Conversations with Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Masters Book by Stanley Pranin

It¨s a must have for every martial arts student, not only Aikido practitioners, so interesting, fullfilled with curiosities and useful information.

This book is basically interviews with people, who knew Sokaku Takeda, the founder of the Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu in person, mostly as students, but also as family.
Sokaku's unique skills were developed through lifetime of tempering in serious practice. As a result, we see a person, who is not like everybody else - he is available only when he wants to be, he is a part of the pre-modern world, and is cast into the modernization where he often times looks somewhat like a fossil. In any case, this books gives the reader insights into his personality, and a little bit into his skills. Definitely recommended reading for all who are interested in this art.