The Lost Art of War: Recently Discovered Companion to the Bestselling The Art of War, The [Paperback]

Sun-Tzu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 1997

The Lost Art of War by Sun Tzu II (commonly known as Sun Bin) was unearthed in 1972 in an ancient Chinese tomb. Translated into English for the first time, this stunning discovery has been hailed as a worthy sequel to The Art of War. Packed with precise strategies and detailed tactics that can be adapted to any organization, this sophisticated manual builds upon Sun Tzu's phenomenally popular teachings and offers powerful insights into such principles as strategic manoeuvring, tactical formation, and adaptation. Renowned scholar Thomas Cleary brings the sometimes cryptic meanings of Sun Tzu II's ancient Chinese wisdom to life. Like his translation of The Art of War, Cleary's rendering of The Lost Art of War is an absorbing and practical work, whose military metaphors can be adapted to the complexities of business, government, diplomacy, relationships, and social action.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (April 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062514059
• ISBN-13: 978-0062514059
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,537,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Other Sun Tzu, September 10, 2006

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Lost Art of War: Recently Discovered Companion to the Bestselling The Art of War, The (Paperback)

Sun Wu wrote "The Art of War" with which so many people are familiar. His descendant, Sun Bin (the Sun family family name comes first) was also a military theorist, and wrote his own treatise. Sun Bin's text was lost for centuries; a fragmentary version was only recently discovered. This "Art of War" is a new classic - not a contradiction in terms.

Even with Cleary's extensive commentary, it's a very short book. The advice is clear and applicable: "Be trustworthy as an ordinary matter of course," "Courtesy and harshness must be intermixed," "Experts at warfare see the strengths of opponents, and thereby know their weaknesses." Cleary's commentary pushes this into the modern corporate world, likening R&D to the elite advanced troops - well, analogies can be pushed too far. The specifics of military strategy are here, too, as well as the philosophical generalities. In particular, Sun Bin addresses the personal failings that make military losses inevitable. That includes commanders who are arrogant, impulsive, lax, vicious, or have other faults. Likewise, he addresses the right and wrong ways to use soldiers of different kinds, terrain and swamps, rivers, and subterfuge. Despite philosophical moments, its concrete style generally complements Sun Wu's tendency towards generalities.

There's a lot here for students of Asian classics and for military theorists. It won't be the centerpiece of a collection, but it's a worthwhile addition to either kind. Whatever your interest, Cleary's modern and readable style makes the reading a pleasure.

//wiredweird

8 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I thought that this was a very good book., March 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lost Art of War: Recently Discovered Companion to the Bestselling The Art of War, The (Paperback)

I liked it for its Strategic value, I didnt care much for the translators Comontery takeing up more of the book than what Sun Tsu wrote.But other than that I thought it was a very good book.