See "The Illustrated Art of War" ISBN 978-19518999X published in 2005. The same translator (Samuel B Griffith) and the same publisher (Oxford University Press) but in a hardcover edition with illustrations.

This is simply a very important book in the scholarship of military and political strategy. It is required reading for generals and other military commanders (as well as leaders involved in strategic and tactical decisionmaking).

Over 2,000 years old, written in the context of widespread feudal warfare in ancient China, it was written to provide useful advice to the political and military commander/prince. In this way, it is similar to Machiavelli's The Prince (also a very important book on military and political affairs in a highly contentious environment) - a multi-polar environment.

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a serious book for the serious student of political science, strategic thinking, and military and political strategic and tactical decision making.

It may seem to some to be a book of aphorisms or "lessons" - which may appear to some to be trite, and many people have tried to show the import of its lessons in the context of business management in terms of the competition of firms - lessons which may be applicable and relevant.

However, if you want to study strategy (as it relates to any context: military, political, business, etc.) - this is simply required reading, and careful and considered reading of it, will reward the reader. Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-Tung) and other Chinese leaders have read it, used the lessons contained in it, added and expanded upon it, and thus - at the least - is the foundation of modern Chinese strategic thinking.

I ordered 3 copies and so far have only received one.

Please expedite.

This ancient classic of 13 chapters was written over 2,500 years ago by the legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu. It is a must have for military buffs that enjoy reading about the tactics of the most succesful generals. It is rumored that Napoleon used a French translation of the Art of War to his advantage while conquering most of Europe, and he lost when he broke its principles.
The principles that are with in this ancient text can also be used in games of strategy, business conflicts, and the day to day battles of life.
Here are ten principles to give you a sample of the wisdom found in its pages:

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance with out fighting.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

Spies are the most important element in war, because upon them depends an army's ability to move.

All warfare is based on deception.

The general who wins a battle makes many calculations before the battle is fought.

There is no instance of a country having benefited from a prolonged war.

The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.

In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. (So they can retreat).

Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained, fight not unless the position is critical.

Taken as a whole this is a book of wisdom and principles on how to win. I rank it in my top ten books I have ever read. It is a must have for any home library. The is a very small book that is quick and easy to read.

the Shambhala pocket classics are perfect pocket sized books to take along with one on every day excursions. they provide immense inspiration every time.

My review title says it all. Yeah it's a good and even famous book. But how does this book apply to our current age? Should we pick a nice open field when meeting tough customers just to gain advantage on the terrain?

This book should be read without judgement. Just breathe in all wisdom the ancient Sun Tzu has given us. Don't expect instant knowledge, but read this book over and over again and you will get the clue.

Sun Tzu's writings hold a vast knowledge on tactics that still apply today, although we throw e-mails to each other instead of spears. You'll learn to recognize his tactics within your own situation. Use them how you seem fit. I even applied it on strategy games and it seemed to me I had an advantage with his knowledge. Even in business we can still 'pick the ground' although it could be a good restaurant instead of hills.

Does this book apply to the 21st century? Definitly!

Understand this: Sun Tzu is not going to actually give you military theory here.

This is a book about principles, not tactics. "Strike when your enemy is weak", "It is possible to win the war and lose the kingdom" and other such bits of advice are scattered (and repeated) throughout.

If you're expecting advice on actually how to move your troops, you'll be disappointed. If you're wanting advice on the principles needed to actively construct a strategy to win - in war, business, or any situatino - then you've come to the right place.

A great book, for anyone who is interested in the art of strategy war combat. A great translation, some mildly confusing phrases, but easily rectified. Highly recommend this version.

I am kind of torn on how many stars to give this as the product itself (the audio book) is great, but the actual content is retarded. Sun Tzu spouts off a bunch of useless crap like:

"If you march fifty LI in order to outmaneuver the enemy, you will lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will reach the goal. If you march thirty LI with the same object, two-thirds of your army will arrive."

Thank you Sun Tzu, for summarizing war into neat little equations for us:

Function for computing losses during outmaneuver operation: F(x) = (if x = 50 then 1 leader and 0.50 of force else if x = 0.333 then 0.6667 of force)

There are many translations of this work which has long been in the public domain. This is the popular translation by Lionel Giles made even more popular by the introduction from the best-selling author of Japan epics, James Clavell. It contains Giles' commentary along with the translation. The annotations give historical examples of the strategies in action.

