The Samurai Sourcebook

Rating:
Summary: A perfect book for the avid samurai fan
Review: "The Samurai Sourcebook" is an amazing piece of work by historian Stephen Turnbull, famous for his works on samurai and anything Japanese related. While it is admittingly limited (it seems to focus mainly on the Middle Ages of Japanese history from the Mongol Invasions to the Sengoku Jidai, ending at the Tokugawa's unification) it still provides an amazing amount of material for researchers.

Whole chapters are spent on individual facts, from samuri armour and weaponry to the names of prominant samurai throughout Japanese history. One of the final chapters includes case studies on a handful of battles during the time period, including the two Mongol invasions and the Fourth Battle of Kawanajima. To add to all this detail are hundreds of detailed diagrams and maps, contemporary and modern. This includes not only how to put on samurai armor but also a detailed lay-out of battle formations.

The only thing that may be lacking is much of the philosophy of the Samurai, including exact fighting techniques with specific weapons. This book is straightly facts and history and discusses only the very basics of martial arts. (and then mostly related to the battlefield) So if you wish to get into the mind of a samurai I might suggest the real deals: "The Code of the Samurai" or of course Miyamoto Musashi's "The Book of Five Rings." This does not affect my opinion of Turnbull's book, but it is a warning to those looking for this sort of thing.

As I've already said, the time period is limited, and as other reviewers have pointed out the book may not be 100% totally, completely accurate, but just for the fact we have this amount of knowledge in a condensed, easy-to-read source is commendable. I would highly recommend this.

Rating:
Summary: The best book available on the Samurai
Review: Dr. Stephen Turnbull has finally provided us with an as complete as can be book on the samurai. He tells us in minute detail everything we could possibly want to know about samurai warfare, tactics, strategies, weaponry, castles, ships, heraldry, battles, individuals, etc etc etc! It is a thick book at 320 pages, and large-sized. Dr. Turnbull states in the introduction that he wanted to be comprehensive and that he put a supreme effort into writing such a huge book, which is four times the length of any of his other books. This book is really something special and you have to buy it if you're seriously interested in the Samurai. In fact, it is the best book on the samurai available in any language. The title 'Sourcebook' is a very modest and self-depreciating title to give to it. It is really more of a 'Bible' or an 'Everything About' than a soucebook. It is jam-packed with essentially everything Dr. Turnbull knows about the samurai - and that is A LOT! It will be a guaranteed source of enjoyment for you to read, re-read and pore over as long as your interest in the samurai lasts! Get it!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Excellent source of information. This book has helped me put key people and places together with times. Superb reading and study material. Dr. Turnbull has made learning fun and interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Another great Sengoku Jidai reference book
Review: I have an extensive collection of Sengoku Jidai literatures and I am pleased with the contents of this book. It's thorough, offering descriptions of most samurai of this period and most importantly; includes case studies of significant battles. Although the book does not venture in great length of the subject but it's a worthy book in anyone's library.

Rating:
Summary: Great reference book for Sen-joku Period
Review: I thought personally that the title was bit misleading. While the book do covered the entire samurai period, the heaviest coverage belonged the Sen-joku Period, warfare in the 16th century. Still, the book covers all aspects of samurai warfare althought I thought it would be nice if he gave us a more indepth looks at some of the great samurai leaders like Ashikaga Takauji, Mori Motonari or even Oda Nobunaga. The book does a very creditable job overall in providing basic historical material on the samurai warfare. On this fact alone, its well worth the money.

Rating:
Summary: A great primer
Review: Like Turnbull's other work on the Medieval Knight, this book really opens up one's eyes to the fighting men of the middle ages- This time in Japan. Well worth the price, sure to make you search for more on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Samarai soucebook was the perfect name for this book. It has info on most all major samarai as well as thier battles and much more. This is my personal faverite Turnbull book.

Rating:
Summary: A usable overview of samurai with some errors
Review: The Samurai Sourcebook is made as a reference book consisting of the following chapters: an outline samurai history, personalities and heraldry, arms and armour, strategy and tactics, battles and sieges, case studies and miscellanea. It also contains some useful maps and index. The Sourcebook is quite helpful in studying Japanese medieval history. The author, Steven Turnbull, is a well-known writer on the subject and the Sourcebook, as well as other books by him, is well researched and written and is an easy read both by itself (especially case studies and strategies section) and as a supplement to other books.
However, a word of caution: those who look for a serious in-depth research will be disappointed. This book does not state such goal, it was created for easy reference. But, to say only that would also be not a complete picture. Strategies and warcraft are given a well researched presentation. Various aspects of warcraft including castle building and their use in control of newly acquired territorial possessions, use of single combat and various types of arms, communication on battlefield and types and components of armour are described in good (for a layman, at least) detail.
Case studies are very well presented and provide useful information on Mongol invasions, Hideyoshi's campaigns against sohei (or warrior monks in lay language), Shimabara rebellion and some other important subjects. In addition, one will find such interesting and not-so-often described subjects as description of battle formations, various lucky and unlucky signs (found in faces of slain warriors!), classification of samurai exploits in battles and much more.
I would highly recommend the Sourcebook to those interested in samurai history.