THE COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCURATE EDITION OF THE _HAGAKURE_ IS A MUST-HAVE FOR SERIOUS MARTIAL ARTISTS OR FANS OF SAMURAI AND THE BUSHIDO CODE. The _Hagakure_ is one of the most influential of all Japanese texts--written nearly 300 years ago by Yamamoto Tsunetomo to summarize the very essence of the Japanese Samurai _bushido_ ("warrior") spirit. Its influence has been felt throughout the world, and yet its existence is scarcely known to many Westerners. This is the first translation to include the complete first two books of the _Hagakure_ and the most reliable and authentic passages contained within the third book; all other English translations published previously have been extremely fragmentary and incomplete. Alex Bennett's completely new and highly readable translation of this essential work includes extensive footnotes that serve to fill in many cultural and historical gaps in the previous translations. This unique combination of readability and scholarship gives _Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai_ a distinct advantage over all previous English editions.