Game theory is calculated strategy. The Art of War by Sun Tzu is probably the oldest and most important book on game theory ever written. It is the culmination of the development of the best warfare tactics prior to the 5th century BC. It is considered the foundation for all military plans and is still used to this day. It is most popular for its ability to win wars without fighting one. Its application has shaped the world as we know it.

The Art of War can be understood as a breakdown of the chaos of warfare into components that can be analyzed and understood. The tactics are mostly about controlled organization, recognizing environments and situations and the correct response to each one. Organization is subject to change in competition. The Art of War is essentially the strategy of responding to changing environments. Response is thus relative to evolving conditions.

1 - "Laying Plans"
The core message of this chapter is to calculate as much as possible before committing yourself. Important themes include discipline, ethics, environmental conditions and assessing the competition. It's about setting up the mission and evaluating the competition.

2 - "Waging War"
The important detail of this chapter is to win as quickly and as economically as possible. Prolonged struggle means wasting resources and undermining confidence. When winning, use the spoils as rewards and capital. It's about making war pay.

3 - "Attack by Stratagem"
This chapter is about deployment of the previous two chapters. The central message is to know thyself and know thy enemy. This stage indicates problems such as sieges, bad management and interior anarchy or legal/government interference. Advantages such as good management, exploiting opportunities and attacking tactics are covered. Strength is about cohesiveness and is independent of size.

4 - "Tactical Dispositions"
This one stresses putting yourself in a position where you cannot be defeated and waiting for the opportunity to defeat the enemy. It is about recognizing the breaks and taking them as opposed to creating the breaks.

5 - "Energy"
This part focuses on the power of deception to lull the enemy into a false sense of security and the use of spies to learn the enemy's moves. It also stresses the need to evolve in battle. It's about building up war capability.

6 - "Weak Points and Strong"
This chapter encapsulates all the previous five chapters into an advanced war strategy producing outcomes, calculating and responding to events as they unfold. The strategies are developed here. It is about creating breaks.

7 - "Maneuvering"
This deals with managing units and the internal problems they face on top of how to respond during movement to various circumstances. It is a chapter based on types of situations and responses.

8 - "Variation of tactics"
This section expands on the evolution of tactics and strategies based on situations and responses but concentrates on what causes failure.

9 - "The Army on the March"
This is advanced maneuvering especially across long distances with different terrains and how to deal with encounters. It is about interpretation.

10 - "Terrain"
This describes the various terrains that an army can encounter and when and how to occupy them. It talks about distances, potential dangers and obstructions. Positioning is important.

11 - "The Nine Situations"
This piece explains the condition of each terrain in terms of its tactical advantages and disadvantages and how to deal with both. It is a very intensive chapter because of the number of complex conditions dealt with.

12 - "The Attack by Fire"
Arson in war is probably the single most troubling weapon that an army could have inflicted on the enemy around 500 BC. This chapter is obviously based on the most advanced weapons of the time which have since been developed. It is about using the principle of creating disorder and chaos to win.

13 - "The Use of Spies"
Without spies don't war. War is won based on foreknowledge not by calculation but by direct information about the plans of the other side from spies. Spies are managed in this chapter.

Even though the work is quite short (about 100 pages or less with commentary) it is complex enough to warrant several readings. It is the equivalent to learning how to play advanced chess, a game which compliments this study. There is a lifetime of thought within the pages. Napoleon was said to have used it and lost when he didn't follow it.

The Art of War has become one of the most important self help books of this century popularized in big business as many executives have had recourse to this material because it offers a sound winning strategy. Most readers come away believing that the book's message finds it adaptable to many environments because it is all about adjusting to variations and so can be applied to anything and everything.

The Art of War is not supposed to be an exciting read. It is a strategy book, a step by step guide to how battles are won and why they are lost. It is more to be memorized as a set of responses, including when not to respond, than to be understood. The combinations of the responses are unlimited. There is enough on the plate without asking why. Understanding why would come later and the answers to these questions would come from a very sophisticated understanding of the theory. It is an endeavor that remains open to the reader if they can come to terms first with the information that is here.

