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mandalor3960's review against another edition
2.0
To say that the works of Mishima can understood be better understood by reading this book seems a bit faulty. I find this book useful in understanding the inner intricacies of Mishima, and why he resorted to bodybuilding. I thought it was convenient that Mishima writes that this progression of working on his body and understanding the flesh constituted his whole life, even during his first works, when it seems convenient that he wrote this two years prior to his suicide.
While reading this book, I ignored this personal criticism on him and instead enjoyed segments of this book where Mishima attempts to answer reasons to working on the flesh in place of words. There were segments that were extremely thought provoking at times. I couldn’t agree more on his criticism of words and the “man of letters” (though he does backtrack on that and utilizes them for his own progress later).
Unfortunately, I found the first half to be difficult to follow at times and this only grew worse in the second half. I lost Mishima’s direction at around the halfway mark as it became personal (illogical at times) and not as objective. I feel that the ending is half-baked and the answer of attaining this balance between the flesh and spirit is never answered, which bothers me.
I had feelings at the halfway mark that a reread could bring me new insight to this enigmatic book, and perhaps draw me along the same path that Mishima followed of working out for some higher reason, but I cannot see this possible. Even at the halfway mark, the insightfulness of the book had been leading me to rate the book at three stars. Instead, the first half is drawn down by my previously stated criticisms. Even excluding the later half, the first half contains sections where he takes twists and goes off course, not necessarily following the linear answers as to why he advocates for the flesh. That is to say that the first half receiving a three stars is still a difficult task, and more likely a 2.5 star-rating.
Notes
First Part (Pages 5-10): This is strange for Mishima to write on the flesh and words. This obsession with an outside force of the flesh, untouched by reality and words, does not appear or is hinted at in any of his works that I can think of.
Second Part (Pages 11-22): "The theme of the estrangement of body and spirit, born of the craving I have described, persisted for a long time as a principal theme in my work" (Mishima 15). Again, I cannot think of this theme in his works. Temple of the Golden Pavilion does come to mind in some ways.
On page 18, prior to the end of the war, Mishima is against the sun, despite it representing death and militaristic Japan. This seems to hurt his validity as a patriotic, politically right figure. This hurt to read, along with this quote: "However, from the time the war ended, I gradually sensed that an era was approaching in which to treat the sun as an enemy would be tantamount to following the herd" (Mishima 18). The previous quote hints that he may have been against militaristic Japan when everyone was for it, a contrarian as I believe the Afterward in Ordeal by Rose suggested.
Third Part (Pages 23-30): This is all making sense now, how words try to decide reality and muscles are part of the body and don't react with reality, instead creating this conflict and transcendence of the flesh. This has been an intriguing read up to now, especially the third part. I've acquired good quotes along the way, most memorably this quote in which both Mishima and myself complain of the arbitrary and abstract was of words: “Nothing, in fact, is so strange as the glorification of the verbal arts. Seeming at first glance to strive after universality, in fact they concern themselves with subtle ways of betraying the fundamental function of words, which is to be universally applicable. The glorification of individual style in literature signifies precisely that. The epic poems of ancient times are, perhaps, an exception, but every literary work with its author’s name standing at its head is no more than a beautiful “perversion of words”” (Mishima 27) (I have just added this quote much after having written this note, and am not sure if this was the quote that the note was referring to).
Fourth Part (Pages 31-42): A bit of a mix. I enjoyed Mishima's continued criticism of words being abstract, a section on Heroic cults and how obesity is incompatible with it. Unfortunately, Mishima's insistence on strength leading to an unconscious area, that being the opponent, seemed to personal to his case. The language and ambiguity of words used by Mishima continued to be a problem for me in many sections.
Fifth Part (Pages 43-54): I am still confused at times with the progression of his ideas because of the abstract usage of words. I've been able to follow it for the most part.
On page fifty-two, Mishima's youth is filled with a weak body and hopes that the world would change instead of him changing the world. Very congenial.
Sixth Part (Pages 55-57): Continued personal account of Mishima's attachment to his philosophies, ones that I can barely relate to. The passage has been OK.
