Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts [Paperback]

Joseph Cardillo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

This entertaining and enlightening guide reveals the philosophy behind the martial arts techniques that lead to a creative and fulfilled life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph Cardillo lives in Averrill Park, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446690317
• ISBN-13: 978-0446690317
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mushin??, July 22, 2007

By 

Terry Tozer "TJSKA.com" (Reading, Bracknell, Brighton & Hove, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living a simple life, August 13, 2006

By 

Todd Farrell (Keller, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts (Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Water Meets World, February 12, 2009

By 

terrie schauer (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts (Paperback)

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
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