The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present Paperback December 21, 2004

by Shannon E. French

Warrior cultures throughout history have developed unique codes that restrict their behavior and set them apart from the rest of society. But what possible reason could a warrior have for accepting such restraints? Why should those whose profession can fo

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, War, Leadership, Warriors

Paperback

First published April 25, 2003

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I encountered the title of this book, I knew I should read it as I have believed in the value of “codes” for a very long time. In the personal booklet I wrote for myself, I cite several sources of codes most notably “The Call to Adventure” of Joseph Campbell and “The Code of the West” by James P. Owens.

This book studies and evaluates codes of conduct and character that were present in historical societies including the present day. My reason for doing this summary here is to save you the time to read this book unless you really want to explore the detail that French provides. Since it is lengthy and at times redundant, I have no qualms if you choose to skip it.

Codes as prescribed by Shannon French in the context of “The Code of the Warrior”. In the introductory chapter, she argues the nature of a code as applicable to military warriors. But whether that code uses “words like nobility, honor, courage or sacrifice”, they seek to identify “the duties and obligations of a warrior and to whom are they owed.” From my perspective, everyone should have a code that serves them in gaining and enhancing the knowledge of how they want to live their lives.

This book then goes on to study and evaluate codes of conduct and character that were present in historical societies. My reason for doing this summary here is to save you the time to read this book unless you really want to explore the detail that French provides.

In the Homeric tradition, we encounter perhaps the earliest known record of values by which one should live their lives. And that record preceded even the written form of the Illiad in the established beliefs inculcated in oral storytelling some three thousand years ago. “Achilles sets his own standards of conduct and relies exclusively on his own internal judgments of when he is deserving of honor and when he should feel shame. Hector derives his code from the collective judgment of his culture and his peers."

In the era of the Romans, we are introduced to Stoicism. “The central tenet of Stoicism is that it is in your power to direct whether or not you live a good life, a life worth living. The one thing we always control is our own free will. Marcus Aurelius provided a useful image for aspiring Stoics to hold in their minds to keep them focused on maintaining their personal honor and behaving virtuously (performing their moral duty) no matter occurs around them or two them.

In the Viking culture, we find value for being exceptionally ambitious and for possessing the desire to win. Both of those values are within the context of “death before dishonor.” Viking warriors were motivated for battle by their desire for booty, the demands for honor, the duty to family, and the dream of a glorious afterlife. From my perspective, the Viking culture is hard to accept in all its components.

Next is King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, perhaps the highest culture recognized for noble behavior. The Round Table oath is much more than just a list of morally obligatory acts and morally bad acts for knights. It is supposed to be an oath a knight actually can and will obey as a practical rule of conduct. It offers a moral, inspirational, and generally serviceable code that enables Arthurian society to flourish in glory and splendor for many years.

With Native Americans (the author chose to focus on the Plains Indians given the multiplicity of tribes in North America), we find several generally unique code values such as the role of the hunter for providing food, the honor of nature, and the Vision Quest (a ritual of individual milestones). These values lead to the conflict with Anglo-Saxon “invaders” and the ultimate demise of valuable cultures.

The author next jumps to Asia and the practice of Buddhism in China. The code, in this case, includes five “nots”.

Do not take or destroy life,
Do not take what is not given,
Do not engage in any sexual misconduct,
Do not speak falsely, and
Do not indulge in the consumption of intoxicating or mind-altering substances.

We move on to Japan and the soul of the Samurai – duty, devotion, and death. A critical value that is encouraged is ancestor worship, promoting the idea that the honored dead continue to observe and pass judgment on the living holding them to high standards of ethical behavior. One historical record from Japan is a list of 56 lessons (way too long a code to live by). One of my favorites is No. 16, “Scholarship and Refinement, Too, Can Occasionally be of Great Harm.”

The author closes with the consideration of this topic – “The Warrior’s Code Today: Are Terrorists Warriors?” Four principles are cited:

The action itself must be morally indifferent or morally good,
The bad effect must not be the means by which the good effect is achieved,
The motive must be the achievement of the good effect only,
The good effect must be at least equivalent in importance to the bad effect.

Now that is a complex set of principles but today’s world is, of course, highly complex.

