A Warrior's Bible: The elements of true warriorship - Softcover
This is about warriorship. It is a basic masculine approach to life that is as old as human beings. It explores many different venues where warriorship is practiced and what it entails. The approach is philosophical in the original sense of philosophy which is not just knowledge but for the sake of living.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
Clarion Review
An overview of masculinity, A Warrior’s Bible is as much self-help book as philosophical treatise.
Many of the behaviors that exemplify the traditional Western notion of masculinity, such as hunting and fighting, are enjoyed by members of all genders. In attempting to define masculinity for the modern person, A Warrior’s Bible eschews behavioral stereotypes surrounding the concept of a manly lifestyle. Instead, Gus Gordon focuses on a healthy mindbody-spirit balance that is in sync with many philosophies.
In the sense used here, a warrior is not necessarily a literal war fighter, but someone who achieves inner strength by pursuing masculinity. This process includes controlling destructive impulses, following a self-defined path, renouncing luxury, and engaging in intense physical activity to achieve fitness. In fact, much of the book is devoted to athleticism, both in chapters that deal with it exclusively and as a running theme in chapters concerning other matters, such as spirituality.
Gordon admits early in the book that most of the content is intended for men, but he also states in the introduction that the book’s contents “could also apply to female warriors in many ways, since masculinity is not confined exclusively to the male gender.” Indeed, the text makes frequent mention of femininity as a necessary, internally sourced balance to masculinity, not an external prize or sign of weakness. This attitude may not quite broaden the scope of A Warrior’s Bible enough to appeal broadly to female readers, but it opens the door to women who may already appreciate some aspects of the book’s philosophy.
In defining masculinity in his own way, Gordon draws on sources from a span of backgrounds, from Nietzsche to Bruce Lee. By way of its excellent bibliography, the volume succeeds where many self-help books do not: it provides a generous list of supplementary reading options. Though these can be a little weighted—the writings of Nietzsche are particularly prominent—the work of plenty of other foundation stones of philosophy are present, including Kant and Confucius. This makes A Warrior’s Bible a good potential gateway to the study of philosophy in general.
The author’s language is straightforward and plain, even when discussing complicated concepts. It is a well-edited and easy read, a candidate for many repeat inspections, and may be a good pick for young, athletically inclined men. Highlighted portions of the text amplify several important points, making it easy to flip through and find items of interest from previous read-throughs. All in all, this is a fine example of a self-help book that would not be out of place at a YMCA or martial arts studio.
Anna Call
From Kirkus Reviews:
An overview of masculinity, A Warrior’s Bible is as much self-help book as philosophical treatise.
Many of the behaviors that exemplify the traditional Western notion of masculinity, such as hunting and fighting, are enjoyed by members of all genders. In attempting to define masculinity for the modern person, A Warrior’s Bible eschews behavioral stereotypes surrounding the concept of a manly lifestyle. Instead, Gus Gordon focuses on a healthy mindbody-spirit balance that is in sync with many philosophies.
In the sense used here, a warrior is not necessarily a literal war fighter, but someone who achieves inner strength by pursuing masculinity. This process includes controlling destructive impulses, following a self-defined path, renouncing luxury, and engaging in intense physical activity to achieve fitness. In fact, much of the book is devoted to athleticism, both in chapters that deal with it exclusively and as a running theme in chapters concerning other matters, such as spirituality.
Gordon admits early in the book that most of the content is intended for men, but he also states in the introduction that the book’s contents “could also apply to female warriors in many ways, since masculinity is not confined exclusively to the male gender.” Indeed, the text makes frequent mention of femininity as a necessary, internally sourced balance to masculinity, not an external prize or sign of weakness. This attitude may not quite broaden the scope of A Warrior’s Bible enough to appeal broadly to female readers, but it opens the door to women who may already appreciate some aspects of the book’s philosophy.