Seventh Part (Pages 58-67): Just started page 61 and he's losing me now.
"Admittedly, I could see my own muscles in the mirror. Yet seeing alone was not enough to bring me into contact with the basic roots of my sense of existence, and an immeasurable distance remained between me and the euphoric sense of pure being" (Mishima 61). Lines like this push me to follow Mishima's example, decrypt this difficult book, and transcend existence as Mishima appears to be doing. It reminds me of the 4chan pills, specifically the Brown Pill and Iron Pill. Looking at my charts, I have found Mishima's photo in the Black Pill area.
Just now stopping on page 62, I feel that an important moment had occurred in my life. I have seen two people kissing after making a materialistic purchase. This has deeply annoyed me. More questions have come to my mind. Should I pursue others because of a combination of looks and personality, is that not a falsehood, wrong thing? Are my career goals merely a continuation of partaking in the system and not helping those outside it?
Eighth Part (Pages 68-73): There are continued personal matters that I cannot relate and understand. He has ventured from his linear course and I am unable to understand how he has arrived at these latest points.
Ninth Part (Pages 74-80): He has continued to lose me now with the backtracking in chronology to his early youth. I believe he is conjuring it up in his later years for development. I am not sure.
Tenth Part (Pages 81-84): I am disappointed at how Mishima excludes himself from his growth by concluding that he is not part of a group to give him an identity. I am surprised that he would not question the group's belief that they have found existence by being with each other.
Epiloge-F104 (Pages 85-97): This new focus on combining the spirit and flesh, and the body (I am not sure of the last terminology) seems distinct from the previous direction .
Icarus (Pages 98-100): It is alright.
While reading this book, I ignored this personal criticism on him and instead enjoyed segments of this book where Mishima attempts to answer reasons to working on the flesh in place of words. There were segments that were extremely thought provoking at times. I couldn’t agree more on his criticism of words and the “man of letters” (though he does backtrack on that and utilizes them for his own progress later).
Unfortunately, I found the first half to be difficult to follow at times and this only grew worse in the second half. I lost Mishima’s direction at around the halfway mark as it became personal (illogical at times) and not as objective. I feel that the ending is half-baked and the answer of attaining this balance between the flesh and spirit is never answered, which bothers me.
I had feelings at the halfway mark that a reread could bring me new insight to this enigmatic book, and perhaps draw me along the same path that Mishima followed of working out for some higher reason, but I cannot see this possible. Even at the halfway mark, the insightfulness of the book had been leading me to rate the book at three stars. Instead, the first half is drawn down by my previously stated criticisms. Even excluding the later half, the first half contains sections where he takes twists and goes off course, not necessarily following the linear answers as to why he advocates for the flesh. That is to say that the first half receiving a three stars is still a difficult task, and more likely a 2.5 star-rating.
Notes
First Part (Pages 5-10): This is strange for Mishima to write on the flesh and words. This obsession with an outside force of the flesh, untouched by reality and words, does not appear or is hinted at in any of his works that I can think of.
Second Part (Pages 11-22): "The theme of the estrangement of body and spirit, born of the craving I have described, persisted for a long time as a principal theme in my work" (Mishima 15). Again, I cannot think of this theme in his works. Temple of the Golden Pavilion does come to mind in some ways.
On page 18, prior to the end of the war, Mishima is against the sun, despite it representing death and militaristic Japan. This seems to hurt his validity as a patriotic, politically right figure. This hurt to read, along with this quote: "However, from the time the war ended, I gradually sensed that an era was approaching in which to treat the sun as an enemy would be tantamount to following the herd" (Mishima 18). The previous quote hints that he may have been against militaristic Japan when everyone was for it, a contrarian as I believe the Afterward in Ordeal by Rose suggested.
