This short book takes a primer approach to being a general and leader in "war". I can't see how it would be an essential element of turning anyone into a successful general. You can learn most of the basic lessons presented by Sun Tzu by playing "war" or "cowboys & indians" in the mountains of Pennsylvania. If you had a deprived childhood (your Mom & Dad kept guns away from you and did not allow you to play "violent" childhood games), I recommend you read the book and pay attention to basic tactics and the value of planning and using all available resources. Because it is short and instructional it should be a quick read and worth your time (even if you read it only to satisfy your curiosity). I was a bit disappointed, given the hype of the book. The general repeats himself and often makes a big deal of the obvious. If you want to become the next General Macarthur or General Patton, make better use of your time and look elsewhere. If you think there is a need for another Napolean type, then maybe this would be a good start. If you are still curious, have the time, & a couple of bucks, buy it and read it.

I have saw Art of War for the first time in my firends house, it was a coniderably big book and the accounts in it were told by stories.
This book is more like a manual, i just has bullet points of wisdom, not the rich content of storytelling and parables..
That is not to say it isnt good, it like it.

So if you are looking for a nice short version and are looking simply for the heart of the matter, this is your book.

Had read it before. Good but as a pocket version it didn't have translation notes.

Don't waste your money on this. The translation is clumsy, the layout is horrible, and it isn't even the complete book. Buy Thomas Cleary's translation.

Excellent! Timeless advice from a tactical master, is easily translated into the realm of corporate strategy. A must have for everyone who wants to climb the corporate ladder!

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

A classic and a perfect gift for any young person just accepted by one of our outstanding military academies. Not a good book for "lefties".

IM A 20Y ARMY MAN LIKE MY DAD AND ANCESTORS,I WISH I HAD READ THIS MANY YEARS AGO.I GAVE IT TO MY DAD WHEN I READ IT.

I bought the book anticipating a concise, un-frilled version of the classic. Upon opening to the first page, I immediately found a typo. Thereupon I soon found several errors in translation and overall poor publishing.

A WASTE OF MONEY.

WHAT A RIP OFF!!!!!! they should call it spark notes on the art of war.
this is not the book written by sun zu! It is only someones notes on the art of war.
If you want to read the art of war this is not the book you want to get.

I have heard about this book for years and I am glad to now have a copy. It is a simple translation but a clear one making understanding this thinking...

One of those books everyone who works in a competitive environment needs to read. You can apply the teachings of war to circumstances in the work place

This is not the full works of Sun Tzu, but an outline version. Kind of like cliffnotes. However, the book isn't bad for a quick read to get the basic idea of Sun Tzu's writings.

This book on War is much like the Prince - you can wage war for good or evil.

The Prince is a 'how to' book for evil Princes - and if you don't believe me, read your history.

One of the best books I read after this one was about the family that Machiavelli consulted for and wrote the Prince for and about, the Borgia's. Its an example of The Art of War

Check it out: Machiavelli's Disciple: The True Story of the Borgia Pope

Machiavelli's Disciple: The True Story of the Borgia Pope

You will be astounded!

The Art of War is timeless information. The rules are a plus in business and personal outlook. I recommend it.

This book is required reading for anyone interested in military history. It's very short, but to the point. It paints the profile of a "Godlike" commander. I've read it several times already. Good read.

Great book, from beginning to end very good book. I would recommended to everyone to read it would not regret it.

I would have to say this book makes one of my top ten list as the best books of all time.

A great book but there are tons of better editions on Amazon. This one is far better and cheaper, too:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U0PB7Q

You would think Mobi could at least make a little effort to make the book readable on the Kindle.

Just google "the art of war" and you get the full text of the translation by Giles - it's in public domain.

This book is a classic! I bought and read this book out of curiosity. It seems to me some of our recent contemporary U.S. "commanders" should have read this book before starting the Iraq war and taken its advise. This book is filled with strategy regarding conflict. Some of the content is obviously way outdated.

It's a classic that you can read in under an hour. One of the best books I have read. Simple, basic, and a great strategy foundation. I refer to it all the time. Great book from a historical standpoint, but certainly is a great asset in business.

I admit it. I fell for the fad of the day. Doesn't happen to me usually. I bought this book when Sun Tzu was everywhere: "Sun Tzu and the Art of War in Business", "The Art of War in Gardening", "Sun Tzu on Child-Rearing". O.K. I made those up. But you remember don't you?
It's interesting reading if you are a military historian. I enjoyed it in that respect. If you are a military history buff, and want to put this information in the time and context in which it was written, you will do well. But don't buy this book thinking it is anything more than that. There is no hidden knowledge in Sun Tzu that will make you a better banker or businessman.
Trust me.

This book unfortunately seems to have been published before it was ready, as other reviewers also note.

The elementary error on the Table of Contents page (with Chapter IX [9] appearing between Chapter IV [4] and Chapter V [5]) suggests no professional proofreader or editor involved. The other spelling, grammatical, and content errors that appear in the text suggest that the material is a largely unchanged Project Gutenberg text file: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/132

All in all, the publisher should really release a second edition that fixes the myriad easy to find errors. Particularly since this book is obviously selling well and the publisher ought therefore have the funds with which to do so.

In the meantime, a comparable edition at the same price (but properly proofread and corrected) is the Pax Librorum edition: The Art of War which is fully downloadable/previewable via a PDF eBook at the publisher's website. Or just about any other one from more well-known and established publishers.

Dear Customer Service: Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy the teachings of one of the Chinese Great Thinkers and enjoy their rich history.

