Good Literature for Beginners?

[Bryanrows]

Hey there all!
I'm quite interested in history, but most of the books i've read at this point are on Europe, and I am woefully inept in the way of Far East history.
I'd like to start reading some background on the Shogun II time period before the game starts, and I was hoping that someone could recommend some good literature that gives a decent overview of the time period.
I'm not looking for anything too specific, focusing on a particular figure or any of that, just something that will give me a good feel for the period, and decide what i'd like to delve further into from there.

any help that could be given would be greatly appreciated

[Sensei Bob]

Hey there all!
I'm quite interested in history, but most of the books i've read at this point are on Europe, and I am woefully inept in the way of Far East history.
I'd like to start reading some background on the Shogun II time period before the game starts, and I was hoping that someone could recommend some good literature that gives a decent overview of the time period.
I'm not looking for anything too specific, focusing on a particular figure or any of that, just something that will give me a good feel for the period, and decide what i'd like to delve further into from there.

any help that could be given would be greatly appreciated

Well, if you have any questions about Japan post them in my profile (I know A LOT about Japan).

[Xuande]

For an interesting overview of "samurai history" :
Weapons & Fighting Techniques of the Samurai Warrior, 1200-1877 Ad [Hardcover]

Thomas Conlan
Thomas Conlan (Author)

[Ragerancher]

I'd recommend a rather obvious choice, the book Shogun. It's not a novel to be taken lightly though (over 1000 pages If I recall correctly) but it is a good read and is based on the exact time of the game (rise of the first Shogun)

[motzoc]

Have you already read the free stuff that posted in the historical section? There's enough there to keep you busy for weeks. Any of the accounts of the historical or fictional versions of the 47 Ronin would be good. James Clavel's old novel Shogun is well worth reading, and hard to put down. Eji Yoshikawa's Musashi is good, it's light reading, but very long, and yet compelling.

There's films and documentaries that can be found online here too.

And don't forget Eiji Yoshikawa's "Taiko"