Shotokan's Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins Book

I very much liked, how the author set origins of karate into historical and spatial context. The conclusions about the real origins of Shotokan (or Shuri-te, for that matter) were intriguing at first - however far fetched they might seem as the reader progresses towards the end.
I was very disappointed, how the author dismissed the budo side of Karate - the view of Karate as a way to self perfection. He even suggested, that practicing Karate for this reason isn't even worth the trouble. I'm not trying to justify shape over substance, actually the opposite is true - bunkai and the actual meaning of kata and all its moves is of the greatest importance to me.

The book is very good as a cultural and historical reference, it offers an interesting alternative to the widely accepted origins of Karate and is definitely entertaining, even though it should be read with reservations.

Authors opinions as stated at the final pages are against my views and as a long-time practitioner I would expect the author to be more respectful.