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The Art of War
 
 
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The Art of War [Paperback]

Sun Tzu (Author), Samuel B. Griffith (Translator), B. H. Liddell Hart (Foreword)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 15, 1971
Like Machiavelli's The Prince and the Japanese Book of Five Rings, Sun Tzu's The Art of War is as timely for business people today as it was for military strategists in ancient China. Written in China more than 2,000 years ago, Sun Tzu's classic The Art of War is the first known study of the planning and conduct of military operations. These terse, aphoristic essays are unsurpassed in comprehensiveness and depth of understanding, examining not only battlefield maneuvers, but also relevant economic, political, and psychological factors. Indeed, the precepts outlined by Sun Tzu regularly applied outside the realm of military theory. It is read avidly by Japanese businessmen and was touted in the movie Wall Street as the corporate raider's bible.
Providing a much-needed translation of this classic, Samuel Griffith has made this powerful and unique work even more relevant to the modern world. Including an explanatory introduction and selected commentaries on the work, this edition makes Sun Tzu's timeless classic perfectly accessible to modern readers.

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Editorial Reviews

Review


"The Art of War is among the greatest classics of military literature ever written. Sun Tzu warfare is as applicable today as when the book was written some 2,500 years ago....Pick up The Art of War and read it."--General A.M. Gray, Marine Corps Gazette


"As a reflection of the Chinese mind, this little work is as relevant as any Confucian classic."--The Times (London)


"Westerners have dozens of books to choose from if they want to learn about Japanese philosophy and military tactics....But when the Japanese, especially those in business, want information on the subject, many turn to an ancient Chinese, not Japanese, military manual, The Art of War....Shows managers how to be fearless in resolving conflicts."--Boardroom Reports


"Shows managers how to be fearless in resolving conflicts."--Boardroom Reports


"A brief tract on strategy that has been admired in China for centuries. Some of Mao Tse Tung's most eloquent thoughts are merely rehashes of Sun Tzu and his interpreters."--The Los Angeles Herald Examiner


"Samuel Griffith's original and scholarly translation of The Art of War shows how good scholarship can make an easily readable translation that is much more useful to modern readers."--The Philadelphia Inquirer


About the Author


The late Samuel B. Griffith is the author of The Battle for Guadalcanal and the editor and translator of Mao Tse-tung: "On Guerilla War".

Product Details

  • Paperback: 197 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press (September 15, 1971)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195014766
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195014761
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
War is ugly, dirty, brutal, wasteful and expensive. That is the reality of it. Let's not pretend otherwise.

Having said that, the ancient Chinese master strips away all the familiar trappings of war - the warriors, weapons, forts and tactics - to reveal the essence of conflict and how to win.

His lessons are as valid here and now as they were in an empire a long time ago and far, far away. It simply does not matter how you are fighting, what you are fighting over nor even why you are fighting. If you are forced into conflict with another, the lessons in this book will guarantee victory.

Brute strength, overwhelming force, super weapons, holding the high ground, none of these are required for victory. All that is needed is a leader who can understand and apply the principles of warfare.

Essentially it boils down to three ideas.
1. Know yourself.
2. Know your enemy.
3. Only fight when you can win.

Do this, and you will win competitions, elections, games. Anything that involves conflict. Even wars.

Sun Tzu's elegant language lays bare the principles of warfare, illustrating his lessons with examples from Ancient China. It is a thought-provoking, colourful and valuable book.

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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Broadening Your Perspective September 21, 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
War is not really based on honor... or glory, or even whose right. It's all about conditions, who has the advantage and how to dishearten your opponents while making sure your own resources are protected. It tells you what to look for through hundreds of various quotes and snippets of advice. This book was not entirely by Sun Tzu, but a collection of famous tacticians through-out history. Each seem to add another element to the concept of how to win in conflict.

In life, you can see a little of this in each day... but just remember not too get too carried away. After all, even Sun Tzu himself said 'A battle not fought, is a battle won.' For broadening your perspective, I'd suggest adding this book to your collection as well as 'Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book of Eastern Wisdom' by Taro Gold.

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38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Art of War is a military classic, written around 400 BC. However, because the maxims contained in the book are so succinct and universal, this is still a useful book for understanding and waging war today. The central themes are to attack where the enemy is weak, deceive the enemy into attacking you on your terms (not his), and the use of espionage to confuse the enemy while gathering information for your own use.

This book is a classical, scholarly translation. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the translation, as I do not read Chinese. However, the translator sprinkles the text with footnotes to explain why he has chosen certain phrases that do not directly translate, and offers alternative explanations from other translators. Therefore, you get a good feel for what Sun Tzu originally meant, especially through the critical inclusion of selected commentaries. In addition, there is an introduction by the author on the history and background of the text, which are useful. There are also some comments on the influence the text has had, especially on Mao Tse-tung and on the Imperial Japanese forces through World War II.

Therefore, I certainly recommend this translation for a first-time reader such as myself.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Worthy of a read...
As with many of the books I am working through, I am surprised I never read this one. It was short and enjoyable, full of interesting ideas. Read more
Published 14 days ago by S. Girard
Possibly Overrated Due to Pop Culture Popularity
Granted, most readers will find some wisdom in "The Art of War"; on the other hand, perhaps most of this "wisdom" is simply common sense dressed up in militaristic metaphors. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Matt Henterly
Survival
I read this book while doing my Ultrasound Classes. Truly a book for daily survival. Battles are to be chosen and not enter into lightly. There is also weapons of warfare. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Sis G
Great insight into Chinese history, but limited practical use
The Art of War has in recent decades been applied to such modern day problems as politics and business - really anything where conflict can surface. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Christopher Munson
Good and nice book!!
Very good book, for life and business. You can learn a lot from this incredible text and apply it not only for day to day living but to business strategy.
Published 1 month ago by JJBenz
Sun Tzu
An excellent complement to any library. Foundation philosophy of use to any endeavor. An invaluable companion to this is "Go Rin No Sho" by Shimmen Miyamoto Musashi.
Published 5 months ago by Rargrod
1 of 2 Best Books Ever Read
1 of 2 in best books I've ever read. The Art f War complicates every thing. You don't think the same after reading it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by PIA
At First...
I didn't like it too much . . . then I realized I was reading the 50 page introduction. As soon as the translation began, it was game on non-stop reading. It's a great book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Paul Jun
Amazing and prophetic insights
This is ultra easy reading full of slices of wisdom that have been proven true over and over. If the U.S. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Paul A. Bridges
Military appropriate
Keep in mind that this translation is by a Marine General. It isn't translated into english, but really into a third military language and mind set. Read more
Published 11 months ago by anthony
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
necessarily as Ssu-ma Ch'ien relates? Was the book ascribed to him written by him? Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
martial classics, employing troops, military classics, thirteen chapters, enemy situation, wise general
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sun Tzu, Ts'ao Ts'ao, Sun Pin, Mei Yao-ch'en, Wang Hsi, Chia Lin, T'ien Chi, P'ang Chüan, Chu-ko Liang, Han Hsin, Ch'ên Hao, T'ien Tan, Ch'en Hao, Hegemonic King, Hsiao Hsieh, Huang-fu Wen, K'ou Hsün, Kao Chun, Sun Ch'üan, Sun Hsing-yen, Therefore Master Wang, Tsang Kung, Yuan Shao
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