The Art of War (Shambhala classics)
Widely regarded as "The Oldest Military Treatise in the World," this compact little book, written more than 2,500 years ago, today retains much of its original authoritative merit. American officers during World War II read it closely. The Japanese army studied the work for decades, and many twentieth-century Chinese officers are said to have known the book by heart. Maintaining that "all warfare is based on deception" and that "in war . . . let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns," the author adds: "That general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack." Principles of strategy, tactics, maneuvering, communication, and supplies; the use of terrain, fire, and the seasons of the year; the classification and utilization of spies; the treatment of soldiers, including captives, all have a modern ring to them. The author even provides rules for the "blitzkrieg," prefacing them with the words that "rapidity is the essence of war." Still a valuable guide to the conduct of war, this volume will be indispensable to military students and of interest to all those fascinated by military history. Unabridged republication of the edition published by The Military Service Publishing Company, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1944.
The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality. Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition trail Sun-tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their soldiers." Elsewhere, Sun-tzu has told us to plunder the enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food? The Tang dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned." Most passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure them in with the prospect of gain, take them by confusion" or "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability is in the opponent." Sun-tzu's maxims are widely applicable beyond the military because they speak directly to the exigencies of survival. Your new tools will serve you well, but don't flaunt them. Remember Sun-tzu's advice: "Though effective, appear to be ineffective." --Brian Bruya
The Art of War (Shambhala classics) Accessories
 The Prince (Bantam Classics)
The Communist Manifesto (Penguin Classics)
The Book of Five Rings
On War (Oxford World's Classics)
The Wealth of Nations (Bantam Classics)
Plato: Republic
The Book of Five Rings (Shambhala Classics)
The 48 Laws of Power
Strategy: Second Revised Edition (Meridian)
Politics (Dover Thrift Editions)
The Art of War (Shambhala classics) Reviews
It seems as if they wanted to conceal their supposed wisdom from the not initiated ones. Other "Chinese" books give you a number of strategies (the 33, the 36, the 100, etc). That come to fruition in major richness, reading pleasure, agility and depth of thought. I consider them to be slight practical, for the profuse, diffuse and still confused character of many ancient authors of the Han etnia. The permanent and global chinese military theory from a classical author.
What does happen if a different case, that is not in your supposed check list, arises. With each useful reading, more shades and perspectives are caught. It is of very easy reading and very long full comprehension. Its style and content characteristics support the idea of one unique author. It is like to be defoliating an artichoke or an onion.
Its utilization is based on its constant memorization or on its permanent application.
This edition of Sun Tzu's Art of War is noteworthy for several reasons. Marine Corps Brig. General Griffith provides useful annotations, while pointing out inconsistencies and uncertainties in the text. As a bonus, this edition includes a later (and shorter) Art of War written by Wu Chi.
Samuel B. The book was translated and edited by U.S. For this edition, he wrote sections on the influence of Sun Tzu on the Japanese and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. Gen.
Griffith, who served in China and fought the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II.
The book does have some common sense knowledge but there are lots of other ways to learn that information in straightforward then to go through the hard read. Pick your choice. The "knowledge" tidbits are sometimes conflicting with each other. At the same time, the book is very thin. This book is overhyped. One could read it in a short amount of time and get the bragging rights to have read this book.
But I found so many relevancies to my career, my journeys competing in pageant (which is a war within itself) and my life. I truly enjoyed this book. I recommend everyone from teens to adults read this book. When I heard it referenced by our President elect, while I was reading it, I knew I was right up there with the world's leaders. It is unlike any book I have ever read.
The Prince was written during the tumult of the cultural and linguistic formation of early Italy (as opposed to the distinctive Roman society before it). The Art of War is overrated in relation to more recent works, notably The Prince, On War, and The Book of Five Rings, and many Roman and Greek texts could be mentioned, for differing reasons. More substance in this than in Art of War. My mind goes to some of the things in Five Rings while dealing with personal relationships. This possible fact breaks down the continuity of the book, if one can sense much continuity to begin with. In short, (1)if you're looking to feel naughty by reading demonized and selfish and militaristic writings to enhance executive stature, look at The Prince. (3) The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, written 400+ years ago, provides a very good account of inner and outer struggle in the samurai tradition.
Indeed, there is significant evidence that there was no Sun Tzu and that The Art of War is an amalgamation of the knowledge of more recent (within the past 2-3,000 years) Chinese militar officers and/or philosophers. That would be a natural place to start if you want to work with the original text. This makes it, in my humble view, more valuable than Art of War and comparable Roman texts because the personality of the time period is closer to ours, and there isn't such a problem with translating concepts. An inexpensive book with many of the highlights of On War is printed by Sweet Water Press (2006). (2)If you want to read up on more contemporary attempts at codifying war relations, particularly in the state system, try On War by Clausewitz.
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