How to Read The Swordless Samurai in EPUB Format: A Guide to Enjoying This Amazing Book on Any Device
The Swordless Samurai: A Book Review
Have you ever heard of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the peasant boy who became one of the greatest military and civic leaders in Japan's history? If not, you are missing out on an inspiring and fascinating story that can teach you a lot about leadership, strategy, and human nature. In this book review, we will introduce you to The Swordless Samurai, a book by Kitami Masao that tells the life story of Hideyoshi and his leadership secrets. We will also tell you why you should read this book, and how you can get it in epub format.
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What is The Swordless Samurai about?
The Swordless Samurai is a historical novel that narrates the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi from a humble peasant to the ruler of Japan in the 16th century. The book is based on historical facts and documents, but also adds fictional elements and dialogues to make the story more engaging and vivid.
The historical background of the book
The book is set in the Sengoku period, also known as the Age of Warring States, a time of endless chaos and bloodshed in Japan. During this period, various feudal lords, or daimyo, fought for supremacy and control over the land. The only law was the law of the sword, and the common people suffered from poverty, famine, and violence.
In this turbulent era, a young boy named Hideyoshi was born in a poor farmer's family. He had no social status, no education, no money, and no physical strength. He was mocked and bullied by his peers for his small stature and monkey-like appearance. However, he had a big dream: to become a samurai, a noble warrior who served a lord.
To achieve his dream, he had to rely on his wits, his courage, his charisma, and his luck. He learned to observe human nature, to outsmart and outmaneuver his enemies, to recruit and retain loyal followers, and to adapt to changing circumstances. He also learned from his mentors, such as Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, two of the most powerful daimyo of his time.
Through his hard work, his talent, and his ambition, he rose from a lowly foot soldier to a general, a daimyo, a regent, and finally, the de facto ruler of Japan. He unified the country after decades of war, built castles and temples, promoted culture and commerce, reformed the social system and the legal code, and even attempted to conquer China and Korea. He was known as the swordless samurai because he rarely used his sword in battle; instead, he used his mind as his weapon.
The main character and his leadership lessons
The book is not only a biography of Hideyoshi; it is also a manual of leadership wisdom that can be applied to any situation. The book reveals how Hideyoshi overcame various challenges and obstacles in his life and career, such as:
How he convinced Nobunaga to spare his life when he was caught stealing his sandals
How he persuaded a rival daimyo to surrender without a fight by building a fake castle overnight
How he negotiated with the powerful Buddhist sects that opposed his rule
How he dealt with the betrayal of his trusted generals and allies
How he managed his diverse and complex organization of samurai, peasants, merchants, and monks
How he balanced his personal and professional life, his ambition and his compassion, his pride and his humility
The book also shows how Hideyoshi embodied the qualities of a great leader, such as:
Vision: He had a clear and compelling vision of what he wanted to achieve and how to achieve it
Strategy: He had a keen sense of timing, opportunity, and risk, and he planned his moves carefully and creatively
Execution: He acted decisively and swiftly, and he followed through on his promises and commitments
Influence: He communicated effectively and persuasively, and he inspired and motivated others to follow him
Teamwork: He built strong relationships and networks, and he leveraged the strengths and talents of his team members
Learning: He was curious and open-minded, and he learned from his successes and failures, as well as from others
Innovation: He was flexible and adaptable, and he embraced change and new ideas
Leadership: He led by example, by service, by empowerment, and by vision
Why should you read The Swordless Samurai?
There are many reasons why you should read The Swordless Samurai, but here are some of the main ones:
The book is a captivating story of a remarkable man
The Swordless Samurai is not a dry history book; it is a thrilling adventure that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. The book is full of action, drama, humor, romance, intrigue, and suspense. You will witness the epic battles, the cunning schemes, the daring escapes, the loyal friendships, the bitter rivalries, the tragic losses, and the glorious victories of Hideyoshi and his companions. You will also get to know the colorful personalities of the other characters in the book, such as Nobunaga, Ieyasu, Nene (Hideyoshi's wife), Chacha (Hideyoshi's concubine), Sen no Rikyu (the tea master), Ishida Mitsunari (Hideyoshi's enemy), and many more.
The book is also a rich portrait of a fascinating period in Japanese history. You will learn about the culture, the politics, the religion, the art, the architecture, the economy, the society, and the customs of 16th century Japan. You will see how Hideyoshi shaped Japan's destiny and legacy for generations to come.
