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Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Arts
In the vein of Bruce Lee's famous "be water, my friend" speech as referenced by Tom Brady comes a guide to harnessing your energy to increase focus and peace.
"A fascinating and helpful book for everyone trying to make sense of our crazy world." -- Joe Hyams, Author of Zen in the Martial Arts
Joseph Cardillo, Ph.D and top-selling author, reveals the philosophy behind the martial arts techniques that lead to a creative and fulfilled life in this entertaining and insightful guide. Using the techniques outlined in this book, you will feel more deeply and gain confidence in your ability to take care of yourself.
"A fascinating and helpful book for everyone trying to make sense of our crazy world." -- Joe Hyams, Author of Zen in the Martial Arts
Joseph Cardillo, Ph.D and top-selling author, reveals the philosophy behind the martial arts techniques that lead to a creative and fulfilled life in this entertaining and insightful guide. Using the techniques outlined in this book, you will feel more deeply and gain confidence in your ability to take care of yourself.
155 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
37 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Cardillo
20 books16 followersJoseph Cardillo, Ph.D., is a top-selling author in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology. An expert in Attention Training™, creative thinking, and body energy, Dr. Cardillo has taught his methods to more than 20,000 students at various colleges, universities, and institutes. He a regular contributor Psychology Today and is the author of Be Like Water, the body-energy classic. He holds a doctorate in holistic psychology and in mind-body medicine and is a research associate at Mind-Body Medical University.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 22, 2019
This was a hard on to tell people about.
For those that work internal martial arts, this is about taking internal principles, such as centering yourself and then applying them to your daily life so they are embedded in your personality.
If you are looking for martial techniques and counter attacks, this is not for you. It's looking at more than just the physical side to the art, it's about being in touch with yourself and how your art can be more than just fighting.
I would say, that an art can change you and it's a good teacher that will do this for you. But all in all, it is an insightful book for those looking for the spiritual side of things.
Enjoy.
For those that work internal martial arts, this is about taking internal principles, such as centering yourself and then applying them to your daily life so they are embedded in your personality.
If you are looking for martial techniques and counter attacks, this is not for you. It's looking at more than just the physical side to the art, it's about being in touch with yourself and how your art can be more than just fighting.
I would say, that an art can change you and it's a good teacher that will do this for you. But all in all, it is an insightful book for those looking for the spiritual side of things.
Enjoy.
February 3, 2011
Read this book in college while studying martial arts. Very helpful.
December 22, 2013
Some useful and interesting ideas here, worth a read.
June 26, 2017
It is my favourite PHILOSOPHER BRUCE LEE who said it first- 'Be like water'.
This book can become very interesting and refreshing for those who are quite novice in the filed of philosophy behind all martial arts---Balance, harmony, flexibility, adaptability, agility, swiftness, peace---OK.
Not a great or deep book, yet a good one.
If you have interest in philosophy of martial art or its application to various aspects of one's life you may read this book. Quite light. And it can spread quite light-internally too.
You may skip it, soon after reading its superb title, in case you have already read many books on ways of martial art, meditation, tao, balance et cetera.
This book can become very interesting and refreshing for those who are quite novice in the filed of philosophy behind all martial arts---Balance, harmony, flexibility, adaptability, agility, swiftness, peace---OK.
Not a great or deep book, yet a good one.
If you have interest in philosophy of martial art or its application to various aspects of one's life you may read this book. Quite light. And it can spread quite light-internally too.
You may skip it, soon after reading its superb title, in case you have already read many books on ways of martial art, meditation, tao, balance et cetera.
March 2, 2017
So-so. Focused, short essays and associated meditations/exercises directed at specific areas of self-improvement. I found the author's personal examples self-aggrandizing more than helpful, but they were in keeping with whatever he happened to be talking about at the moment. I recommend reading a chapter or two in short burst and practicing the exercises for a while before trying another to get the most of the book.
January 3, 2022
No spoilers in this review.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
Joseph Cardillo's book, Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom From The Martial Arts, attempts to distill many of martial arts' philosophical concepts into an easy to digest, actionable self-help book.
It is Cardillo's belief that the martial arts have a lot to offer (I completely agree) and that their ways, teachings, ideas and techniques can be harnessed to improve the everyday lives of many (once again, I wholeheartedly agree).
Essentially, he strives to exemplify exactly how you can use martial arts' philosophies to improve your life through mediums such as bolstering confidence, how to handle stressful and awkward situations, and managing your emotions to ensure you achieve your goals.
However, the book teems with self-aggrandising stories that place both himself and his instructors on pedestals of almost mystical power - a situation that is unfortunately all too common in martial arts literature. I feel this 'blowing smoke up your own backside' approach is seriously undermining to what he is trying to achieve, and gives the martial arts a bad name.
I would go as far as saying that the book is dated, not with the times, and antiquated in its approach.
SHOULD I READ IT?
In a word: no.
Even though Cardillo's book rates well online, I do not consider it a worthwhile read. It is too mystical for my liking. It is the type of book that would have succeeded in the 1970's when the martial arts still proffered an aura of the supernatural, which is quickly being distinguished - thank God!
There are many better books out there on martial arts that can teach you philosophies and concepts without all the bullshit.
Read those instead.
Follow @xero_influence for more nonfiction book reviews.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
Joseph Cardillo's book, Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom From The Martial Arts, attempts to distill many of martial arts' philosophical concepts into an easy to digest, actionable self-help book.
