Title: Bushido Explained
Author: Alexander Bennett; Illustrations: Baptiste Tavernier
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Publication Date: 3/10/2020
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 160, 6″ x 9″
Cover Price: $16.99
Content
Dr. Alexander Bennett is a Professor at Kansai University’s Division of International Affairs, teaching Japanese history and society. He is also an accomplished martial artist, serving as Vice President of the International Naginata Federation, International Committee member at the All Japan Kendo Federation, Director of the Japanese Academy of Budo, head coach of New Zealand Kendo, and has earned the following ranks: Kendo Kyoshi 7-dan, Iaido 5-dan, Naginata 5-dan, Jukendo 5-dan, and Tankendo 5-dan. I first became aware of Dr. Bennett through his wonderful 2015 book Kendo: Culture of the Sword, published by the University of California Press. When I saw that Dr. Bennett was applying his experience and perspective to the topic of Bushido, or “way of the warrior,” I was excited to see how his expertise would manifest itself.
Pros
Bushido Explained is, for starters, a beautiful book. It’s a 6″ by 9″ hardcover, with full color throughout. It’s printed on quality paper and features very clear text and graphics. The front and back interior covers display two-page color Japanese artwork. Throughout the book, Dr. Bennett appears to have incorporated, or at least adapted, illustrations and graphics from his college classes. I have read hundreds, if not thousands, of books during my time as a cybersecurity professional and as a martial arts history researcher, and I have never encountered a book that integrates this practice into its method of communication.
Dr. Bennett addresses a wide variety of topics in a relatively short number of pages. I found myself looking for additional resources based on the subjects he summarized, showing that the book is a good launch pad for additional research. That is probably another of the book’s strengths; it is not a “deep dive” on any one topic, but surveys many influences upon Bushido. If a reader is looking for an overview of key aspects of Bushido, this is likely the book for them. The integration of visual resources will likely appeal to many readers who would not otherwise concern themselves with the topic
Cons
If you’re looking for a scholarly approach to Bushido, especially with citations, footnotes, and a bibliography, Bushido Explained is likely not the book for you. While Dr. Bennett mentions the books from which he is extracting quotes, these are in-text references unsupported by additional documentation. This sort of documentation is what I prefer to see as a martial arts history researcher, but I understand that not all readers approach books with that same requirement.
Conclusion
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 Ninja Stars.
Bushido Explained might be one of the first books for the generation of martial arts who learned in classrooms driven by PowerPoint. While I am not usually a fan of that style of communication, I recognize that many readers will relate to the graphics and illustrations. That reason alone would be enough to drive many towards this book, away from the average “text wall” found in traditional history books. Given that Tuttle has priced this book so reasonably, it is an attractive buy for every reader. Although a Kindle version is available at a cheaper price, I think the beautiful illustrations and presentation are worth spending a few extra dollars to purchase the hardcover edition.
Note: Tuttle Publishing provided a copy of this book for review.
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