The book offers timeless wisdom for success in life and business
The Swordless Samurai is not only a story; it is also a lesson. The book teaches you how to apply Hideyoshi's leadership principles to your own life and career. Whether you are a student, an employee, an entrepreneur, a manager, or a leader, you can benefit from Hideyoshi's insights and advice. The book shows you how to:
Set clear and realistic goals for yourself and your team
Analyze your situation and your environment objectively and strategically
Make smart decisions based on facts and logic rather than emotions or biases
Solve problems creatively and effectively using various tools and techniques
Influence others positively using persuasion, negotiation, storytelling, humor, etc.
Build trust and rapport with your stakeholders using empathy, respect, honesty, etc.
Motivate yourself and others using rewards, recognition, feedback, etc.
Delegate tasks appropriately using empowerment, accountability, etc.
Manage conflicts constructively using communication, collaboration, compromise, etc.
Cope with stress and adversity using resilience, optimism, etc.
Improve yourself continuously using learning, reflection,
etc.
The book is available in various formats, including epub
The Swordless Samurai is not only a book; it is also an ebook. You can read it in various formats, such as epub, pdf, mobi, etc. Epub is one of the most popular ebook formats, because it has many benefits, such as:
Epub books are compatible with most devices, The benefits of reading epub books
Epub books are compatible with most devices, such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and computers. You can read them on any app or software that supports the epub format, such as Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, Nook, Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre, etc. You can also use online epub readers, such as MagicScroll or EPUBReader.
Epub books are also flexible and adaptable to your preferences and needs. You can change the font size, style, color, background, brightness, orientation, and more. You can also adjust the text alignment, spacing, margins, and hyphenation. You can add bookmarks, highlights, notes, and annotations. You can also use features such as text-to-speech, dictionary lookup, translation, search, etc.
Epub books are also easy to create and edit. You can use various tools and software to convert your documents or web pages into epub books. You can also use editors and validators to modify and check your epub books. You can also add metadata, cover images, table of contents, etc.
The best sources to download or buy The Swordless Samurai epub books
If you are interested in reading The Swordless Samurai in epub format, you have several options to get it. Here are some of the best sources to download or buy The Swordless Samurai epub books:
Rakuten Kobo: This is one of the largest ebook retailers in the world, offering millions of titles in various genres and languages. You can buy The Swordless Samurai epub book for $9.99 USD from Kobo. You can also read a free preview of the book before buying it.
Internet Archive: This is a non-profit digital library that provides free access to millions of books, movies, music, and more. You can download The Swordless Samurai epub book for free from the Internet Archive. You can also borrow the book for 14 days using your library card or email address.
eBooks.com: This is another popular ebook retailer that sells ebooks in various formats, including epub. You can buy The Swordless Samurai epub book for $9.99 USD from eBooks.com. You can also read a sample of the book before buying it.
Conclusion
The Swordless Samurai is a book that you should not miss if you are interested in Japanese history, culture, and leadership. The book tells the amazing story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the peasant boy who became one of the greatest leaders in Japan's history. The book also teaches you how to apply Hideyoshi's leadership wisdom to your own life and career. The book is available in various formats, including epub, which is a flexible and convenient way to read ebooks on any device.
FAQs
Who wrote The Swordless Samurai?
The Swordless Samurai was written by Kitami Masao, a Japanese journalist and author who specializes in historical novels and biographies.
When was The Swordless Samurai published?
The Swordless Samurai was first published in Japan in 1993 under the title Mumei no samurai: Hideyoshi no shogai. The English translation was published in 2008 by St. Martin's Press.
Is The Swordless Samurai a true story?
The Swordless Samurai is based on historical facts and documents, but it also adds fictional elements and dialogues to make the story more engaging and vivid. The book is not a strict biography of Hideyoshi, but a historical novel that dramatizes his life and achievements.
What are some other books about Toyotomi Hideyoshi?
Some other books about Toyotomi Hideyoshi are:
Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan by Eiji Yoshikawa
Hideyoshi by Mary Elizabeth Berry
The Monkey King: A Superhero Tale of China, Retold from The Journey to the West by Aaron Shepard
What are some other books by Kitami Masao?
Some other books by Kitami Masao are:
The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu by Kitami Masao and Juliet Winters Carpenter
The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan by Yasushi Inoue and Kitami Masao
The Life of an Amorous Man by Ihara Saikaku and Kitami Masao
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