Even if the book is not followed up on by subsequent study it can still leave a long lasting impression with its tips on discipline and achieving goals. It is great value for the amount of information contained in such a short burst. It will get you thinking strategically and that is more or less its claim to fame.

A very good treatise on the Taoist perspective on war. It carries so many parallels to today's modern combat, and is required reading in Asian businesses and for Asian military officers, especially the Chinese People's Liberation Army. It's a fairly easy read and very good to understand as well. Compare it to the Machiavelli book of the same name and you'd see a stark contrast to it. Recommended for those who want to learn what would be good military strategy and tactics, especially if those support a military with greater autonomy than many countries have now.

B.H. Liddell Hart's favorite military thinker even though he lived 2,000 years earlier. Like Liddell Hart his thought transcends the military sphere and influenced me in my writing of "The Optimistic Jew". Worthwhile reading even today.

Written in approximately 470 BC, The Art of War is a Taoist treatise on martial and political philosophy ... one of the most famous ever written, and one of the most often quoted. The fact that it is still popular and well quoted, after more than 2,000 years, should say something about its timeless qualities.

It's composed as a list of terse, keen and ingenious observations, sayings, and maxims ... with various translators over the centuries each adding their own interpretations and commentary. There's something on almost every topic ... from siege planning, use of formations & maneuvering, the virtues of adaptability and cunning, speed, the use of positioning & terrain, disinformation and the use of spies, etc.

The author's advice spans both low level tactics ["do not stop an army on its way home" {Brad: because they'll be more likely to fight to the death} ... "a surrounded army must be given a way out" {Brad: channel their retreat into a killing zone of your own creation}] ... and high level strategic thinking ["a superior militarist foils enemy plots without the need to fight; the next best {strategy} is to ruin their alliances; next {best strategy} after that is to attack their armed forces; worst {strategy} is to beseige their cities"]

It's required reading at many military colleges around the world.

If this is the only book you will ever read translated from the East don't bother. To understand the material read it seveal times or better yet yearly.


Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.

The reason this book is a timeless classic is because it analyzes all aspects of war from the standpoint of human nature, and makes a solid case that any endeavor that fails to take into account human nature is doomed to failure. Because the subject is warfare, including its causes, and the analysis is solid, one is left with not only the first order result (how to handle a war situation effectively) but also a life changing understanding of the humbling constraints of human existence and the pragmatics of applied psychology. Anyone who is bored by this book (and this particular one is excellent) is not yet ready to learn basic lessons about human existence. Anyone who is capable of humility will be changed by this book. It should be read by everyone, several times throughout life.

If you think reality is just a series of bizarre coincidences, don't bother with this.

Although much of Sun Tzu comments are common sence, it is always the case that the common have no sence. Sun Tzu is very repeditive - "Do this and you will win...do the oposite and you will lose", etc. All in all a must read for EVERYONE!

The book was to boring. Couldn't keep my attention... had to force myself to read the book.

The book was to boring. Couldn't keep my attention... had to force myself to read the book.

This elegant book had such a profound impact on me, it is hard to decribe in words. Anyone who is a strategist will find something powerful to embrace in this simple text, written so long ago. Master Sun Tsu was quite a intuitive individual. He knowledge spans across the chasm of time. I highly recommend it as reading for anyone wanting to wants understand how to win.

Basically this books assumes that in order to read
in the Classical Chinese view you are a gentleman of means
who commands the poor below you. In some sense the civil service of China was a meritocracy
but the military was almost always aristocracy.
A very good book maybe for rulers and officers,
but pretty much of little use to ordinary people
who are starting with no power base at the lowest rung on the ladder.
If you have no one following and are a private in the army,
this wisdom is of very little use except as philosophy.
It might tell you how a general might act,
but the majority of leaders and generals are usually not this wise.
Somewhat like a book of syllogisms in logic , the books is in a logical
postulate form of sayings and aphorisms.
The study of authority and it's memorization won't make
a student wise or show him how to apply what pretends to be knowledge.
We see in this book the oriental fives: five colors, fives tastes and fives tones:
as in modern western music there are 12 tones, there may be hidden levels of knowledge revealed
by western anthropology and psychology that are entirely hidden to the Classical Chinese Taoist mind.

