Customer Reviews

The Art of War by Mao Tse-tung - Special Edition

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4 star:		(1)
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Whether you want to start a revolution or prevent one, everyone who has an interest in political power has a valid reason to read these important essays by the 20th century's most successful revolutionary. Mao Tse-tung understood and used the keys to power as effectively as they have ever been used. This book is a prime example of Mao at work - exhorting, cajoling and instructing - at a time when he was closely in touch with the hearts and minds of his people.

Those who tend to dismiss Mao Tse-tung as a demagogue miss the point that he had a agenda that was separate and apart from his ideology: to rule and reform China. He first sold his revolution to the people on the basis of their discontent and rationalized his political views to obtain his objectives. He was a master of contorted logic, rationalization, salesmanship - effective propaganda. This book shows him, in his own words, at his most subtle and persuasive.

That is not to say that Chairman Mao did not deeply care for the welfare of China and her people. To begin the movement of the massive feudal kingdom that was China in the early 20th century toward the world power that China is rapidly becoming will be remembered by history as the step that lifted countless millions from abject poverty. Who is to say that Mao's ends did not justify his means?

This was an enjoyable book that is very easy to read. Mao is not a bad writer although he has a tendency to repeat himself... a lot. The book itself talks about the Communist revolution in China and the strategies involved in defeating the Nationalists. He also talks about unifying China to overcome the Japanese Invasion. A lot of the strategy that Mao talks about is very practical and can be used in day to day life. While Mao Tse Tung is not someone to look up to, he is a brilliant strategist. At the same time, the book is filled with some Marxist ideals that contradict what Mao did once he attained power. Since this is written by Mao, one could only expect that. It is fascinating to learn about how one fought a revolution where he was severely outnumbered, and yet he still managed to win. While in history there have been plenty of revolutions similar to this (Cuban revolution comes to mind), the vast size of China differentiates this from many others including the Red Revolution in Russia. The Red revolution has many similarities, but the revolution itself was different. If you are a history buff, then this is a must have for your collection. I gave it 4 stars due to the fact that Mao killed 70 million of his own Chinese so for that, he loses a star.

As the revolutionary leader who conquered Kuo Min Tang when his own force is outnumbered ten to one, Mao Tse-tung was undoubtedly a strategist par excellent. The parallels between Chairman Mao's thoughts on strategy and those of Sun Tzu belie a direct lineage of culture and genius spanning 25 centuries. This special edition contains, for the first time, his four most important discourses on warfare: (1). Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War; (2). Problems of strategy in Guerilla War Against Japan; (3). On Protracted War; and (4). Problems of War and Strategy. Note that Chairman Mao couched his discourses in term of "problem - solving". In this, he epistemologically and metaphysically anticipated Sir Karl Popper's "Conjectures" and "Refutations", who also couched his epistemology and metaphysics in terms of "problem solving" ie "conjectures" and "refutation". For someone interested in "strategy", these two books should be read together. Dr Jusuf Hariman.