The masterpiece of samurai philosophy, for the first time in an unabridged edition translated from Japanese. "The Book of Five Rings" is one of the fundamental texts of Japanese martial thought. Written by Miyamoto Musashi in the 16th century as a manual to instruct the disciples of his school, this work eventually became the cornerstone of samurai philosophy. Using a simple and clear style, Musashi reveals the secrets of his martial technique, acquired throughout a life devoted to walking the Way of the Warrior, and unveils the spiritual, ethical and psychological keys to transcend practice and reach the Void. The teachings of "The Book of Five Rings", far from being obsolete, continue to awaken interest in all those who wish to embark on a path of improvement, leadership and self-knowledge.