Basically this books assumes that in order to read
in the Classical Chinese view you are a gentleman of means
who commands the poor below you. In some sense the civil service of China was a meritocracy
but the military was almost always aristocracy.
A very good book maybe for rulers and officers,
but pretty much of little use to ordinary people
who are starting with no power base at the lowest rung on the ladder.
If you have no one following and are a private in the army,
this wisdom is of very little use except as philosophy.
It might tell you how a general might act,
but the majority of leaders and generals are usually not this wise.
Somewhat like a book of syllogisms in logic , the books is in a logical
postulate form of sayings and aphorisms.
The study of authority and it's memorization won't make
a student wise or show him how to apply what pretends to be knowledge.
We see in this book the oriental fives: five colors, fives tastes and fives tones:
as in modern western music there are 12 tones, there may be hidden levels of knowledge revealed
by western anthropology and psychology that are entirely hidden to the Classical Chinese Taoist mind.

The mechanics of Sun Tzu's art can be applied to many subjects other than war.The book is not very long or expensive, so the hour or so spent reading is well worth it.This particular version is pretty nice. It includes a little history lesson in the beginning.

You must see the big picture and be able to apply it to every day situations. While you may not be able to literally decapitate your defiant subordinates--you can see the relevance of standing firm for your principals and enforcing discipline in the face of opposition.

Read on and concur!

A.

Sun Tzu is a genius and this book is a timeless classic. When faced with a problem, make sure your on the right side. Then plan all your moves and take into account all possible outcomes. Make sure your plan is fool-proof then use your greatest strength against your problems weakest or key root issue. Read the book for yourself and you will find that the book can be applied to a variety of situations from problem solving, to sports, to success in life. a great read!

This is a good starting point for a young man or woman studying war tactics and strategy. However, I honestly must say Art of War is to war as the Constitution of the United States of America is to democracy. To better understand democracy, the Constitution should be included, but without the Federalist Papers, and writing by Pericles, Aristotle, Machiavelli, John Adams, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, John Locke, Thomas Paine, and many others, the reader has yet to scratch the democratic surface.

Many people that put too much weight in Art of War.

That being said, I found Art of War a good work, relevant, and interesting. It's not too long and the material found within Sun Tzu's pages may be applied to many other areas of life and business other than war.

Being a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Army, you would think I'd have read Art of War in it's entirety. Sure, I've read and studied many excerpts in conjunction with other lesions and training, but never from start to finish. Now that I'm out of military service and no longer fighting a war (other than against my weight), I've picked up Sun Tzi's Art of War. This is a good starting point for a young man or woman studying war tactics and strategy.

I honestly must say Art of War is to war as the Constitution of the United States of America is to democracy. To better understand democracy, the Constitution should be included, but without the Federalist Papers, and writing by Pericles, Aristotle, Machiavelli, John Adams, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, John Locke, Thomas Paine, and many others, the reader has yet to scratch the democratic surface.

People that put so much weight in Art of War are like those who think Communism is nothing more than The Communist Manifesto. (Note: Readers who think they know Communism but have only read The Communist Manifest, please see works by Thomas More, Robert Owen, Eduard Bernstein, V.I. Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Mao Zedong, Mikhail Bakunin, Emma Goldman, and George Bernard Shaw, to name a few.)

That being said, I found Art of War a good work, relevant, and interesting. It's not too long and drawn out like other books like it and the material found within Sun Tzu's pages may be applied to many other areas of life and business other than war.

This is one of those books that should be required reading for everyone. The question is when should they read it? High school, maybe, but most kids won't really understand the applicability to real life, since they don't have a real life yet. College, possibly, but at that stage, most don't yet realize that strategy really counts except in sports. Just starting out, a little warmer, most people in that situation still need to learn things the hard way and won't pay any attention yet. After you've been through the ditch a few times, definitely, you're probably just smart enough to have figured out that life is really a game or a battle and only those that know how to win without fighting are the ones that truly "make it" to the world's standard. By this time in your life, you can actually apply the wisdom found within these pages.