Third Part (Pages 23-30): This is all making sense now, how words try to decide reality and muscles are part of the body and don't react with reality, instead creating this conflict and transcendence of the flesh. This has been an intriguing read up to now, especially the third part. I've acquired good quotes along the way, most memorably this quote in which both Mishima and myself complain of the arbitrary and abstract was of words: “Nothing, in fact, is so strange as the glorification of the verbal arts. Seeming at first glance to strive after universality, in fact they concern themselves with subtle ways of betraying the fundamental function of words, which is to be universally applicable. The glorification of individual style in literature signifies precisely that. The epic poems of ancient times are, perhaps, an exception, but every literary work with its author’s name standing at its head is no more than a beautiful “perversion of words”” (Mishima 27) (I have just added this quote much after having written this note, and am not sure if this was the quote that the note was referring to).
Fourth Part (Pages 31-42): A bit of a mix. I enjoyed Mishima's continued criticism of words being abstract, a section on Heroic cults and how obesity is incompatible with it. Unfortunately, Mishima's insistence on strength leading to an unconscious area, that being the opponent, seemed to personal to his case. The language and ambiguity of words used by Mishima continued to be a problem for me in many sections.
Fifth Part (Pages 43-54): I am still confused at times with the progression of his ideas because of the abstract usage of words. I've been able to follow it for the most part.
On page fifty-two, Mishima's youth is filled with a weak body and hopes that the world would change instead of him changing the world. Very congenial.
Sixth Part (Pages 55-57): Continued personal account of Mishima's attachment to his philosophies, ones that I can barely relate to. The passage has been OK.
Seventh Part (Pages 58-67): Just started page 61 and he's losing me now.
"Admittedly, I could see my own muscles in the mirror. Yet seeing alone was not enough to bring me into contact with the basic roots of my sense of existence, and an immeasurable distance remained between me and the euphoric sense of pure being" (Mishima 61). Lines like this push me to follow Mishima's example, decrypt this difficult book, and transcend existence as Mishima appears to be doing. It reminds me of the 4chan pills, specifically the Brown Pill and Iron Pill. Looking at my charts, I have found Mishima's photo in the Black Pill area.
Just now stopping on page 62, I feel that an important moment had occurred in my life. I have seen two people kissing after making a materialistic purchase. This has deeply annoyed me. More questions have come to my mind. Should I pursue others because of a combination of looks and personality, is that not a falsehood, wrong thing? Are my career goals merely a continuation of partaking in the system and not helping those outside it?
Eighth Part (Pages 68-73): There are continued personal matters that I cannot relate and understand. He has ventured from his linear course and I am unable to understand how he has arrived at these latest points.
Ninth Part (Pages 74-80): He has continued to lose me now with the backtracking in chronology to his early youth. I believe he is conjuring it up in his later years for development. I am not sure.
Tenth Part (Pages 81-84): I am disappointed at how Mishima excludes himself from his growth by concluding that he is not part of a group to give him an identity. I am surprised that he would not question the group's belief that they have found existence by being with each other.
Epiloge-F104 (Pages 85-97): This new focus on combining the spirit and flesh, and the body (I am not sure of the last terminology) seems distinct from the previous direction .
Icarus (Pages 98-100): It is alright.
alfredojose's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
Mishima is the reason I workout. His writing is like a sweet treat -- but for my brain.
bigliver's review against another edition
3.0
Sun and Steel is a good look into Yukio Mishima's mind and philosophy on life and more importantly death. The book is a tough read, bolstering a wide variety of complex language that makes it difficult to get through (at least for me). Overall the book does provide some insights on how to live and more importantly shows a profound and thought out perspective from Mishima.
I would recommend this book especially if you like stopping and pondering the concepts presented to you as you read.
I would recommend this book especially if you like stopping and pondering the concepts presented to you as you read.
tungstenmouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Fans of fitness and philosophy will enjoy this as will anyone who enjoys Mishima's works. While I don't recommend the audiobook (even at a slow speed, the cadence was monotonous enough to throw me off what he was saying), I think the interesting views presented are definitely worth looking into. I think Mishima's ideas about being a man of words and cultivating the body were a much different take than I've heard before but they still rang true. Initially, this was a 3.5 but moved itself up to a 4 by the last chapter. Trigger Warnings for death and suicide.