The Art of War by Sun Tzu Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Art of War
Book Review: An incredible translation of a most important work...
Summary: 5 Stars
Indeed, I am heartened to read one reviewer lambasting the general critical acceptance of "The Art of War" as "flowery". Unfortunately, most Westerners see Chinese philosophy as little more than yoga meditation and interior decoration. Of course, this is not the case.Take, for example, Sun's "Art of War". Here is a man sick of watching ancient Chinese warlords wage war in a sloppy, haphazard fashion (more as a social tradition than anything else), wasting their populace's resources and lives. Thus, Sun writes a magnum opus discussing the proper means of waging war, from gaining the support of the people to clearly articulating goals to ensuring success of well-trained armies in short and long campaigns all the way to the minute details of using fire (even setting other people on fire). Far from the flowery rhetoric of most Western diatribes on Taoism and Buddhism and (enter your favorite Chinese term here), the Art of War is at once simple and immediate, which is why it has survived for 2500 years.
Griffith's translation of this work is masterful as well. Included are many of the commentaries of the ancient scholars (including, for you Three Kingdoms fans, copious amounts of Cao Cao), which show how Sun's text was used in various situations, both in war AND peace). Also, he includes an excellent introduction which places the work in its historical context and speaks of Mao Zedong's use of its precepts. Also are five appendices, one of which contains the other famous Art of War, that of Wu. I was particularly surprised at his none-too-flattering comments regarding the Japanese understanding of this work (truthfully, I think that too many people see the art of war in the Gordon Gecko, "Rising Sun" business sense), particularly in pointing out their blunders during WWII.
All in all, reader, you will be hard-pressed to find a better translation of this seminal work.
Book Review: An outstanding and relevant review of world sucess tactics.
Summary: 5 Stars
Whether it is in business, personal life or self discipline, Sun Tzu's seminal work is immensly relevent for self advancement. One of the few 'philosophy' books without the undigestable philosophy. Brilliant.Book Review: Ancient Chinese General's Military Philosophies!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Art of War is one of the most worthwhile books that I have set my eyes upon. This is a masterpiece that may serve as a guide to many problems faced in our own surroundings. Ralph D. Sawyer, who wrote a new translation to General Sun-tzu's military philosophies, helps readers understand the mind of Sun-tzu. I felt that this book was a guide to approach problems in everyday life and how to conquer many situations with a thoughtful mind-set. "A Must Read" book for anyone, due to its way of speaking to the auidience. It is the words of Sun-tzu as if he had handed you his personal manuscript to read for yourself. "Read this book, you will not be disappointed."Book Review: Ancient wisdom well translated.
Summary: 4 Stars
I am at a loss as how to review this book. Having a background (i.e. a BA) in history, I was reading it as an historical text, and not a guide as to how to run a business. However, since a hammer can crack a coconut as well as drive nails, I think I will progress. Secondly, and separately, there is an old adage that says, "Plato is easier to understand than the Platonists," which illustrates the idea that these old texts, unlike the commentators on the texts, are not mysterious or esoteric, but quite easy to understand.I think out the outset, an understanding of "TAO," and its supplementary doctrine of "mandate of heaven" need to be clarified. "Tao," in a word means the "Way," or the proper course of things. It is roughly equivalent to the Greek "Zoe," which means the correct and proper lifestyle. The idea is living one's life in accordance to the morality of the universe. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition we call this "Natural Law." The idea of "Tao," and all of these, is to bring one in accordance, or "at one," with the moral force of the universe.
That "at-one-ment" with the universal morality is the key to a leader's power, whereby he would have "the mandate of heaven." This is the Asian equivalent of "the divine right of kings." The idea was in doing the proper thing in the proper to achieve success.
Sun-tzu's philosophy is supple. As a contrast, Sun-tzu is the exact opposite of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Sun-tzu embodies that Asian patience and restraint that we all admire, while Sherman was more or less a Rambo on speed. It is, odd, therefore that so many business men would find the good Chinese general's philosophy so appealing, since it runs counter to current cooperate culture-back stabbing, "more, more-faster, faster!," and human sacrifices to the Almighty Dollar. If this book can restrain some of the out of control Enron greed, then it is worth the trouble of reading.
If anything, this book is novel in that it provides a "softer" approach to war, or anything else. Sun-tzu advocates strategy, disinformation as a tool, and the rather novel idea that you use an army as a last resort. But if the army is to be use, fight the battle quickly, severely, and with full force. This is a lesson I hope the Department of Defense is heeding, since in our current war on terrorism, the world is in the balance.
This translation is readable, and it includes the ancient commentaries on Sun-tzu's work, since I think it is crucial that we understand the work as the ancients understood things. C. S. Lewis in his book "God in the Dock," has an essay entitled "On Reading Old Books," where he points out that each age has its own assumptions and presuppositions about things, and that it is in the area of these assumptions that the real intellectual work takes place.
The introductory chapters are priceless, and put the book in its historical context-past, present, and future. The section on Mao's and the Soviet's use of this book was quite interesting. This edition also has Wu chi's "Art of War," which is more of a Taoist approach to war, and includes religious practices, such as divining. It provides an excellent counterpoint to Sun-tzu's work.
I would recommend reading this book with Lao-tze's "Tao Te Ching," Confucius's "Analects," and Machiavelli's "The Prince." The first two books help round out Asian culture, religion, and philosophy that are indispensable for getting the subtleties and details of "The Art of War." "The Prince" is included, because fighting a war and maintaining a state are two totally different projects. Take Alexander the Great as the greatest example: he conquered the land from Macedonia to India, but after his death, his empire split into three kingdoms. Machiavelli illustrates some techniques for maintaining a state. Actually, for a really interesting book on success, and how to be successful AND moral, I would recommend the humble "Book of Proverbs" conveniently found in you Bible. Proverbs is ancient wisdom, like "Art of War," or Tao Te Ching," but we frequently for get it, since familiarity breeds contempt!
In the final analysis, a book is only good insofar as it opens up your mind and causes you to reevaluate things, which this book does.
Book Review: Art of War
Summary: 4 Stars
This book would be good to read if you are looking to learn something. If you are just pleasure reading, this would be a book to stay away from. "The Art of War", is basicly a text on how to fight a war in ancient Chinese times. Many of it's teachings can be applyed to our world today. It can give you an edge in sports, business, and actial war.