If you're trying to decide whether to read this or "The Prince", don't read either, because you have to read both and if you don't know that yet, don't bother. Those who only peer at the surface will read this and see only the application to war, others will understand how this wisdom applies to life.

If you're a history buff, there are some interesting sections in the front of the book that talks about who wrote it, when it was wrote, and why. If you're a linguist, you'll have to judge for yourself, as I'm not. However, the real strength is in the words regardless of who the "real" author(s) are. Either way, somebody was still smart enough to compile all of these writings in a relatively cohesive fashion and everyone should be the better for it.

This book is about life, pure and simple.

Although it contains an excellent translation, the Dover Edition of Sun Tzu's Art of War should come with a warning that says: "This book only gives you the bare Giles Translation - without his extensive explanation and notes - that are essential to provide real meaning to anyone other than a Chinese scholar."

In spite of the rather wordy introduction of this edition, it doesn't do justice the Sun Tzu's great book. It is a pale reflection of the real thing.

The full Giles Translation (which is NOT what this edition is) is a first-rate piece of literature that presents the genius of Sun Tzu in a way that it can be really understood and appreciated by modern English speaking readers. You should spend a few dollars more and get the full Giles Translation - it will be money well spent.

As a Chinese, I feel I'm obligated to contend with the other reviewer's notion that we are " trying to act like Saddam, posing as if they had some kind of WMD". We didn't exalt Sun Tzu. Historically, Art of War has been considered inferior to the other classics in China, which is unfortunately, in my opinion. It was elevated to its current cure-all status mostly by Japanese and Western readers.

As to its usefulness, I'd say, yes, most of its advices are not particular new, given the fact that it's more than 2000 years old. But I think they are still well worth reading today. Its discussion on the cost of warfare and extensive planning and preparation needs to be taken before getting into war, reads like a case study of the current Iraqi situation. Had Rumsfeld read Art of War...

And, yes, in many cases, its relevance and effectiveness have been hyped by gurus and consultants. But personally, I found some of its advices are relevant and well worth taken in my profession as an stock market investor. As motivational/self-help books go, I'd say Art of War is as good as, if not better than, any guru books out there.

Even if you are not into military strategy or self-help books, I still think it's well worth reading if you are serious about leading a meaningful life/career. Because I think what really sets Art of War apart from any other how-to books out there, is not the particular advices it dishes out, but the apparent contradiction those advices exhibit. I found this is really powerful and gives you new perspective on the way you think.

For example, this is a book on war strategy, yet it advocate that the best strategy is to avoid war. Image a book on how to make money advising people not making money, a marketing book not doing marketing. This really blows your minds away. Most of us just jump right into the tasks we have on hand. By reading Art of War, you start to say to yourself: wait a minute. What am I trying to achieve here? What's the cost of the things I'm doing? Is there a better way to achieve the same goal?

Other contradictions abound: it emphasis the importance of integrity and moral high ground, yet it insists war is all about deception; it is all about rules and systems, yet it says you have to not be bound by rules and be flexible. This really gives you a fuller appreciation of the complex and contradictory nature of reality.

For these reasons, I think a short edition is not a bad ides, because you don't have to learn the nuance to appreciate the value of Art of War.

I'm a civilian, businessman, and fan of strategy games and movies. I've wanted to read this work for years but never got around to it. When a friend gave me this, the audiobook version, I finally did "read" it.

Thoughts about the content:
The work is surprisingly short, powerful, and rational. The descriptions are poetic but to the point. Some passages are brilliant and self-evidently true, some are harder to follow, but the entire work is engaging and worth reading/listening to. One can see why it is required material for military strategists and why so many people have called it the most important reference work on the subject of war of all time. One of the most striking aspects to me personally were the apparent logical contradictions. Act honorably because the moral high ground is critically important to military success, yet deception is the essence of warfare and you must deceive your opponent. You must follow these rules strictly otherwise you will fail, yet you must remain open to opportunity and adjust your tactics accordingly throwing out the rules. This is not to say the lessons are false or difficult, but that there are thought-provoking dilemmas to be explored. I was especially fond of the discussion of the roles of morality, economics, and spies in warfare, as well as several of the anecdotal side stories of ancient battles and strategems.

