<DIV>The most famous combat strategist in Japanese history was Musashi Miyamoto, a warrior who lived from 1584 to 1645. Miyamoto fought his first duel to the death when he was 13, killing a veteran warrior more than twice his age. By the time he was 29 he had killed more than 60 other warriors in duels and was a legend in his own time.<br><br>Shortly before his death, Musashi recorded his philosophy, strategies and tactics in a short treatise entitled <i>Go Rin Sho</i>&#8212The Book of Five Rings. An esoteric read for anyone not versed in Japanese culture and language, <i>Go Rin Sho</i> has now been distilled to present the fundamentals of Miyamoto's tactics and explain them in the modern context of business, politics and war. <i>Samurai Strategies</i> is the result. Compiled by renowned Japanologist Boye Lafayette De Mente, it is more precise and practical as a handbook for winning than <i>The Art of War</i> by China's most famous military strategist, Sun Tzu.<br><br>This hardcover edition features a new introduction by the author and additional commentary in each chapter by well-known Japanese author and samurai expert Michihiro Matsumoto.</div>