Seems most reviews here on this work are just about formatting or some such. The time to lay down that sword and shield and "study war no more" is when we arrive "down by the riverside." Getting there requires the most complete understanding possible - and an educated appreciation of the fundamental distinction between force and violence.įive star rating because the scale does not go any higher. Anyone who wants to understand both literal warfare and "moral equivalents to war" would be well served to study this text and dwell in particular on whatever parts seem counter-intuitive or nonsensical: That's where a given reader will find challenges and rewards.Īs a lifelong pacifist, I make it my business to study war with grim determination. This particular translation includes useful commentary referencing a variety of ancient commentaries, and draws comparison to more recent ( i.e. But this text provides insights beyond physical tactics and historical interest and has earned its durable international reputation: Sun Tzu wrote about battlefield strategy, but also about campaign strategy, the economics of warfare, and the motives and morale of both soldiers and the politicians whose directives initiate war. So for me a lot of the text came across as all too obvious common sense.
Thomas Cleary's translation is a breakthrough achievement that has been a gold standard among translations for three decades, offering the complete text in eminently readable prose with short commentaries by other ancient Chinese strategists and philosophers interwoven throughout.I had studied military history and played wargames (real deal, war college style) for a couple of decades before reading Sun Tzu. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through an understanding of the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict.
The techniques and instructions discussed in The Art of War apply to competition and conflict on every level, from the interpersonal to the international. In the words of Sun Tzu, "To win without fighting is best." This timeless Chinese classic captures the essence of military strategy used in ancient East Asia, with lessons on how to handle conflict confidently, efficiently, and successfully. The most prestigious and influential book on strategy and dealing with conflict, beautifully translated for clear, accessible reading.
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