Book details

The Swordless Samurai

Leadership Wisdom of Japan's Sixteenth-Century Legend---Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Author: Kitami Masao; Edited and with an Introduction by Tim Clark

The Swordless Samurai

The Swordless Samurai

$11.99

About This Book

It was the Age of Wars, a time of endless chaos and bloodshed, when the only law was the law of the sword, and a peasant boy named Hideyoshi dreamed of becoming a samurai. He lacked size and strength...

Page Count
272
Genre
On Sale
07/02/2013

Book Details

It was the Age of Wars, a time of endless chaos and bloodshed, when the only law was the law of the sword, and a peasant boy named Hideyoshi dreamed of becoming a samurai. He lacked size and strength and well as social status. To realize his ambition, he had to rely on wits alone.

A keen student of human nature, he learned to outthink and outmaneuver every foe. Not only did he become a samurai, be he also commanded vast armies, and finally, became ruler of an entire nation. Hideyoshi far surpassed his childhood ambition---this son of a penniless farmer became one of the greatest military and civic leaders the world has ever known.

What enabled an unschooled peasant to usurp, outnegotiate, and conquer ruthless samurai generals? How did he recruit and retain thousands of devoted followers?

The timeless leadership secrets that Hideyoshi used to reach the pinnacle of power are now available in English for the first time. Destined to take its place beside such classics as The Book of Five Rings and The Art of War, The Swordless Samurai is required reading for all who seek effective strategies for succeeding in business, conflict, and life.

Imprint Publisher

Truman Talley Books

ISBN

9781466848986

In The News

“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 (formerly in Japan)

“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

“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 executives. I spent more than a decade in Japan, and The Swordless Samurai is valuable reading for anyone doing business there or looking for a deeper understanding of timeless leadership principles.” —Ken Belson, The New York Times

“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

About the Creators

The Swordless Samurai

The Swordless Samurai

$11.99