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The Art of War: Complete Text and Commentaries Paperback – June 10, 2003

by Thomas Cleary (Author),
Sun Tzu (Author)
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Sun Tzu (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,840 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 474 pages
  • Publisher: Shambhala; Reprint edition (June 10, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1590300548
  • ISBN-13: 978-1590300541
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,840 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsThought provoking - if you know how to read it
By J. Schulte on November 11, 2012
Format: Paperback
Like many business professionals, I've heard lots of people quote The Art of War and heard that everyone from Larry Ellison to Michael Ovitz studied it as a guide to competition in business. So I decided I needed to read it.

I encountered a few issues, which I suspect others will too, so here's a little help:

1. Which version should I buy?
2. How should I read it?
3. Who can help me make sense of this?
4. Will this really make me a better leader in business?

1. Which version should I buy?
As soon as I started to shop for a copy, I was confronted with an overwhelming number of choices. In the end I decided to buy the translation by Thomas Cleary because he has translated other Chinese classics that I've read and Shambhala is a well-known publisher of Eastern texts. I did a fair number of comparisons online and people were very positive about this translation as being perhaps the most accessible for first time readers. I found it easy to read and understand. (My edition is a slightly older "Dragon Edition" from Shambhala, but it is the same translation.) I have also read Griffith's translation from the 1960's and found that edition to be just as good. Cleary's version seems to be intent on highlighting more of the Taoist elements in the Art of War; Griffith, in contrast writes primarily about battles and military history.

Comparing the two translations side by side it is clear that 80% of the text is probably going to be the same whichever version you buy, but there are real differences between some of the texts. I would have no problem recommending either Cleary or Griffith.

2. How should I read it?
The first time I picked this up, I was confused.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsAmazon has mixed two editions in one product.
By A. Chow on August 3, 2013
Format: Hardcover
I picked this hardcover up at a B&N on impulse because it was on sale and I thought the traditional binding was gorgeous. When I flipped through I was surprised by how good the translation was! This isn't just a beautiful coffee-table book to set down and never open. The translation sold me. I can read literary Chinese, but I'm much faster in English. For the general idea, I read the English text. When I want to understand nuances and details, I read the Chinese text. I love having both side-by-side. I think the translation is fantastic, and the translator made some great choices and explains them well.

ETA: I am somewhat confused by some of the reviews, as they mention commentaries interspersed with the text. What commentaries? The version I have (a gorgeous hardbound book with red lacing on the spine) is just the most widely-accepted Chinese text from the Song dynasty on the left pages, and the corresponding translation in English (not commentary, just translation) on the right. When I clicked on the "look inside" preview Amazon offers, I was shocked. That's not the book I hold in my hands; but the ISBN I keyed in brought me here! Amazon has mixed two completely different editions together.

For the record, I highly recommend the new translation from Chartwell Books Inc with the traditional Chinese binding and two languages on mirrored pages.
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1.0 out of 5 stars"The Art of War" is great. This edition is not.
By Travis M. on January 25, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Lionel Giles translated the book wonderfully. And if he had stopped there this would have been a 5 star review. However throughout the book, more often than translating, he has inserted poorly formatted commentary on the text. He adds lines that break out from the reading of Sun Tzu to interject what is not needed and detracts from the writing.

Footnotes would have been fine. Italicized notes would have been fine. Some method of distinguishing his commentary from the text is needed. Instead he puts his comments in [brackets] sometimes paragraphs at a time.

I went through the first several chapters with a highlighter trying to get Sun Tzu's words and Lionel Giles' separated but gave up. Find another copy of this wonderful book. This edition should be passed by.
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5.0 out of 5 starsBought for a "video game attention span" teen
By Tinfoot TOP 50 REVIEWER on March 12, 2014
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Purchased this book for a teenager with the typical "video game attention span", who came across Sun Tzu's name while watching a History Channel series. He became intrigued with the application to his RTS multi-player games, and wanting to encourage any form of reading, especially one of classic thought, I bought this particular edition for the dual Chinese/English texts (he doesn't read Chinese, but I do). The Chinese text is in Mandrian simplified.

I am very impressed with the quality of the cover and binding, a luxurious feel and presentation. I have personally owned various editions, both in English and Chinese (simplified, long form, and classical grass writing), with and without the myriad of commentaries, and the texts usually had been so densely printed that is at times very hard on the eyes.

This edition does away with the following generations of addendum, keeping the matter close to the original interpretations in a clear, well formatted page and faithful English translations. In fact, when I quizzed him a few days later on a few aspects of Sun Zu's thought, this teen, who couldn't otherwise stand reading a paragraph, responded accurately and with comprehension.

That alone is worth 5 stars.
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