The Art of War
Books | History / Military / General
3.5
(1.3K)
Sun Tzu
Preserved in China for more than 2,000 years before it was brought to the West by the French, this compact little book is widely regarded as the oldest military treatise in the world. Rumored to have been used by Napoleon in his campaigns to conquer Europe, it today retains much of its original merit. American officers read it closely during World War II. The Japanese army studied the work for decades, and many 20th-century Chinese officers are said to have known the book by heart. More recently, it has also been viewed as a valuable guide to competing successfully in business.Stressing the importance of attacking your enemy when he is unprepared and scheming to discover his plans, the author advises avoiding the strong and striking at the weak, and using spies for every kind of business. Principles of strategy, tactics, maneuvering, and communications, the treatment of soldiers, the importance of strong troops and well-trained officers, and the administration of rewards and punishments all have a modern ring to them.A valuable guide to the conduct of war, this classic of military strategy is indispensable to military personnel, history enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by competition and rivalry.
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More Details:
Author
Sun Tzu
Pages
96
Publisher
Courier Corporation
Published Date
2012-03-07
ISBN
0486130614 9780486130613
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"This book was a disappointment for me. I didn't think there was anything particularly novel about what Sun Tzu wrote and it seemed all very obvious and straightforward. Maybe my reading was too superficial, but I fail to see any further depth in this work. I'll give the Art of War three stars for "timelessness" - nothing is blatantly dated. But I suppose that common sense doesn't change much over the millenia anyways..."
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