It is Cardillo's belief that the martial arts have a lot to offer (I completely agree) and that their ways, teachings, ideas and techniques can be harnessed to improve the everyday lives of many (once again, I wholeheartedly agree).
Essentially, he strives to exemplify exactly how you can use martial arts' philosophies to improve your life through mediums such as bolstering confidence, how to handle stressful and awkward situations, and managing your emotions to ensure you achieve your goals.
However, the book teems with self-aggrandising stories that place both himself and his instructors on pedestals of almost mystical power - a situation that is unfortunately all too common in martial arts literature. I feel this 'blowing smoke up your own backside' approach is seriously undermining to what he is trying to achieve, and gives the martial arts a bad name.
I would go as far as saying that the book is dated, not with the times, and antiquated in its approach.
SHOULD I READ IT?
In a word: no.
Even though Cardillo's book rates well online, I do not consider it a worthwhile read. It is too mystical for my liking. It is the type of book that would have succeeded in the 1970's when the martial arts still proffered an aura of the supernatural, which is quickly being distinguished - thank God!
There are many better books out there on martial arts that can teach you philosophies and concepts without all the bullshit.
Read those instead.
Follow @xero_influence for more nonfiction book reviews.
December 27, 2013
I stumbled onto this book while doing some research, and picked it up primarily out of curiosity. Once I began reading it, though, I was so taken in by Cardillo's style, and curiosity, that I couldn't help but continue.
In each short chapter, Cardillo takes on one core principle of the martial arts, explaining how it relates to the art, how he experienced it in his own training, and how it can relate to the average person's daily experiences and aid them in their own personal/professional development. At the end of each chapter, he finishes with explaining an exercise (usually meditation related) to help the reader get a more sincere feel for the principle, and then concludes with a short list of resolutions for moving forward with the principle as a tool for moving forward in life.
In many ways, I think this book could be classified either as philosophy or as self-help. I can't say that I gained something from every chapter, but I did gain enough from the reading that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. At the very least, it gave me some more tools for mediating conflicts around me and for dealing with colleagues who I tend to have trouble understanding or relating to (few as they are, they are a distraction, for most everyone I'm guessing). On the whole, I do think I benefitted from reading it. And, while I'm not generally an anxious person...I think I will return to this work the next time I'm feeling intimidated or anxious about a decision or relationship.
Last, I'll note that I'm generally skeptical of the idea of meditating--I'm not good at sitting still, and always thought of meditating as something that would require significant chunks of time. Cardillo's approach and exercises, though, felt both approachable and worthwhile, which really surprised me.
I can't say how this would compare to similar books, but I'm glad to have stumbled across it. Recommended.
In each short chapter, Cardillo takes on one core principle of the martial arts, explaining how it relates to the art, how he experienced it in his own training, and how it can relate to the average person's daily experiences and aid them in their own personal/professional development. At the end of each chapter, he finishes with explaining an exercise (usually meditation related) to help the reader get a more sincere feel for the principle, and then concludes with a short list of resolutions for moving forward with the principle as a tool for moving forward in life.
In many ways, I think this book could be classified either as philosophy or as self-help. I can't say that I gained something from every chapter, but I did gain enough from the reading that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. At the very least, it gave me some more tools for mediating conflicts around me and for dealing with colleagues who I tend to have trouble understanding or relating to (few as they are, they are a distraction, for most everyone I'm guessing). On the whole, I do think I benefitted from reading it. And, while I'm not generally an anxious person...I think I will return to this work the next time I'm feeling intimidated or anxious about a decision or relationship.
Last, I'll note that I'm generally skeptical of the idea of meditating--I'm not good at sitting still, and always thought of meditating as something that would require significant chunks of time. Cardillo's approach and exercises, though, felt both approachable and worthwhile, which really surprised me.
I can't say how this would compare to similar books, but I'm glad to have stumbled across it. Recommended.
July 26, 2015
Filled with ways to center and relax, this book is for the Martial Artist and non Martial Artist alike. Using examples from his own training and experiences, Cardillo is easily able to lay things out simply and make it easy for the reader to understand. The ultimate goal in being like water is to be fluid and free, unable to be contained and always flowing. Basically, relax, take a deep breath and enjoy in the beauty of the world and your life, which is something I can totally get behind.
January 3, 2017
Kind of a basis book on the spiritual aspects of martial arts. Much of the content was superficial and not much depth. Touch on various subject matters within martial arts for a few pages and then provides an example from his own personnel life. Felt the examples while probably real were modified to try an fit into the content of the subject. For someone who is new to martial arts this would probably be a helpful introduction to the spiritual side of it.
December 2, 2012
I read this book back in 1984 when I was a young Stock Broker and Entrepreneur! A good book to read for anyone going into business or just wants to learn how to negotiate a better deal or price for anything!
May 25, 2013
Mandatory reading for professor Cardillo's creative writing course, this was nonetheless a decent read.
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August 24, 2017A truly superior book for those of us wishing to delve more deeply into what it means to be a true martial artist by bringing the values and virtues of the arts into our everyday lives.
In every chapter there are good, practical examples , excellent meditations on each theme, as well as a list of "must dos".
In every chapter there are good, practical examples , excellent meditations on each theme, as well as a list of "must dos".
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews