What I've been reading

"The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi" (2013), by William Scott Wilson.

I stumbled upon this one recently in my old university library, and found the first few chapters interesting enough to find my own copy and read the entire thing. The work reads quickly, but requires some background knowledge of medieval Japanese history and of the various Buddhist traditions that took root there. Also, there were times when Wilson seemed to pile on so many names in quick succession that it became easy to get lost (this comes from someone who finds Japanese names difficult to pronounce and remember). Still, I felt the book to be well worth reading, and came away with many impressions of Musashi (1584-1645) as a swordsman, idealist, artist, and wanderer.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Except for short periods when he stayed in Kyoto or various castle towns and the last five years of his life in Kumamoto, Musashi spent his life on the road. Travel broadened his perspective on his environment and on human nature, as it would for the traveler-poet Basho nearly a century later. Although many people traveled the roads of Japan at this time, Musashi was far more observant than the average sojourner. His paintings, The Book of Five Rings, and the story of his life all bespeak of a man who dismissed no experience and who noted everything that crossed his path. When he enjoined his disciples not to turn their backs, 'on the various Ways of the world,' he was speaking of far more than just formal studies. The life of a traveler was Musashi's way of ensuring that he would continue to have broadening experiences. A safe position with a local daimyo could never have provided him the same opportunities. 

"Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage" (1999), by Alfred Lansing.

I'm about two-thirds of the way through this one, and enjoying it. The book is very thoroughly researched, and Lansing does a good job of taking us along on the expedition with Shackleton and his crew. The narrative is very detailed, at times covering events from almost every hour for several days in a row. It's an interesting approach, and gives it a different feel from a typical history.

If the story of Shackleton and the expedition he led interests you, this is an excellent book.