Thoughts about the presentation/execution:
Apparently, the most common and best English translation available translates not just Sun Tzu's original words, but also the work of an almost-as-ancient commentator who interspersed clarifications and illustrative anecdotes throughout the main text. Note that this complicates an audiobook, a fundamentally linear form. Textually, you can see that there is a tangent without breaking your flow (depending on how the text is formatted), deciding if and when to read the tangent. In this particular case, some of the commentary is truly required in place (it just wouldn't be understandable to a 21st century American listener without it) and some would best be read outside the flow of the main work (such as the stories of ancient battles that illustrate one of the "bullet points" being made). I believe the producers made the best possible translation from text to audiobook, and the readers chosen are top notch, but moreso than other audiobooks this work would just fundamentally work better as text, and for this reason I drop it to 4 stars.

I found myself reading into Military strategies and this book popped up. Well just to put it plain and simple this is a great book. I loved how it taught strategies not only for war but for leadership in any situation.

Author of
THE TRUTH
ABOUT CAFFEINE

This particular edition of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is a bare literal translation prefaced by a rather wordy introduction that pads the book up to a total of 96 pages. While the translation is not bad, the book contains no explanations or notes to enlighten the readers on some of the more obscure points, such as the modern equivalents of ancient Chinese distance measures.

The one sentence review, pronouncing this to be the best translation, was perhaps a bit generous. Among both military and history buffs, the prevailing view is that the translation by Lionel Giles, of the British Museum, is the definitive translation. Of the various available editions of the Giles translation, the Special Edition that contains two complete copies of the English text - one with and one without extensive notes and commentary - in addition to the complete text in Chinese characters - is far and away the best.

The $4.95 price for this book (or for the matchbox size miniature edition from Running Press) is a bargain only for those who are more concerned with price than with value. Choosing a better edition of "The Art of War", rather than this rather skimpy edition, will be money well spent. It is far better to own a book you can be proud of and which does a better job of informing you than this merely passable edition.

This is the best version of the Art of War I have ever read.

A great must raise questions and this book has great questions for us. My thought was that the Chinese certainly had brilliant ideas on so many things, but why is China a poor nation still? Furthermore, China is doing great once again for this time, but what is behind it? Are the Chinese learning the old art of war or something else? Well, for this issue, the answer is yes, which is given by a nice book from a Chinese journalist George Zhibin Gu in his book: China's global reach: markets, multinationals, and globalization, which offers sweeping views on current affairs in light of history.

Sun Tzu's work, "The Art of War," originally written sometime in the period of time from 400 to 300 B.C.E., has experienced numerous revivals in popularity over the years. During the 1970s it was popular with students of the New Left when the study of guerrilla warfare was in vogue. In the 1980s, "The Art of War," reappeared in quite different company.

In the 1980s and early 90's "The Art of War" was often carried in the brief cases of corporate raiders, who quoted from it liberally to explain their view of the corporate world into which they had entered. Note that the characters played by Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen in Oliver Stone's 1987 movie, "Wall Street" are pictured quoting Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," and Wesley Snips in Kevin Hooks 1992 movie, "Passenger 57" pictured reading the book in the plane about to be hijacked.

Although this volume translated by Samuel B. Griffith, published in 1963 by Oxford University Press, with a forward by B.H. Lidell Hart is not the only translation available, obviously. In addition to the entire text, the volume also contains an appendix with significant additional material on the influence of Sun Tzu down through the ages. I had found James Clavell's version quite difficult to find, but well worth it - due to clarity of reading and balance. I tried reading Cleary's version, but could not get through the first chapter. However, I did purchase "Mastering the Art of War" by Cleary; finding it a better tour guide. Clavell's "Art of War" offers tactical insight on overcoming an opponent whether it be war, work, relationships, or your own personal demons.

Sun Tzu created a timeless piece of history written for the future. I personally feel that today's society needs to look back, master the art of war, in order to repair the future. I recommend you read it and see how a book can be so popular after 2500 plus years written can be so respected!

This book is an embarrassment. It is cheap for a reason: This little book is all of 96 pages long, including the introduction.

The best edition of Sun Tzu is the Special Edition that contains two English versions; one simple version, like this one without commentary or notes and another version that the complete, fully documented Giles's Edition and, in addition, it has the text in Chinese Characters.

