Customer Reviews

The Art of War Unabridged Deluxe CD Audiobook: With Commentary, Explanations and Bonus the Sayings of Confucius

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This is the most useful strategy audiobook I have ever heard, and it's easy to listen to.
It is NOT stiff and boring like so many others.
My CD played perfectly with very good narration, sound effects, and music. The company guarantees the audiobook and has a number to call if there are any problems, so I wonder if the guy who wrote the bad review can't read, has a bad CD player, or is a competitor of these guys. I totally recommend this audiobook, buy it you won't be sorry!

If you have never read or heard this book you are missing out and will be at a competitive disadvantage if your opponent has.

Over the years I have collected most of the versions of The Art of War books and several of the audiobook versions.

This audiobook is definitely worth listening to.

I think this version is very good because 1) It seems to be a pretty accurate and unchanged version of what Sun Tzu wrote ( if you have seen several versions you will see what is common and the ones that are out there - this one is good ). 2) It puts additional information and comments into the text where it is most needed on points that are ambiguous or confusing - but it does not overdo it as some other versions do.
3) The actual audiobook production is pretty good. It has great music and sound effects and the narration is pretty good with some humor in it. I especially like the concubine in the concubine story.

The Art of War is a very interesting and thought provoking book. I really enjoyed it, although I am not a big audio book fan. While listening to this book, there were times where it seemed as though the reader was rushing through the text. This to me was a distraction. On a positive note, the different sound effects really added something to the narration. Overall I would definitely recommend the book. For all you audio book fans, I am sure you will love it.

A great study aid for martial artists, wargamers and military officers. On this three CD set each track covers a chapter in detail taking only 5 to 15 minutes of listening time. This makes it easy to review. The examples from Chinese warfare are vivid giving the rules context and help in the understanding of their proper use. The version read is detailed and comprehensive. The digital production is clear and crisp with occassional sound effects for impact. I have listened to it many times and this has helped me gain insight into the rules of war.

For everyone interested in martial strategy, military history, and Sun Tzu in particular: you should own this audio book. I have read every English-language translation of Sun Tzu I could get my hands on, and this one is by far the best. Not crazy about audio books? You need to get this and study it anyway. Sun Tzu's original text, usually abridged and often hard to follow, is presented here full-length and more comprehensible than ever before in English. The words are alive and fresh; meanings are clear and offer more possibilities. Additional material in the form of examples from military history and quotations from important authorities are woven within this audiobook, giving further scope and clarity to this Art of War.

In my utterly personal opinion, the best thing about the Martial Strategists' edition is it stays true in language and spirit to Sun Tzu's teaching as a military doctrine. Unlike many others, this reading does not degenerate into just another text on philosophy, spirituality or, worst of all, Eastern business strategy. Anyone who reads The Art of War will learn how challenging a journey this book is; this translation, narrated expertly by Ross Armetta, goes a long way toward making it a smooth trip. If you wish Sun Tzu's masterpiece to become truly your own, this audiobook belongs in your library.

The Warring States period Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, and of treaties made and broken. The nature of warfare evolved during the period. During the Warring States period, political stability was impossible to gain by adventurous military action. With the advent of swelling ranks of soldiers, protracted sieges, and an ever increasing drain on state treasuries, warfare became a serious matter for study.

Thus, the opening remark of "The Art Of War" states--without exaggeration--war had become the most serious business of the state, the key to survival or ruin. The author of this and other pithy aphorisms on how to successfully fight a war was Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu scholars place his writing "The Art of War" in the Warring States Period, based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. The book has received great exposure in the west starting in the eighteenth century after being translated by a French missionary. It has been reported that Napoleon studied the text and effectively put many of its teachings to good use. For the past 2,000 years, it has been the most important military treatise in all of Asia, even known by name with the common people. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese military figures have studied it and employed its concepts to good effect. This is especially evident in the military tactics of 20th century revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.

The book is comprised of 13 chapters. The thesis of Sun's work is one should employ an army after a thorough analysis mandated by careful planning and the formulation of an overall strategy before embarking on a campaign. Sun emphasizes rational self-control, influenced by Daoist teachings throughout the book.

Chap 1-Laying Plans
18. All warfare is based on deception. 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Chap 6-Weak Points And Strong
8. Hence 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.

The best translation is the Samuel B. Griffith edition

The Sun Tzu book is a difficult read, so I thought by having an audio companion, it would help me with a more thorough comprehension.

As the content of the book is genius in regards to war tactics, philosophy, etc., I thought the reading and presentation were lackluster at best. The reader's monotone voice with no interpretative expression, like a dramatic pause or inflection of certain words, made the audio book boring and often times irritating to listen to. It sounded as if he was reading the book for the first time. I thought the sounds effects were horrible and the production very cheap, just like the ink stamp on the CD and the Xerox copied cover of the CD case.

Save your money on this rendition of Sun Tzu's "Art of War" audiobook and search for other options.