abrar22's review against another edition
4.0
Takeda Shingan, famous Japanese military leader had this battle standard called, FURINKAZAN, which means fast as the wind, silent as a forest, ferocious as fire and immovable as a mountain. He was invincible in all battles. Guess how he achieved that? Because of studying this book!
Before starting, I thought it's outdated(since written 2500 years ago) and had a litany of chinese military strategies. But I was so engrossed after reading the first chapter which ends with these lines, " If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle ". I think I will reread this soon again and quote lines in every situation like a pseudo intellectual reader.
Before starting, I thought it's outdated(since written 2500 years ago) and had a litany of chinese military strategies. But I was so engrossed after reading the first chapter which ends with these lines, " If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle ". I think I will reread this soon again and quote lines in every situation like a pseudo intellectual reader.
rebecanunez's review against another edition
3.0
Interesante. Nunca lo había leído, pero siempre me llamo la atención. Es cierto que si bien habla de la guerra, tiene otras aplicaciones. Hay conceptos que son un poco de sentido común, pero verlos complicados igualmente tiene otro valor.
sbenzell's review against another edition
4.0
Second reading of this short and intriguing classic continues being rewarding. Some observations:
>the sayings clearly anticipate the concept of a mixed strategy Nash Equilibrium (eg do what your enemy doesn’t expect u to do, and deceive them into the opposite — it’s clear that the equilibrium of both sides doing this is the MSNE)
>having ready Han Fei since my first read, I now notice more Sun Tzu’s suspicion of and (somewhat?) adversarial relationship with his officers and troops much more. Sun shares Han Fei’s insistence on keeping the strategy secret even from ones own men — a concept foreign to western ideas of independent small - unit decentralized decision making, which have proven themselves so successful since first being popularized by German ‘storm troopers’ during WWI —- another aside: isn’t it funny how Star Wars uses storm troopers as bumbling fools with little tactical acumen, given that their premise is the opposite? Maybe this has to do with how the term was abused under the nazi regime —- that says Sun Tzu does recommend treating new recruits with humanity at first to build a personal relationship between retreating into distant strict discipline encorcement
> one difference between the new audible translation and my previous one were the names for different types of “ground”. My favorite is the type where your soldiers will be forced to fight to the death (ofc, Sun tzu recommends trapping your own troops in this position some times). This translation calls it “desperate ground” while my previous one called it “death ground” which is much more badass.
>the sayings clearly anticipate the concept of a mixed strategy Nash Equilibrium (eg do what your enemy doesn’t expect u to do, and deceive them into the opposite — it’s clear that the equilibrium of both sides doing this is the MSNE)
>having ready Han Fei since my first read, I now notice more Sun Tzu’s suspicion of and (somewhat?) adversarial relationship with his officers and troops much more. Sun shares Han Fei’s insistence on keeping the strategy secret even from ones own men — a concept foreign to western ideas of independent small - unit decentralized decision making, which have proven themselves so successful since first being popularized by German ‘storm troopers’ during WWI —- another aside: isn’t it funny how Star Wars uses storm troopers as bumbling fools with little tactical acumen, given that their premise is the opposite? Maybe this has to do with how the term was abused under the nazi regime —- that says Sun Tzu does recommend treating new recruits with humanity at first to build a personal relationship between retreating into distant strict discipline encorcement
> one difference between the new audible translation and my previous one were the names for different types of “ground”. My favorite is the type where your soldiers will be forced to fight to the death (ofc, Sun tzu recommends trapping your own troops in this position some times). This translation calls it “desperate ground” while my previous one called it “death ground” which is much more badass.
moris_deri's review against another edition
3.0
The "wisdom" imparted by this manual is presented in such a dreary fashion it makes my university lecture on Greek philosophy feel like a summer carnival. I found my head dropping on the desk so frequently from the sombre tone. Maybe it's the translation? I should get the original edition and try again. Why not right, when I obviously can understand the Dickinsonian poetry of Zhou Dynasty Chinese. 盡信書不如無書!
In any case, I simper coyly when people say that this is a timeless "art". A lot of the "wisdom" is obviously antiquated, though not through Sun Tzu's inability to read the I Ching or make sense of oracles divined by the carapace of an extinct tortoise.
War is a face that constantly changes its mask, except for the war against islamist terror, which maintains a guerilla, infantry style kamikaze, unperturbed by the pace of civilization and the advent of cyber warfare.
In any case, I simper coyly when people say that this is a timeless "art". A lot of the "wisdom" is obviously antiquated, though not through Sun Tzu's inability to read the I Ching or make sense of oracles divined by the carapace of an extinct tortoise.
War is a face that constantly changes its mask, except for the war against islamist terror, which maintains a guerilla, infantry style kamikaze, unperturbed by the pace of civilization and the advent of cyber warfare.
mark_74's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and War
tamaralgage1's review against another edition
5.0
The title says it all "The Art of War". It reads like a school textbook. But, it is filled to the brim with interesting knowledge. I found it difficult not to let my mind wonder into plans for tomorrow, what to cook for dinner, and friends I have not seen in awhile. This book does not seem to grab and hold your attention (did I mention it reads like a textbook). However, when you are paying attention, the information provided is incredible and I can not help but be impressed with the skill and wisdom of this Chinese General from 409 B.C. . Strategies that were discussed reminded me of various Civil War battles that I read about that were successful. In addition, Sun Tzu, warns of conditions where conflict should be avoided. Yet again, these examples are demonstrated in some of the most bloody battles of the Civil War where no one was a clear winner. Clearly this is a book that should be memorized by our military leaders
Although the book is intended for military battles, I think you can also gain some insight into relationship and strategies for conflict resolutions in the business world. Overall, I have to give this book top marks.
Although the book is intended for military battles, I think you can also gain some insight into relationship and strategies for conflict resolutions in the business world. Overall, I have to give this book top marks.
angelofthe0dd's review against another edition
4.0
This review is for the "Recorded Books" edition. I checked this out of my local library the other day, and the narration is first-class. I thought Joe Montegna added a lot of depth to the material, in a clear voice. There was some additional material following Mr. Montegna's reading, and it was interesting. It was mainly historical background information on the life and times of Sun Tzu.
annikaamethyst's review against another edition
4.0
This book can be condensed into an abridged version that would have kept my attention. 150 pages in and the main character is still in the same conundrum she was in from the very beginning. Every conversation, decision and dream is dragged out into lengthy paragraphs which always ends up describing the importance of the Goddess. It's also too feministic for my taste without any balance between the characters. I gave up after 230 pages.