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Title: Mind Over Muscle
Author: Jigoro Kano
Publisher: Kodansha International Ltd
Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 978-4-7700-3015-3
I highly recommend “Mind Over Muscle” to martial artists and those curious about the martial arts.
After training in various other martial arts Jigoro Kano created Judo in 1882. He assembled Judo by picking, choosing and modifying techniques to make Judo effective yet safe to practice at full speed and power.
Once he’d defined the physical essentials he gave considerable thought to the philosophical and social underpinnings of his new martial art.
“Mind Over Muscle” is a collection of Jigoro Kano’s writings on the founding of Judo, the philosophical and social underpinnings of Judo, and the individual and social virtues developed through the practice of Judo.
I found Professor Kano’s thoughts applicable to my life outside martial arts and worthy of study and contemplation.
The collection was complied and edited by Naoki Murata and translated from the original Japanese by Nancy H Ross.
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Link to the Special Report: Mind Over Muscle - Jigoro Kano's Judo
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Road to Damascus
Title: The Road to Damascus
Author: John Ringo & Linda Evans
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2004
ISBN: 0-7434-7187-3
I highly recommend “The Road to Damascus”.
The title references the Apostle Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus while Paul was on the road to Damascus. It’s an apt title.
Sonny, a 20,000 ton sentient war machine called a Bolo, is on a mission during which he encounters a four-year old child armed with a pop gun. Sonny stops and is unable to move for a time while he reviews his memory banks recalling the events that led him to be at this time and place and he reconsiders his mission and the purpose of his creators.
In recounting twelve years of history from Sonny’s perspective, John Ringo and Linda Evans present a timely and prescient discussion of a political party, PAPPA, which wins control over all three branches of the representative constitutional republic of the planet Jefferson.
PAPPA, motivated by strong populist socialist ideology proceeds to disassemble the capitalist economy justifying each incursion as a response to a new crisis. In the end, the economy is destroyed and a major portion of the population is in open armed rebellion. Sonny, by historical accident, is on the wrong side.
That the book was published in 2004 precludes the possibility that they wrote it in response to the current lurch to the left we are experiencing under Barack Obama. But while reading “The Road to Damascus” one wonders which of the authors is the prophet.
Links to other Book Reviews in this Blog
Author: John Ringo & Linda Evans
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2004
ISBN: 0-7434-7187-3
I highly recommend “The Road to Damascus”.
The title references the Apostle Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus while Paul was on the road to Damascus. It’s an apt title.
Sonny, a 20,000 ton sentient war machine called a Bolo, is on a mission during which he encounters a four-year old child armed with a pop gun. Sonny stops and is unable to move for a time while he reviews his memory banks recalling the events that led him to be at this time and place and he reconsiders his mission and the purpose of his creators.
In recounting twelve years of history from Sonny’s perspective, John Ringo and Linda Evans present a timely and prescient discussion of a political party, PAPPA, which wins control over all three branches of the representative constitutional republic of the planet Jefferson.
PAPPA, motivated by strong populist socialist ideology proceeds to disassemble the capitalist economy justifying each incursion as a response to a new crisis. In the end, the economy is destroyed and a major portion of the population is in open armed rebellion. Sonny, by historical accident, is on the wrong side.
That the book was published in 2004 precludes the possibility that they wrote it in response to the current lurch to the left we are experiencing under Barack Obama. But while reading “The Road to Damascus” one wonders which of the authors is the prophet.
Links to other Book Reviews in this Blog
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Last Centurion
Title: The Last Centurion
Author: John Ringo
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4391-3291-3
I highly recommend “The Last Centurion”.
John Ringo has become my favorite author. Mostly he writes science fiction with a military bent and he is very good at it. “The Last Centurion” can’t be called science fiction (not be me at least) because it is set in the near future of 2019 - 2021.
Published in 2008 the novel combines military adventure with serious social commentary. Ringo explains how the world works in many ways. He explains the difference between organic and industrial farming methods. He explains the spread of a flu epidemic and vaccinations. He explains socialism and capitalism.
“The Last Centurion” is a useful addition to conservative literature. He only missed the target on two points; (1) he guessed wrong on who would win the Democrat primary and the subsequent general election in 2008; and (2) he uses the “F” bomb too much for comfort – not too much for his professional solder protagonist mind you, just too much for the reader’s comfort.
Links to other Book Reviews in this Blog
Author: John Ringo
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4391-3291-3
I highly recommend “The Last Centurion”.
John Ringo has become my favorite author. Mostly he writes science fiction with a military bent and he is very good at it. “The Last Centurion” can’t be called science fiction (not be me at least) because it is set in the near future of 2019 - 2021.
Published in 2008 the novel combines military adventure with serious social commentary. Ringo explains how the world works in many ways. He explains the difference between organic and industrial farming methods. He explains the spread of a flu epidemic and vaccinations. He explains socialism and capitalism.
“The Last Centurion” is a useful addition to conservative literature. He only missed the target on two points; (1) he guessed wrong on who would win the Democrat primary and the subsequent general election in 2008; and (2) he uses the “F” bomb too much for comfort – not too much for his professional solder protagonist mind you, just too much for the reader’s comfort.
Links to other Book Reviews in this Blog
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