Sun and Steel

By: Yukio Mishima

Narrated by: Matthew Taylor

Length: 2 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In this fascinating document, one of Japan's best known - and controversial - writers created what might be termed a new literary form. It is new because it combines elements of many existing types of writing, yet in the end, fits into none of them.

At one level, it may be listened to as an account of how a puny, bookish boy discovered the importance of his own physical being; the "sun and steel" of the title are themselves symbols respectively of the cult of the open air and the weights used in bodybuilding. At another level, it is a discussion by a major novelist of the relation between action and art and his own highly polished art, in particular. More personally, it is an account of one individual's search for identity and self-integration. Or again, the work could be seen as a demonstration of how an intensely individual preoccupation can be developed into a profound philosophy of life.

All these elements are woven together by Mishima's complex yet polished and supple style. The confession and the self-analysis, the philosophy and the poetry combine in the end to create something that is in itself perfect and self-sufficient. It is a piece of literature that is as carefully fashioned as Mishima's novels, and at the same time provides an indispensable key to the understanding of them as art.

The road Mishima took to salvation is a highly personal one. Yet here, ultimately, one detects the unmistakable tones of a self transcending the particular and attaining to a poetic vision of the universal. The book is therefore a moving document, and is highly significant as a pointer to the future development of one of the most interesting novelists of modern times.

©1970 stanfordpub.com (P)2021 stanfordpub.com

Eh

I'd rather listen to his fictional work. Perhaps a different narrator might have made this more enjoyable. Still worth the listen.

fantastic book

The book put into words things I have experienced doing martial arts that I could never describe.

so glad I read this book.

this man lived an amazing life, and he reminds me a lot of things I have been throguht when I was younger, as a very frail, introverted boy. he asked a number of questions I asked myself but as opposed to me, he offered a few explanations to them.

I am glad I wasn't alone in my thinking. I am also very glad , I decide to cultivate my body even thought it is a purely aesthetic activity of the modern world as he said.

excellent book. makes you think a lot, and reconsider things and believes you took for granted.

Excellent material somewhat marred by a stilted delivery

Something which I could only comprehend in snatches and perceive in glimpses. To be returned to and meditated upon again.

Taylor does not seem to effectively transmit the tranquility which I detect in this work. The translation work, while beautiful, falls choppily on the ear through Taylor’s delivery.

grab it, especially on a discount

worth the read. I'd heard about him through several other sources. now I understand why. probably the best book on philosophy, martial arts, excercise and mortality- or at least one of the best in the past century.

Mishima fan, but found this uninteresting

Mishima was a brilliant, evocative, eloquent stylist. Love his novels, not so sure about his non-fiction. I found what he was writing about here -- the similarities of mind and body (I think that's what it was, this is hard to follow) -- was less than compelling. I have all his writings published in English and I want to read/listen to them all, so I'm glad I listened to this. Will probably listen to it again to fully get the points he was making. But only because this is short. If it were twice as long, I would most likely pass.

Sublime Masterpiece

"Sun and Steel" is a sublime masterpiece of confessional literature by a luminary of 20th century literature.

Helped me change my mindset on how to see myself.

Hard hitting, eye opening, mindset and grind set builder. Reread to get max understanding

An Amazing Read for Men

Sun and Steel is the type of book that should be part of any male’s personal journey, or, even better part of society’s rights of passage for all men.

Outstanding essay but sub-par performance

Mishima is an intriguing figure. A bizarre amalgam of key sentiments from Musashi, Nietzsche, and Wilde. This will likely be a book I re-listen to over and over in years to come.

However, it could very much benefit from a re-reading by Taylor. I enjoyed the calm pace and overall tone, but the sound quality is marred and somewhat echoed; hollowed even. Moreover, there are many words which are unfortunately mispronounced.

Overall though, this is a piece I would recommend to any physical culturalist with a penchant for existentialist philosophy or romanticized Samurai culture.