Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts

by Joseph Cardillo

Book Overview

In the vein of Bruce Lee's famous "be water, my friend" speech as referenced by Tom Brady comes a guide to harnessing your energy to increase focus and peace.

"A fascinating and helpful book for everyone trying to make sense of our crazy world." -- Joe Hyams, Author of Zen in the Martial Arts

Joseph Cardillo, Ph.D and top-selling author, reveals the philosophy behind the martial arts techniques that lead to a creative...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446690317
• ISBN13: 9780446690317
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

Water Meets World

Amateur kick-boxer and ex-karate student, I picked up this book looking for a little mental spice to add to a relatively sparse spiritual training regimen. Be Like Water hit the spot. Cardillo's writing is obviously colored by the practice of Kung Fu, one of the "softer", more spiritual martial arts. Needless to say, his thoughts can't be neatly applied to becoming a more effective Muay Thai kick-boxer. But in reflecting on and cultivating the art of living, this book is thought-provoking. Be Like Water holds a lot of great warrior-wisdom. My favorites are the sections on responding appropriately and controlling urges. Cardillo expresses very effectively the utility of economy of movement/reaction, just as he clearly explains the benefits of correctly assessing which threats to react to. Be Like Water isn't a bible for up-coming boxers. I don't expect it to help me very much in the ring. But in trying to live the rest of my life well, I expect to recall and return to Cardillo's writing. Terrie Schauer [...]

Mushin??

This is another one of those "It does what it says on the label" type books. You'll not want to put it down once you've started. The book is arranged into many small one to three page chapters about a subject e.g. "Pacing Yourself" or "Identifying Your Priorities", then followed by a page or two on Meditations about how you might achieve what has been discussed then one page of "Resolutions" on suggested promises you should make to yourself to carry out the task at hand. Written in a nice easy flowing & interesting manner which urges you on to want to just read one more chapter before you put it down. Although the topics discussed immediately relate to Budo (Martial Arts), all of them can equally be applied to everyday living without little or any adaptation.

Living a simple life

This is one of those books that you can't put down. I'm not a big reader, nor am I big in to martial arts, however the principles in this book really apply to everyday life. It immediately changed the way I analyze situations. There are many small details that anyone can use to change something if that is something they want to. I have read this book a few times, mainly looking for something else to apply to life.

Practical Wisdom ~ For the Mind, Body and Spirit

Joseph Cardillo offers practical wisdom for everyday living in this brilliantly written book. The format is well-designed ~ with a spiritual saying at the beginning and resolutions at the end of each chapter. It's wonderful finding opportunities to apply his ideas, to `go with the flow' of life ~ to conserve strength and energy ~ to move through life more gently.