 [Larger view] | The Art of War
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| How to run a war or Business | |
| Sun Tzu "The Art of War" was excellent. This book is a great book on strategy. Whether you command a nations army, war games or a moderen business. If the reader uses some of these war tactics and strategies in the modern world, they may find it easy to relate. Thus it is easy to relate to this book. Even rivals in sports and entertainment can be outwitted by the wisdom in this book. It also adds examples of some actions, which show how these sayings and writings apply to the real world. So no matter what you were looking for in this book, whether it be business, sports, war games, or actual wars, you can be sure to learn more on how to best deal with the situation through the strategies in this book. The book is timeless....and should be required reading for all persons. | |
| A play only for pros | |
| The Art Of War, divided in 13 small chapters and in richly illustrated edition,is the second most important book ever written on how to wage a successfull war, only losing the first place to Clausewitz'On War. According to legend, it was due to the reading of a French version of the book from the Chinese philosopher turned general Sun Tzu that the great Napoleon had all the credits of his many victories. Whenever he did not apply the books precepts, also according to legend, he lost his bet and paid in human lives and shame. An English version was only available in the beginning of the 20 century, now digested, commented and explained by the James Clavel, author of the famous book Shogun and Gaijiin, just to name a few of his works. It is also said of this wonderfull small book that very few texts like it had so overwhelming a power to change things on human affairs, be them wars or business battles for competitive turf. But the conciseness of the text is fully intentional, alluding to the objectiveness Sun Tzu demanded from orders given by commanders to troops. A word less or a word more, and victory is in jeopardy and many lives were to be lost. In my opinion, the most important chapter of the book is the one covering the importance of the use of spies, something that is prevalent in world politics and in the business world. I liked also when he somehow alludes to a certain solitariness in victory, something akin to managerial solitude. This is certainly one of the best books ever to be written on the subject and I hope you enjoy it. | |
| An excellent book for anyone interested in strategy | |
| I first read Sun Tzu "The Art of War" when I was 25 years old. What I found most useful about this book is the whole concept (Chinese/eastern) of "winning without fighting is best." This is how we were defeated in Vietnam, by Vietnamese communist forces who had been heavily influenced by Mao Tse Tung's ideas on communist guerilla warfare. And much of Mao's ideas on warfare was based upon Sun Tzu. Many westerners have trouble conceptualizing this "winning without fighting" mentality...its truly Chinese. To most Americans and Westerners...this is abstract thinking. But very intelligent thinking. In Vietnam, America militarily dominated yet lost the war because of divisive and conflicting attitudes on the homefront. America won most physical battles in Vietnam, yet still lost due to the loss of political support for the war at home. This is PURE Sun Tzu "winning without fighting is best" strategy. The negative experience of Vietnam lasted a long time after the official end of the conflict as well, thus aiding communist objectives of winning without directly militarily confronting the West if at all possible. The negative Vietnam experience created a lot of internal division within the United States and this was an intended strategy of the Asian communists. PURE Sun Tzu! This book will help you understand how the communists wished to defeat the west, not thru direct physical military confrontation but thru the "winning without fighting" mentality which IMO most Americans still cannot comprehend. And probably never will be able to, as its a purely Asian approach to war. The opposite of Sun Tzu would be Clausewitz's "On War." |