In defining masculinity in his own way, Gordon draws on sources from a span of backgrounds, from Nietzsche to Bruce Lee. By way of its excellent bibliography, the volume succeeds where many self-help books do not: it provides a generous list of supplementary reading options. Though these can be a little weighted—the writings of Nietzsche are particularly prominent—the work of plenty of other foundation stones of philosophy are present, including Kant and Confucius. This makes A Warrior’s Bible a good potential gateway to the study of philosophy in general.
The author’s language is straightforward and plain, even when discussing complicated concepts. It is a well-edited and easy read, a candidate for many repeat inspections, and may be a good pick for young, athletically inclined men. Highlighted portions of the text amplify several important points, making it easy to flip through and find items of interest from previous read-throughs. All in all, this is a fine example of a self-help book that would not be out of place at a YMCA or martial arts studio.
Anna Call
A philosophically wide-ranging account of the warrior's ethos and an argument for its rejuvenation today.
Debut-author Gordon unpacks the central characteristics of the warrior with unusual comprehensiveness, focusing on a "developmental point of view" that surveys the history of the concept. This ambitious scope leads the analysis across a wide expanse of topics—a warrior's spirituality, the warrior figure as he appears in the athletic and military arenas, and the warrior as a servant to society. The author is careful to avoid restricting his understanding of the warrior to soldiering; he considers the warrior a broader category that encompasses an elemental human type rather than a narrow occupation. The scholarly range of the analysis is striking: the likes of Yeats, Nietzsche and Schopenhauer are deftly investigated. At one point, the Navy Seals and Rainer Maria Rilke are discussed on the same page. This makes for an impressively rich multicultural perspective that includes accounts of Eastern philosophies like Zen Buddhism and Taoism. Sometimes the arguments are needlessly confused by academic jargon: "It might be helpful to reflect on the Tao yin/yang symbol, since it is the ontological foundation of the primordial domain of the feminine/masculine dynamic." Also, it's not always clear that the work is moving toward a unified conclusion. The "ultimate goal of the warrior is service to the world" writes Gordon, but other than somewhat vague references to social justice, it's never entirely obvious what this service amounts to. Also, the author's argument that the world needs a revival of the warrior spirit wants further elaboration. Nevertheless, this is a painstakingly well-researched study filled with philosophical insight.
A rigorous analysis of the history of the warrior that transcends mere military interpretations.
Debut-author Gordon unpacks the central characteristics of the warrior with unusual comprehensiveness, focusing on a "developmental point of view" that surveys the history of the concept. This ambitious scope leads the analysis across a wide expanse of topics—a warrior's spirituality, the warrior figure as he appears in the athletic and military arenas, and the warrior as a servant to society. The author is careful to avoid restricting his understanding of the warrior to soldiering; he considers the warrior a broader category that encompasses an elemental human type rather than a narrow occupation. The scholarly range of the analysis is striking: the likes of Yeats, Nietzsche and Schopenhauer are deftly investigated. At one point, the Navy Seals and Rainer Maria Rilke are discussed on the same page. This makes for an impressively rich multicultural perspective that includes accounts of Eastern philosophies like Zen Buddhism and Taoism. Sometimes the arguments are needlessly confused by academic jargon: "It might be helpful to reflect on the Tao yin/yang symbol, since it is the ontological foundation of the primordial domain of the feminine/masculine dynamic." Also, it's not always clear that the work is moving toward a unified conclusion. The "ultimate goal of the warrior is service to the world" writes Gordon, but other than somewhat vague references to social justice, it's never entirely obvious what this service amounts to. Also, the author's argument that the world needs a revival of the warrior spirit wants further elaboration. Nevertheless, this is a painstakingly well-researched study filled with philosophical insight.
A rigorous analysis of the history of the warrior that transcends mere military interpretations.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- Publication date2014
- ISBN 10 1483971740
- ISBN 13 9781483971742
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages224
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
A Warrior's Bible: The elements of true warriorship
Published by
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
(2014)
ISBN 10: 1483971740
ISBN 13: 9781483971742
Used
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Soft cover book in great condition! Some light shelf and use wear, otherwise appears to be a good clean copy!. Seller Inventory # PBLHawk0803170162376
Buy Used
US$ 8.25
Convert currency