Few of the classics have that timeless quality that a reader finds enduring. The Art of War is one of those, with its wisdom and lessons in how to predict what your enemies will do, and common-sense advice on how to avert disaster.
This book has long been a favorite of business executives and entrepreneurs, and I highly recommend its wisdom to anyone in the present day who is trying to make their way in an uncertain and unpredictable world economy. This is an easy to read book suitable to people from any walk of life. Arm yourself with it and use it wisely.

Pam Harrison
[...]

The Art of War
Tags: strategy, leadership, military science, military strategy, warrior, sun tzu, war, exalted inspiration, fantasy

This is indeed a great book, then the ancient Chinese might not fully know what to do in warfare.

But now this book as well as too many other books tells us only what to do, does not tell us how to do.

The issue of how to do is perhaps the most difficult point in any activity.

The book was in great shape, just like new. Product was received in a timely fashion. I am very pleased with the service i received. Great job!
Kristin

This is just the cliffnotes to the book. This is not the actual book. Also, very poorly published.

While this book is barely 70 pages long, the classic strategies in it are concise and valuble, quite timeless. The book was written 2500 years ago as a basic primer on strategy - and has withstood the test of time. It won't take long to digest the book - but that gives you more time to implement its strategies. There are sections on strategies, planning maneuvers, deception, etc., Together with Robert Green's book on Strategy it is a fine combination.


Michael Mandaville, Author of the upcoming "Citizen Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways For Every American To Fight Terrorism"

The book was very interesting. It really made look at issues in a totally different light. I love this book.

This is the BEST book on strategy that has ever been written! This book is timeless. I have seen strategies from this book utilized in business and politics. It does not take long to read, but has a wealth of information.

This book is great. If you have a enemy you want to take down or a solider about to go to battle, this is the book for you. It tells you everything you need to know about how to win.

While this book is barely 70 pages long, the classic strategies in it are concise and valuble, quite timeless. The book was written 2500 years ago as a basic primer on strategy - and has withstood the test of time. It won't take long to digest the book - but that gives you more time to implement its strategies. There are sections on strategies, planning maneuvers, deception, etc., Together with Robert Green's book on Strategy it is a fine combination.


Michael Mandaville, Author of the upcoming "Citizen Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways For Every American To Fight Terrorism"

This is a classic text that I have never read before. It is so interesting to see the perspective that it offers and the applications and relevance that it has today. A book that is remarkable in it's simplicity and expression of common sense. It makes me wonder how and where we've lost our way.

The Art of War and other Laws of Power from MobileReference
User friendly Table of Contents. EZ access and navigation. This is a very good digital item!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1A5ADU0XK2GHR This is a magnificent book that tells as much about psychology as it does military strategy.

I thought this would be the full edition. What I received was a condensed version with excerpts. Not at all what I expected.

i will probably buy another text with interpretation of the original, as i would like an opinion of how it applies to real life and or business life, and strategies.

The translation is clumsy and needs improvement. Copy editing is sloppy. Numerous typos, misspellings, punctuation, and format errors. Serves as a cheap option, but would not recommend it for anyone seeking a quality copy to add to their collection or library.

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.

Interesting read for those following the Iraq War and those who are interested in drawing parallels with the corporate world.

If you know anything about the Art of War it's from quotations taken out of context that seem to say something and seem to be profound. The idea is that actual war is a metaphor for the conflicts that one encounters in life and that the advice and tactics are just as applicable.

Not really.

This is a book about medieval Chinese warfare and by and large most of it is about precisely that, maybe ninety five percent. If you want to find out how to get good at business, read a business book. And if you want to get good at life, maybe get a self-help book. If you are mostly interested in the history of the era, this is it.

This book has much wisdom for today even though it was written so long ago. I was able to draw many parallels not only to the war situation of today, but also to the business world as well. I will admit that there were times that I thought the book was communicating more than I was receiving. While it is a short book, for the full impact to be felt, it is one that needs to be taken slowly and in short bursts in my opinion. Since the wisdom has transcended time, it truly is a classic.

This edition was published by Filiquarian Publishers and from a publishing perspective, this book appears to have been designed in a basic Word processing program. Shoddy, shoddy, work. Lacks creative design, weak choice of fonts, inconsistent spacing, erroneous punctuation symbols, etc. Additionally, one of the chapters was out of order. I'm speculating that the publisher didn't know how to read roman numerals and therefore placed the chapter incorrectly, and if they did, and there was a purpose for this, it should have been addressed in the non-existent introduction. The content of the book is fine, just buy an edition by a an established publisher rather than someone working from their basement.

This will go down as one of the all time great works by the human race. Excellent insight to the tactics in war and life. This needs to be a mandatory reed for kids in high school.

The Art of War (Book and Audio-CD Set)
The Art of War - has many valuable lessons that transcend time. The one quote that is very interesting is: "It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."

This book should be studied by every new Executive within an organization. Suggestion: Substitute the word 'enemies' with the word 'opponents'.

info@orrconsulting.us

The Art of War (Book and Audio-CD Set)
The Art of War - has many valuable lessons that transcend time. The one quote that I repeat to myself on a weekly basis is: "It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."

This book should be studied by every new Executive within an organization.

Ms. Vashti Horvat
info@orrconsulting.us

This is a good reference guide for the teachings of Sun Tzu. Straight and to the point.

A great book, adapted and translated directly from the initial writing itself. As a result, the text gets right to the point. No fluff, filler, or individual interpretation; just the meat and potatoes, the way this type of book should be. Substitute: tanks for "chariots" and guns for "spears" and the book is easily adaptable in todays modern world.