Selected Product:
| The Art of War (Shambhala Classics)
Paperback
Author: Sun Tzu
Publisher: Dover Publications
Release Date: 2002-11-13
ISBN-10: 0486425576
ISBN-13: 9780486425573
List Price: $4.95
Average Customer Rating:
  | |
The Prince (Bantam Classics)
ISBN-10: 0553212788
ISBN-13: 9780553212785
List Price:$4.50
The Communist Manifesto (Penguin Classics)
ISBN-10: 0140447571
ISBN-13: 9780140447576
List Price:$8.00
The Book of Five Rings
ISBN-10: 1590302486
ISBN-13: 9781590302484
List Price:$6.99
Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy
ISBN-10: 0517415283
ISBN-13: 9780517415283
List Price:$9.99
On War (Oxford World's Classics)
ISBN-10: 0199540020
ISBN-13: 9780199540020
List Price:$12.95
|
To use our price comparison to get the cheapest price, please click on the "Find the Cheapest Price" button located above for The Art of War (Shambhala Classics) by Sun Tzu (ISBN-10: 0486425576, ISBN-13: 9780486425573).
At this time we have not yet written a review for The Art of War (Shambhala Classics) by Sun Tzu (ISBN-10: 0486425576, ISBN-13: 9780486425573). Please continue to keep checking back to this page as we are constantly adding reviews.
Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Widely regarded as "The Oldest Military Treatise in the World," this landmark work covers principles of strategy, tactics, maneuvering, communication, and supplies; the use of terrain, fire, and the seasons of the year; the classification and utilization of spies; the treatment of soldiers, including captives, all have a modern ring to them.
Less utility than later works.
| Customer Rating:  | The Art of War is overrated in relation to more recent works, notably The Prince, On War, and The Book of Five Rings, and many Roman and Greek texts could be mentioned, for differing reasons.
The Prince was written during the tumult of the cultural and linguistic formation of early Italy (as opposed to the distinctive Roman society before it). This makes it, in my humble view, more valuable than Art of War and comparable Roman texts because the personality of the time period is closer to ours, and there isn't such a problem with translating concepts.
Indeed, there is significant evidence that there was no Sun Tzu and that The Art of War is an amalgamation of the knowledge of more recent (within the past 2-3,000 years) Chinese militar officers and/or philosophers. This possible fact breaks down the continuity of the book, if one can sense much continuity to begin with.
In short, (1)if you're looking to feel naughty by reading demonized and selfish and militaristic writings to enhance executive stature, look at The Prince.
(2)If you want to read up on more contemporary attempts at codifying war relations, particularly in the state system, try On War by Clausewitz. An inexpensive book with many of the highlights of On War is printed by Sweet Water Press (2006). That would be a natural place to start if you want to work with the original text.
(3) The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, written 400+ years ago, provides a very good account of inner and outer struggle in the samurai tradition. More substance in this than in Art of War. My mind goes to some of the things in Five Rings while dealing with personal relationships. |
Not just for generals
| Customer Rating: | | This is a book of strategy for psychological warfare--it helps you tackle the battles you face every day. One of the biggest themes is how to win a fight *before* it actually starts. If only our current government and military leaders had followed the wisdom of "The Art of War"... |
Art of war
| Customer Rating: | Great book, I want to buy the full version. Has good principals to follow. I think our military should read it too. They might get something done.
Overall 5 starts +++ |
Must reading for every future President
| Customer Rating: | I bought this on a whim but quickly came to understand that if the President had read this text, we would not be involved in the type of war we are fighting.
|
|
