The Swordless Samurai

"By peeling back the curtain on one of Japan's most famous leaders, Tim Clark has given English language readers insight into one of the country's most widely admired and imitated heroes. Hideyoshi is no typical business guru, but his lessons have inspired generations of countrymen. The book is valuable reading for anyone doing business in Japan or looking for a deeper understanding of what makes leadership tick."—Ken Belson, The New York Times

"A guide to sage leadership and a political thriller rolled into one, Swordless Samurai is a must-read for anyone trying to steer their organization down the right path. The pages brim with lessons on how to inspire loyalty, mitigate weaknesses, and build trust-tactics used by the legendary Toyotomi Hideyoshi to unite feudal Japan's warring clans. But this is also a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of hubris, the downfall of empires and corporations alike. Hideyoshi's story, with its rollicking accounts of bloody battles and ingenious subterfuge, reveals how leaders can accomplish the seemingly impossible, and how they can avoid the darker consequences of success."—Brendan I. Koerner, contributing editor, Wired
"The wisdom of this sixteenth-century century samurai is astonishingly prescient and pertinent for twenty-first century leaders. Practical wisdom at its best."—Warren Bennis, Distinguished Professor of Business, USC, and author of On Becoming a Leader