The Ancient Wisdom Collection: Meditations, the Art of War, The Book of Five Rings, Tao Te Ching & Many More Classic Works Audiobook

About the Authors

Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645), famed swordsman, was born Shinmen Takezo in Harima Province and may have fought at Sekigahara under the Ukita as a common soldier. He claimed to have defeated his first opponent (a certain Arima Kihei) at the age of thirteen. He wrote that he engaged in sixty duels without suffering defeat once, and he was noted in this regard for his skill at handling two swords at once. Much of Musashi’s life between 1600 and 1640 is the stuff of legend, and some have postulated that he served at Osaka Castle on the defending side, taking quite a few heads in the process. In 1640 Musashi accepted service with the Hosokawa clan and three years later, in Higo Province, began work on his great book The Book of Five Rings. He finished this influential work on swordsmanship in May 1645—the same year he died.

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was probably born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey), and lived in Rome until his exile to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he lived most of his life and died. His teachings were noted down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses.

Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645), famed swordsman, was born Shinmen Takezo in Harima Province and may have fought at Sekigahara under the Ukita as a common soldier. He claimed to have defeated his first opponent (a certain Arima Kihei) at the age of thirteen. He wrote that he engaged in sixty duels without suffering defeat once, and he was noted in this regard for his skill at handling two swords at once. Much of Musashi’s life between 1600 and 1640 is the stuff of legend, and some have postulated that he served at Osaka Castle on the defending side, taking quite a few heads in the process. In 1640 Musashi accepted service with the Hosokawa clan and three years later, in Higo Province, began work on his great book The Book of Five Rings. He finished this influential work on swordsmanship in May 1645—the same year he died.

Lao Tzu was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching.

Thucydides (460–400 BCE) was an Athenian general of Thracian decent. After failing to prevent the surrender of the city of Amphipolis to the Spartan commander Brasidas during the Peloponnesian War, he was exiled, when he began compiling his history of the war. He is generally acclaimed as the creator of scholarly history as we know it today.

Sun Tzu lived in China in the sixth and fifth centuries BC, serving as a general and strategist to the king of Wu. A philosopher and writer, his military stratagems, written over 2,500 years ago, are still pertinent today.

Lao Tzu was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching.

Julius Caesar (100 BC–44 BC) was a military general and leading politician in the Roman republic.  His family, the Julii, claimed descent from the ancient kings of Rome and from the goddess Venus. Caesar rapidly carved out an impressive political career, forging an alliance with Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC. The Civil War is Caesar’s attempt at an explanation of the war that changed the Roman world.

Julius Caesar (100 BC–44 BC) was a military general and leading politician in the Roman republic.  His family, the Julii, claimed descent from the ancient kings of Rome and from the goddess Venus. Caesar rapidly carved out an impressive political career, forging an alliance with Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC. The Civil War is Caesar’s attempt at an explanation of the war that changed the Roman world.

Julius Caesar (100 BC–44 BC) was a military general and leading politician in the Roman republic.  His family, the Julii, claimed descent from the ancient kings of Rome and from the goddess Venus. Caesar rapidly carved out an impressive political career, forging an alliance with Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC. The Civil War is Caesar’s attempt at an explanation of the war that changed the Roman world.

P. J. Ochlan is an Audie Award–winning, multiple Earphones Award–winning, and Voice Arts Award–nominated narrator of hundreds of audiobooks. His acting career spans more than thirty years and has also included Broadway, the New York Shakespeare Festival under Joseph Papp, critically acclaimed feature films, and television series regular roles.

About Zeek Ring

James Allen (1864–1912) was a philosophical writer born in Leicester, England. He wrote numerous spiritual and inspirational books, including From Passion to Peace and The Eight Pillars of Prosperity. He is considered a pioneer of the self-help movement. His best-known work, As a Man Thinketh, has been in print since its publication in 1902.