The last paragraph of this book has excellent guidance. “The warrior’s code is the shield that guards our warrior’s humanity. Without it, they are no good to themselves or to those with whom and for whom they fight. Without it, they will find no way back from war. My students are the warriors of the future. When and if they go into combat, I want them to be able to return from it intact in body and soul. I want all of them, every last one, to come back with their shields.” Ditto, me.

This was a meaningful read but I am left with a very difficult dilemma. Of the incredible range of codes the author presents, which do I value the most? While I do not expect to even be an actual warrior (of course), they encompass codes of value that I should seek to follow in my life. The challenge in part is which specific codes to focus on.

[David Perkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for a class. It was pretty interesting but a lot of the sections were a little too drawn out and didn’t have a sharp enough focus. Still an interesting overview of several different cultures.

[Colonel Sir Cedric Wycliffe-Hawthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present by Shannon E. French

“A warrior without a code is nothing more than a killer.”

Shannon E. French’s The Code of the Warrior is a compelling exploration of the moral and ethical frameworks that have defined warrior cultures throughout history. More than just a study of military values, this book delves into the philosophy, psychology, and discipline that separates warriors from mere combatants, showing how codes of honor shape warriors’ conduct both on and off the battlefield.

French examines warrior traditions across civilizations, from the Spartans, Samurai, and Knights to modern soldiers and special forces, illustrating how self-imposed ethical constraints prevent warriors from descending into savagery. The book highlights how a warrior’s sense of duty, discipline, and adherence to a moral framework is what ultimately distinguishes them from mercenaries or criminals.

A key theme of the book is the paradox of the warrior: a figure trained in violence yet bound by a strict code of conduct. French argues that without such a code, warriors risk losing their humanity, falling into moral decay, or becoming tools of tyranny. The lessons from historical warrior classes—whether the Bushidō of the Samurai, the Chivalric code of medieval knights, or the rules of engagement in modern military forces—are examined in depth, revealing the timeless necessity of honor in warfare.

The book is not just theoretical—it has direct applications for leadership, military ethics, and personal discipline. French makes a compelling case that the warrior ethos is not just for soldiers—it is a mindset that applies to anyone who strives to live with honor, discipline, and purpose.

Key Takeaways:
• A true warrior is bound by a code—without ethical constraints, power becomes destruction.
• Discipline and self-mastery are as vital as physical skill.
• Honor is the foundation of a warrior’s life—it must be upheld even when inconvenient.
• Warrior traditions transcend cultures—from Spartans to modern soldiers, all effective warriors live by principles.
• The greatest warriors serve a higher purpose—ego and self-interest are the enemies of mastery.

Final Verdict:

The Code of the Warrior is an essential read for those who seek to understand the philosophy of honor, discipline, and military ethics. It reinforces the idea that true warriors are not defined by brute strength but by self-mastery, duty, and an unbreakable moral code. This book is a must-read for leaders, strategists, and those who live by the warrior’s path.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – A profound exploration of the warrior’s code, honor, and discipline. Essential for those who live by strength and principle.

[Paul Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. French has taken an incredible amount of care in developing this study of the Warrior’s code. But this is far from a dusty tome looking only towards the past, but rather the intent here is for our young leaders (and hopefully the older ones as well) to understand why we do what we do in the military. I work at one of the US military ascensions schools and I have taken many of Dr. French’s challenges and in turn I present them to our students, asking them the hard questions Dr. French poses to all of us. This is well worth your time if you are at any level in the military or law enforcement or if you appreciate history. Amazing book

[Joe Koennecke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this as part of professional book club. It's a bit dated and I have heard a newer edition has been published. This version seems a bit reactionary in flavor to the 2001 terrorist attacks. Each section could serve as a stand alone reference for each culture she examines since there is little connection in the thesis. The overall experiments she describes with her students in the intro and conclusion seems more engaging than the chapters. Would recommend reading intro, conclusion and shop chapters by interest.

[Timothy D. Cook, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary reading for war-fighters and veterans

Well worth the read. This book provides amazing insight into various warrior cultures throughout history , as well as the commonalities they all share. Especially remarkable is the last chapter which discusses current military ethics and it's effects on the well being of those we ask to fight our current wars. As a veteran, I highly recommend this book.

[Oskar Garibaldi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strayed too far from the central focus and said some inaccurate things about Buddhism. Would have been better if she provided the same level/style of analysis in every chapter as in the intro. Also the conclusion was very biased and bordered on jingoistic when talking about "terrorism" vs. US troops. She probably wanted to keep her job at the Naval Academy, so it is what it is.

