I have read this book twice. Heck I have owned it several more times than that. Lending it out and it never seems to return. To say it is a fantastic book does not do it justice. If you like Shogun, and books similar, this is a book for you. The audio book is 53 hours long. It is one of a dozen or so on my play list. I am waiting a week or so to start it.

Premise is the life history (fictionalized based on known facts) of Miyamoto Musashi. It starts with the battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and goes from there. It touches on most of the known high's and lows of Musashi's life.

audible link to musashi

Any substantive differences between the 1981, 1995, and 2012 editions?

Not sure, this is the first audio book version i have been able to buy.