If you are going to spend the time and effort to read and understand Sun Tzu, you may as well spend a few dollars more and have a book that is worth the money.

I realized it is written like a campfire scout group meeting where the focus is on the Master but in using these words of a philisophical ideology you can use it far beyond the initial meanings and thoughts. This is such a wide spread useful tool many people trying to find ways of handling themselves can get value from this book!

The Art of War is an excellent little book packed with wisdom and insights into effective strategies to employ in conflict situations. This could be in conflict between nations or competition between business organisations or conflict between individuals. The book is a translation from an ancient Chinese classic written by an unknown warrior- philosopher.

Sun Tzu's concepts are over two millenniums old but they are as relevant today as they have been throughout the ages. The book is studied in all continents, from Asia to America and from Australia to Africa in military command and staff colleges and business schools. The book teaches the art of invincibility by winning without fighting through mastery of politics, science and psychology of conflict.

The philosophical foundations of this classic book are based on the spiritual tradition of Taoism, which is the origin of science, technology and psychology in the Far East. Taoism's view on power is that it should be tempered with respect for humanity.

Permeating throughout the book or in Sun Tzu's philosophy is the basic concept that the ultimate effective and efficient strategy is to make conflict unnecessary. The greatest skill is to overcome other armies without fighting. According to Sun Tzu, the superior militarist foils enemies' plots. If this is not possible, then ruin enemy alliances. The next best strategy would be to attack the armed forces whilst the worst strategy is to besiege the enemy's cities. Hence the ideal strategy for winning without fighting achieves the most by doing the least.

Therefore, clear understanding of conflict not only can lead to its resolution, but also to its possible avoidance altogether.

Unless you really want a tiny, cheap version of one of the most important books ever written, you should do yourself a favor and get a different edition. This one is an embarrassment.

Almost any of the other editions (except for the miniature edition that also sells for $4.95) is a much better choice than this turkey. If you are going to take the time to read an English translation of a 2,500 year old Chinese classic, you really should do yourself a favor and get a better edition.

A very short book, the main text is around 40 pages. It contains many tips that could be applied in fields other than the military. I do believe, however, that I would have learned more from the book if I was more familiar with military jargon and some Chinese history. Although the book does start the first 40 pages with an overview of Chinese history, you might want to grab another book that deals with the history specifically (that is if you are interested in the history). Other than that it was a very enjoying book and you cannot beat the $5 price tag.

There is no doubt that Sun Tzu's little book on war is an enduring classic, but this little edition is ridiculous. There is a reason it is so cheap. It is all of 96 pages long, including the introduction. If you are going to take the trouble to buy and read Sun Tzu's masterpiece, you should at least get a version that explains what Sun Tzu was really talking about.

The best translation is by Giles, as is this, but in the original Giles translation there is a running commentary, between the lines by Giles and several classical Chinese scholars, explaining both the context and meaning of the text. It is virtually impossible to really appreciate what Sun Tzu was talking about without the background that the original Giles translation provides.

There are several editions of the full Giles edition available. Any of them are a better choice than this little stripped down version. The best is the Special Edition that contains two copies of the translation - one stripped down version, like this edition, in addition to the Chinese text and the fully annotated version that is twice as long as the unexplained translation. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

Sun Tzu realized that war, 'a matter of vital importance to the State', demanded study and analysis; his is the first known attempt to formulate a rational basis for the planning and conduct of military operations. Unlike most Greek and Roman writers, Sun Tzu was not primarily interested in the elaboration of involved strategems or in superficial and transitory techniques. His prupose was to develop a systematic treatise to guide rulers and generals in the intelligent prosecution of successful war. He believed that the skillful strategist should be able to subdue the enemy's army without engaging it, to take his cities without laying seige to them, and to overthrow his State without bloodying swords. Superb. Without hesitation or reservation five stars!

Having read quite a bit of military history, I find this book to be almost completely useless. Hyped as tool for bettering your business acument, curing male pattern baldness, and so on, almost all I found in this tiny collection of incomprehensible martial "poetry" was gibberish. I understand that this art of war was a coveted military secret, exhalted by Chinese warriors--perhaps they were trying to act like Saddam, posing as if they had some kind of WMD

Alex Alaniz

Just wanted to let everyone know that this is a must read.

