 10 years of searching through the dusty archives of Europe and the Middle East, Graham Hancock has succeeded where scores of others have failed. This intrepid journalist has tracked down the true story behind the myths and legends - revealing where the Ark is today, how it got there, and why it remains hidden.
-
-
Good if your into it.
- By Alex on 07-02-19
-
A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons
- Brief Histories
- By: Geoffrey Hindley
- Narrated by: Eleanor David
- Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Starting AD 400 (around the time of their invasion of England) and running through to the 1100s (the 'Aftermath'), historian Geoffrey Hindley shows the Anglo-Saxons as formative in the history not only of England but also of Europe. The society inspired by the warrior world of the Old English poem Beowulf saw England become the world's first nation state and Europe's first country to conduct affairs in its own language, and Bede and Boniface of Wessex establish the dating convention we still use today.
-
-
Hard work. But...not bad.
- By Laurie on 16-10-15
-
Titans of History
- The Giants Who Made Our World
- By: Simon Sebag Montefiore
- Narrated by: Steve West
- Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The giant characters of history - from Mozart to Michelangelo, Shakespeare to Einstein, Henry VIII to Hitler, Catherine the Great to Margaret Thatcher, Jesus Christ to Genghis Khan - lived lives of astonishing drama and adventure, debauchery and slaughter, but they also formed our world and will shape our future. In this eclectic and surprising collection of short and entertaining life stories, Simon Sebag Montefiore introduces his choice of kings, empresses, sultans and conquerors as well as prophets, explorers, artists, actresses, courtesans and psychopaths.
-
Shogun
- The Epic Novel of Japan
- By: James Clavell
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 53 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A bold English adventurer; an invincible Japanese warlord; a beautiful woman torn between two ways of life, two ways of love - all brought together in an extraordinary saga of a time and a place aflame with conflict, passion, ambition, lust, and the struggle for power.
-
-
Modern classic historic novel
- By Mrs. S. J. Caldwell on 17-08-16
-
A People’s Tragedy
- By: Orlando Figes
- Narrated by: Roger Davis
- Length: 47 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Opening with a panorama of Russian society, from the cloistered world of the Tsar to the brutal life of the peasants, A People’s Tragedy follows workers, soldiers, intellectuals and villagers as their world is consumed by revolution and then degenerates into violence and dictatorship. Drawing on vast original research, Figes conveys above all the shocking experience of the revolution for those who lived it, while providing the clearest and most cogent account of how and why it unfolded.
-
-
A good guide to the repeating history of Russia
- By Mikhail Tikilyaynen on 14-02-19
-
The Corporation That Changed the World
- How the East India Company Shaped the Modern Multinational
- By: Nick Robins
- Narrated by: Simon Barber
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The English East India Company was the mother of the modern multinational. Its trading empire encircled the globe, importing Asian luxuries such as spices, textiles, and teas. But it also conquered much of India with its private army and broke open China's markets with opium. The Company's practices shocked its contemporaries and still reverberate today.
-
-
Fascinating
- By Jim on 06-06-17
-
A Brief History of Britain 1066-1485
- Brief Histories
- By: Nicholas Vincent
- Narrated by: Roger Davis
- Length: 18 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the Norman Conquest to the Battle of Bosworth Field - how Britain was invaded and became a nation. The first volume in the stunning four-volume Brief History of Britain series. From the Battle of Hastings to the Battle of Bosworth Field, Nicholas Vincent tells the story of how Britain was born. When William, Duke of Normandy, killed King Harold and seized the throne of England, England’s language, culture, politics, and law were transformed.
-
-
Best introduction to medieval history
- By Marcus on 08-04-13
-
Samurai Rising
- The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune
- By: Pamela S. Turner
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 4 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Minamoto Yoshitsune should not have been a samurai. But his story is legend in this real-life saga. This epic warrior tale may sound like a novel, but this is the true story of the greatest samurai in Japanese history. When Yoshitsune was just a baby, his father went to war with a rival samurai family - and lost. His father was killed, his mother captured, and his surviving half-brother banished. Yoshitsune was sent away to live in a monastery. Skinny, small, and unskilled in the warrior arts, he nevertheless escaped and learned the ways of the samurai.
-
-
yoshitsune
- By Andy on 15-01-18
-
The Unfettered Mind
- Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman
- By: Takuan Soho, William Scott Wilson (translator)
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Written by the 17th-century Zen master Takuan Soho (1573-1645), The Unfettered Mind is a book of advice on swordsmanship and the cultivation of right mind and intention. It was written as a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a great swordsman and rival to the legendary Miyamoto Musashi.
-
-
well read
- By Julien on 09-07-18
Summary
From a leading expert in Japanese history, this is one of the first full histories of the art and culture of the Samurai warrior. The Samurai emerged as a warrior caste in Medieval Japan and would have a powerful influence on the history and culture of the country from the next 500 years. Clements also looks at the Samurai wars that tore Japan apart in the 17th and 18th centuries and how the caste was finally demolished in the advent of the mechanized world.
More from the same
What members say
Average customer ratings
Overall
-
-
5 Stars31
-
4 Stars16
-
3 Stars7
-
2 Stars3
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
-
5 Stars31
-
4 Stars12
-
3 Stars5
-
2 Stars1
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
-
5 Stars32
-
4 Stars10
-
3 Stars5
-
2 Stars3
-
1 Stars0
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr S.M.R.Plocki
- 03-01-16
Dry
Would you try another book written by Jonathan Clements or narrated by Jonathan Keeble?
Yes, but I would read any reviews first.