[Rene Merced Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating journey through the warrior ideologies of many diverse cultures, how they differ and how many share similar virtues. I didn't want to put it down.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Comments.
1- I really enjoyed reading about the warrior codes of various historic civilizations, especially the Vikings and Native Americans. Very informative and well presented. I should like to read a sequel to this book, perhaps covering the codes of Pacific Islanders, African Tribes (Maasia), and non-Plains American Natives. Also would be interested in more 'modern' examples, such as a contrast between patriots and British during the American Civil war, or a look at Naval Ethics around the early 1800's (The writer is a professor at the US Naval Academy)
2- I feel something was missing from the conclusions of this book. For example, in the sixth chapter learn the Native American warrior code allowed the killing women and children. In fact, it was an honorable act because the killer had to enter into the enemies greatest defenses. But to the US government, the murder of settlers was looked on as savagery which must be stopped at all costs (even to the point of genocide.) The last chapter, in parallel, describes Islamic Terrorists of modern day. In explaining the killing civilians during jihad, the terrorists are said to be without code, although words are used which imply the opposite, such as "They believe they are warriors" and "their will to perform their sacred duty".
Just because we do not agree with their code does not mean such a code does not exist. Other religions may be killed without rules during a defensive jihad, but how are other believers treated? The call to defense implies they feel the US culture has attacked them (which is mostly true), and thus they have a culture-code which is offended. This was not clearly addressed in the book. It was assumed that since the rest of the world feels the terrorists have no code, the code must not exist.
Two lessons could have been carried over from the native American chapter, but I did not pick up on either. For one, it could be pointed out that both situations pertain to the US government not recognizing the code of its enemies. I suspect French was not suggesting the natives had no code, but clearly expresses the Muslims do not. The US government was wrong in one case, but right in the other. This contradiction (if it is one) was never addressed. Perhaps there is a difference, but it was not clear to me.
Second, it is clear the US military was wrong to go all out against the natives. The massacre at Sand Creek lead to an extension of hostilities for decades, as one example given. This is a wonderful illustration to explain why we should not, as French puts it, fight the terrorists without gloves. She expresses the need for restraint, the need to uphold our own code and check our own actions. Yet the direct connection to the situation with the Natives is never made.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The central idea of this book is that a warrior needs to have a moral code to preserve his mental health

Key points:
*shared code and a shared experience is what binds warriors together
*marines don't do that
*because we might not be around long, we have to take extra care of how we behave
*Have a role model of a warrior who remained true to code of honor even in the face of overwhelming temptations
*the key to happiness and virtue lay in understanding nature of control
*No one can damage your character without your complicity
*the soul should use time of security to prepare itself for harsh circumstances
*Daily self examinations
*Life challenges are means to train virtues
*No excuses ethic in daily life
*Roman soldiers undertook constant training
*a stoic should only be interested in the subpar performance of others if he can help to improve it for some greater good
*The real reward is an accomplishment, not fame or money
*make your life count by taking a Disciplined approach
*prudent, well, just
*you can judge a society by the way it allocates resources
*Desire to win as a central Viking's virtue
*death before dishonor
*love, loyalty, respect
*leave behind a noble legacy by serving interests of others
*no matter how grim the circumstances, samurai should always look his best
*be devoted, even to negligent parents
*Exceed others in some way
*even when working with the person you hate, take initiative to make peace with the man, to work productively
*courage. Display at the right time, to the right extent, to the right cause
*never silence consciousness, it would fight you back later

[Jaime Abregana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read of historical figures embracing Warrior Values.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more academic delve into warrior cultures ranging from Homeric Troy to the warrior monks of Shaolin. Dr. French was an Ethics Instructor at the Academy while I was there which inspired me to read this book. Worth a read for those interested in ethical codes of cultures, but it is more academic.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A study of warrior codes from different cultures and eras. Helped me understand my Marine son and how he was being trained to view the world

[Louette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too useful for my research on Comanches.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illiad, Rome, Vikings, Morte D'Arthur, Native Americans, Shaolin, Samurai, text for Hist of War (Hist 3xx?)

[Fred Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the way topic on the warrior ethos I have read. I highly recommend it.