Yes, Ron Silver has a fine voice when he wants to. But I find this audio book of Sun Tzu's The Art of War disappointing. There are actually several narrators, but Ron Silver does perhaps 70%+ of the narration. There is a stark contrast between his speech and the other narrators whenever the switch takes place.

Ron Silver speaks this text in a very low, monotonous way that puts me to sleep. He seems to have put on his "ancient Chinese philosophy" wise man hat, and speaks in a low, soft drone. Doesn't work at all for me.

The content is great, but Silver's narration is soporofic. IMO.

Sun Tzu's masterpiece, "The Art of War" is one of the most important books ever written. For the price, this bare-bones version is a bargain.

You should note, however, that this is more of a booklet than a book. There is little to recommend this particular edition. The details, the subtle shades of meaning and the historical context, are left unexplained. If this is to be your only copy of Sun Tzu, you are going to miss out on a lot of the important details.

A better choice is "The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition" that contains two versions of the Giles' translation in one book: both a plain vanilla version and the complete version which includes a comprehensive introduction and a detailed running commentary.

I'm not really a student of military tactics, so I can't judge this work on those merits. From what I understand from the other reviews, and from the ravings of enthusiasts that I have heard, this book is one of the more important books covering the topic. This particular edition was interesting to me because there were a few examples of various applications of Sun Tzu's writings in actual battles from Stonewall Jackson to Hannibal given in the form of notes (I assume by Giles). Since I am more interested in historical events, than in strategy, this helped me understand the fine prose of the writer, even if I am not quite able to apply any of his "art" to my everyday life. I'm certain that a student of strategy would appreciate this work, as would people who are interested in Chinese history. I fail to see how it could be applicable to a corporate environment, but once again, that's not really my forte. I did love the concise method of the author, the easy to follow philosophies intertwined with the codified systems, and the colorful grace in which the subject was handled. The Introduction to this edition was also most insightful, and gives the reader an idea of what kind of man the author was.

This edition of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" (by Sunzi, et al) is the classic translation by Lionel Giles. For the price, it is a great buy, but it is not the complete Giles translation. In the full work, throughout the text, Giles included commentary by various ancient writers as well as his own explanations and clarifications of Sun Tzu's statements.

Lionel Giles was a curator of the British Museum, in charge of Oriental printed Books and Manuscripts. In that position, he was the world's leading authority on ancient Chinese writing, having read and analyzed more material than perhaps anyone who ever lived. Not including Giles's commentary makes this a rather bare-bones book, or actually a booklet. This volume does, however, overcome the major objection to Giles' annotated work which was that the commentary tended to muddle the flow of Sun Tzu's expression. By stripping away the commentary, it leaves a text so clean that it is almost poetry.

Unfortunately this almost poetic monologue can be interpreted to mean almost anything the reader wishes it to mean. To more nearly understand what Sun Tzu was attempting with his essay requires the kind of in-depth scholarship that Giles included in the original imbedded commentary. Without the accompanying detailed explanations, the bare translation is very limited.

To overcome both objections to the various editions of "The Art of War" you should consider also buying a second copy of the Giles translation that contains the complete commentary. Another alternative would be to get the 2005 edition that contains both versions in one volume: "The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition."

This is worth reading for historical value.

This particular book has a lengthy introduction that focuses on the history of Chinese warfare, and actually takes up most of the book.

This is a 99 page book, and the Sun Tzu's text is actually only in pages 40-99. The rest is the introduction that I mentioned.

The introduction is very mediocre. It reminds me of if you were to type "Chinese Warfare" into google, and read the first page that comes up. It's probably going to be good, but you're probably better off buying an actual book about it.

This book is short enough that you can read the 40 pages of text just going to the library. I wouldn't buy it unless you really want to study it.

I bought this book because I heard that it has applications to business. There really aren't any direct applications to business. This is a book written to a general of a Chinese army on how to win a battle.

I'm sure that you can draw inferences to anything from business to scrapbooking, out of it, though. For me, all I think it did was improve my Age of Empires game.