Who was your favorite character and why?
N/a
What aspect of Jonathan Keeble’s performance might you have changed?
None really.
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
It was interesting in places but it listed lots of facts without being thought provoking.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tweetingcheetah
- 27-07-14
Anecdotes bring life to samurai history
Any additional comments?
As a Japanese school child, Japanese History was just dates and names, but this audiobook brought these historical people and incidents to life for me. Samurai are all too often depicted through rose tinted glass, but Clements delivers the stories of human foibles with a dry sense of humour, and he got me laughing out loud often.
I have been a massive fan of European history but not of my own country, because of the way history was taught in Japan when I was a child. If this was my History textbook, I would have read it in bed.
The only reason why I gave four stars, not five, for the performance is because Keeble's pronunciation of Japanese words are often incorrect. Otherwise his delivery lets you suck into the drama of Japanese history.
It is well researched, and quotes and anecdotes are so well chosen that you cannot help but be interested in these historical characters and incidents. It is not a long book, but Clements achieves a lot, telling the story of the long era of samurai concisely, and educate and entertain you at the same time. I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in Japan or History.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- YA
- 13-10-18
Very informative!
An interesting book and a captivating performance. Finally filled in the gaps in my knowledge of Japanese/ Samurai history. A deep enough look into the past of Japan for any curious observer.
-
Overall
- Amazon Customer
- 19-09-18
excellent read.
excellent read and very easy to listen to.. easily understood....names a bit hard to remember at times but overall a good book
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Laurence
- 21-06-15
An Easy Listen
My second non fiction audiobook and a definite improvement on the first. An easy listen with the reader bring the right inflections, where needed.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ryuto
- Sheffield, United Kingdom
- 22-10-14
Title is a Misnomer
What disappointed you about A Brief History of the Samurai?
It was actually an account of the aristocracy of Japan rather than about the Samurai themselves. A certain amount of background is required to understand the theme but the background became the bulk of this book. I'm sure a book entitle a 'Brief History of European Knights' would be disappointing if it was mainly about the Kings and Queens of Europe.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Jonathan Keeble?
Anyone who had had a brief lesson in Japanese pronunciation. It was distracting at times.
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
Not for me, I'm afraid, I found it tedious.
Any additional comments?
Change the title to a 'Brief History of Japanese Rulers'.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J. Armstrong
- UK, Cambridgeshire
- 24-09-14
More than swords and honour, much more
Would you consider the audio edition of A Brief History of the Samurai to be better than the print version?
Yes. As I have said in my other 'brief history' reviews, these books are excellently narrated and draw you in and hold attention.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The tales of the Togugawa dynasty is particularly memorable, but there are many small nuggets of wonder in the history of the Samurai class.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
Being a fact based book this question is not really relevent. But it's worth noting the book is very well structured as it leads you through the history of the Samurai class and it is easy to follow, despite the culture shock of being an ignorant Westerner.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No I listened during travelling etc
Any additional comments?
the book is a history of the Samurai class, there are plenty of battles, honorable and less than honorable tales but this book gives you a great insight into Japan's history and, surprisingly, their modern society.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lord Kinbote
- 10-07-17
Excellent history of Edo period Japan.
Excellent history of Edo period Japan and of Samurai history in detail. Narration well done. Years of material to digest and research.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
- Joseph
- 30-12-14
Well narrated
Absolutely loved this audio book. The details of the samurai and the period associated with certain characters were accurate and well presented.
ありがとう
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Matt
- 02-09-14
A solid, brief overview.
What did you like best about this story?
This is a great book discussing the rise, peak and fall of the Samurai. Written by a westerner - it's accessible, but avoids western cliches about Japan and does a good job of relating cultural/historic complexities. It's a good overview; rich with the storied characters of Japan's past. The book moves along at a pleasant pace - covering nearly 700 years of history - and doesn't get mired in the innumerable details.
What about Jonathan Keeble’s performance did you like?
Jon is a great reader with a pleasant voice, accent and intonation. His voice changes for quotations were fun as well. I have no idea if he pronounced the Japanese words/names correctly, since I don't speak Japanese.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael
- 08-08-14
An Excellent History of the Samurai
Well told and superbly narrated this book is an excellent overview of the Samurai. From the start to present day we see the history, the development, and finally the demise. The book shows how the idea of Samurai was used and abused in the 20th Century for political, social and media goals. Jonathan Clements has opinions and views but generally the book covers the topic in a level handed way to make the reader (listener) feel it is balanced and objective. Just over 12 hours long, it is a brief view of the Samurai which if this subject interest you, you'll fly through and find fascinating.
Loved the book and the narrator is excellent.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 26-01-19
Good summary. Poor attempt at Japanese names.
I would say it's a great book but it was so hard to listen to the narrator screw up the pronunciation. He even says "sami rai". C'mon you can't even pronounce that right?
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- James A. Long
- 09-05-17
Meh
Managed to make a fascinating time period sound quite boring. No small feat. Good narrator.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- A User
- 30-07-14
Not what it seems
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes but with caveat that it's not about samurai warfare or fighting skills etc. but more just history
5 of 9 people found this review helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- William
- 08-01-19
makes me want to know more.
as my title says, I want to know more about the samurai and especially the history of Japan
-
Overall
- Sammy
- 30-11-18
A good listen
This book is very entertaining. The facts provided are in a nice story like fashion. Non fiction that reads like fiction. Highly recommended.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Customer 101
- 19-10-18
very entertaining
not what I expected but I thoroughly enjoyed the tales and history of a most interesting and influential class of people