Product Description
The Art of War is almost certainly the most famous study of strategy ever written and has had an extraordinary influence on the history of warfare. The principles Sun Tzu expounded were utilized brilliantly by such great Asian war leaders as Mao Tse-tung, Giap, and Yamamoto. First translated two hundred years ago by a French missionary, Sun Tzu s Art of War has been credited with influencing Napoleon, the German General Staff, and even the planning for Desert Storm. Many Japanese companies make this book required reading for their key executives. And increasingly, Western business people and others are turning to the Art of War for inspiration and advice on how to succeed in competitive situations of all kinds…. More >>
Art of War
Art of War
5 Comments
Posted 17 Aug 2010 in General
I was not a fan of this book. I’m sure on some levels it is very important and has some greatness to it, but I never found it. I found the book to be boring and not once did it hold my attention. While it may be a classic, I placed my copy on the bottom shelf. Rating: 1 / 5
Deep explanation of the history surounding his teachings Rating: 5 / 5
Though the translation has many notes and as far as I can see, is accurate, there is at least one thing that bothers me. In one passage on lifting an autumn “hair,” this translation has “hare.” Hair seems to be the correct word because all the other translations have hair. If this mistake was overlooked, you just have to wonder what else? What’s strange however is that an earlier translation The Seven Military Classics from the same author has that one passage with the word “hair.” Go figure. Rating: 4 / 5
My son thought it was a bigger book, so it was not what he expected. Rating: 3 / 5
This, the hardback version of Ralph Sawyer’s translation of the 2000 year old compendium of Eastern Rules of war is the perfect keepsake. It comes with ribbon cover jacket and all.
Next to Karl von Clausewitz’s “On Strategy,” Sun Tzu’s distilled lessons from the Chinese battlefields, is probably the most referenced book on war strategy in the field of military history and operations.
This volume comes with ample historical background allowing the reader to understand “in context,” how Sun Tzu’s tenets, philosophy and rules of war came into being and the circumstance under which they were first applied.
His philosophy was quite a simple one: Fight only smart wars. By outwitting the opponent with good preparation, speed, stealth, guile, intelligence and flexibility, a field commander can win the war before a “shot is fired,” and thereby minimize lost of national treasure in men and resources.
There is ample evidence that most generals down through history have referred to the Art of War, including General Colin Power during “Dessert Storm” (He makes reference to it in his autobiography).
Unfortunately beyond General David Petreaus, now in charge of “the surge,” and who wrote the book on modern counterinsurgency, there is scant evidence that the generals and civilian leaders conducting the present wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan adequately consulted the “Art of War” before mounting those battlefields. One could certainly argue that neither of those wars is currently being fought smartly.
Five Stars Rating: 5 / 5