Rules for a Knight

The back story of the Hawke family in medieval times when the men were knights. The "letter" penned by a Father to his young children for future parenting advice as he was certain he will die in an upcoming conflict became this book. 12 life lessons wonderfully crafted into chapters that each have a parable and beautifully drawn image of a bird. Most appropriate as the author's (actor Ethan Hawke's), lineage comes from the medieval vocation known as "hawking" or training raptors for use as hunters of small game and/or an eye in the sky encircling bigger game.

I saw the magazine paper illustration in a review, thinking it was in this small book, with the knight virtues as pictured by someone else, from a different source. It is not.It is of small size, 4 1/4" x 6 1/4" x 3/4".I was looking for a book I previously purchased, that, though slightly thinner, taller, and slightly wider, had a few wonderful, full color illustrations.This isn't that book.update: I have read this book and have found it to be written as a possible goodbye from a knight about to face battle, to his children, advising them of knightly behavior, with a story poem at the end.It's good enough, although not quite what I was looking for. If it had been like another book I received, and packed up, I would have bought several copies, for all of my family, young and old, alike. Being knightly, or damely is something everyone can attain, with knightly virtues as the basis of their character, in my opinion.

Great book easy read! Cheap and the money goes to a good cause

Great book for reminders of how to carry yourself. Simple to understand and is a good story.

When I was nineteen, my father visited me at school and bought me a copy of Ethan Hawke's second novel, ASH WEDNESDAY. He'd read a good review and thought I'd like it. He was right. I loved it, and I still love it. It's not a literary masterpiece, but it's a great story about facing one's immaturity and making the decision to step up and become an adult or not. I've reread it many times. Because I loved it, I read Hawke's first novel, THE HOTTEST STATE, which I related to at 19 but now read as juvenile and simplistic. Nevertheless, I knew Ethan Hawke from his film work and I was impressed with his writing. He co-wrote the scripts for the absolutely astonishing Before Sunset and Before Midnight. So, it is safe to say that I've been waiting anxiously for a new book by Mr. Hawke. I was hoping for a novel, something that built upon the talent evident in ASH WEDNESDAY; but Hawke wrote a fictional diary that serves as a parable and is meant to be read as one might read THE ART OF WAR or the TAO TE CHING or Aurelius's MEDITATIONS (and no, I am not putting it on the same shelf as those philosophical classics).This is the story of a knight who knows that he will likely perish in a looming battle and has sat down to put on paper everything he has learned about life from his own mentors and experiences. This is the thread connecting each of the chapters and it is enjoyable if sparse and simple. In each chapter, the knight tackles a different virtue or character trait, using anecdotes to illustrate points and instruct his readers in how to live a good and honorable life.My hat is off to Hawke for attempting such a book, especially as an actor who would surely face even more scrutiny for daring to have an interest in another art form. It is inherently dangerous to write moral instruction. The author can seem pretentious or pedantic and it is a testament to Hawke's steady hand that RULES FOR A KNIGHT never comes off as either. Is he breaking new ground and giving us the key to life we've all been looking for? No. Most of what's in here can be found in any number of similar texts that are or are not fictional. But Hawke presents familiar lessons in unique ways, offering clever illustrative stories. I found myself underlining sentences or paragraphs that said something I'd heard before but put it so beautifully or freshly that I was moved to mark them for future reference. I have to say, that is no small accomplishment.No adult is going to read this and be swept away by plot or character. Know that going in. You'll read this with great pleasure, though. I'd describe it as something like a daily reader, something you might keep on an end table and read a random chapter from once in a while. It's also a book that can, and is largely intended to, be read to and with children. My son is six and is probably a little too young for it, but I still think I'll give it a try with him. Whether he fully grasps it now or not, I know that I'll read it with him in the future and that we'll probably return to it frequently together. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that I might turn to a chapter of this book to help him with some future problem.I want to note the lovely, minimalist design of the book as a physical object; and, along with that, it cannot be left unsaid that Ryan Hawke's illustrations prefacing each chapter are lovely and tonally perfect for the material.RULES FOR A KNIGHT would make a good book for yourself or an excellent gift for adult friends (with or without children), nieces and nephews, grandkids, groomsmen, etc. It's rather universal in its appeal and seems the kind of text just about anyone would like to have on their shelf.

this book is truly a work of art!! I will be buying more to give as gifts! i have marked up this book like crazy bc of the quotes & wisdom.

Rules for a Knight is a rare read, a book that’s heartfelt and entertaining, even humorous at times, without being preachy. The words serve as a gentle reminder to both old and young, from all walks of life, that the task of molding oneself into an exemplary human being is not a contest to be won, but a way of life to be cherished. The illustrations done by Ryan Hawke add an extra layer of whimsical warmth to the pages. Very well done.

Bought it as a gift, reading it first. It's short and simple. Includes many good life lessons on being more civil.

Should be added to schools list of essential reads. Great lessons to be learnt and poetry telling an important truth.

I absolutely love this book and have read it many times to my boys.

Really well written. Giving it as a communion gift

Gave this book as a gift (made it more interesting by making it a treasure hunt :) ) to my niece, 8 years old. She really liked it and said she had never read a book like this. So I think the purpose of the book (i.e. inculcating values such as humility, friendship, solitude in young children) is half achieved there.

Lovely story of a Knight writing to his kids. Timeless advice