About nine months ago, I started to hear a lot about this Historical Fiction book (a fictional story based around a real-life person and/or place) that revolved around an ancient Samurai named Miyamoto Musashi.

He was born in the year 1584 and become known throughout all of Japan as the man who founded the unique art of double-bladed swordsmanship.

With an undefeated record of 62 duels, Miyamoto was practically the Floyd Mayweather of the 1500’s.

But he wasn’t just a skilled swordsman, he was also an artist, a writer, and philosopher that found beauty in every facet of his life.

And it wasn’t until 1939 that Eiji Yoshikawa decided to write a book that revolved around his upbringing and the training that led him to become the greatest Samurai that ever lived.

I wouldn’t necessarily call it a ‘self-help’ book. But I would call it a type of ‘fictional development.’

When I first heard about it, it sounded like your average action-hero novel aimed towards your classic manga-lover or something.

But after about a dozen pages, I realized why this book had sold 120 million copies and has been labeled as one of the best selling books in history…

With its vivid imagery of the Japanese landscape and the raw, unfiltered character development of Miyamoto over 12 years of his life, this wasn’t just some fictional book. It was a guide.

Along the way, you read real-life quotes taken directly from Miyamoto that not only teach you how to face obstacles with courage, but how to focus on your life’s purpose with sole determination and mindfulness.

At one point during the story, Miyamoto is speaking to a man named Kojirō about an upcoming fight he has planned against a local Dojo. When asked if he’s afraid of dying, Miyamoto responds…

“There are people who die by remaining alive and others who gain life by dying.”

It kind of reminded of a quote by Seneca in which he said, “Learning how to live takes a whole life, and, which may surprise you more, it takes a whole life to learn how to die.”

I think what these guys are saying is that by living in a constant state of fear and anxiety, we lose our sense of purpose, therefore, our own meaning of life.

‘Death’ in philosophy is typically categorized as an obstacle rather than the idea of death itself. It’s a fear every one of us has to overcome in order to live life to the fullest.

Because once we overcome the biggest obstacle of all—Death—we can then learn how to live. Until then, we only live in constant fear of it.

And so the reason why I viewed this Historical Fiction book as a type of ‘self-help’ book is because I’ve learned more philosophical and mental advice in that book than some of the best-selling self-help books I’ve read.

So if you ever find yourself with a month where you have nothing to read, consider picking up Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa.

Don’t get me wrong, 1,000 pages is a lot. It’s easily the longest novel I’ve ever read.

But I never said it wasn’t worth it.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m now reading The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. An 1890 novel based on the one and only Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson.

Quote Of The Week - “You’re not failing. You’re just in the middle of succeeding.” — James Clear