Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by kris_mccracken
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
4.0
A blast from the past! Written in the 6th century B.C., The Art of War is essentially a combat strategy with additional value in other forms of strategic thinking in competitive contexts. In it, Sun Tzu explores the strategies to engage opponents in order to prevail in difficult situations.
Not so much a treatise on the logistics of warfare, we learn how to succeed by motivating soldiers and leveraging tactical advantages. Having now read it, I get a better sense of why it is regularly used by sports coaches, business executives, and leaders in a host of other contexts.
The secret itself is no great shakes: i. Know yourself. ii. Know your enemy. iii. Only fight when you can win. The translation here is excellent, and despite the gulf in years and cultural context, it remains a thought-provoking, colourful and rather useful book.
If I had to choose a few of Sun Tzu's principles that really stood out to me, I'd have to say the following struck a particular chord:
* Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
* All warfare is based on deception.
* There is no instance of a country having benefited from a prolonged war.
* The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.
* When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.
This is a relatively simple and quick read, but a hugely rewarding one. Highly recommended.
Not so much a treatise on the logistics of warfare, we learn how to succeed by motivating soldiers and leveraging tactical advantages. Having now read it, I get a better sense of why it is regularly used by sports coaches, business executives, and leaders in a host of other contexts.
The secret itself is no great shakes: i. Know yourself. ii. Know your enemy. iii. Only fight when you can win. The translation here is excellent, and despite the gulf in years and cultural context, it remains a thought-provoking, colourful and rather useful book.
If I had to choose a few of Sun Tzu's principles that really stood out to me, I'd have to say the following struck a particular chord:
* Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
* All warfare is based on deception.
* There is no instance of a country having benefited from a prolonged war.
* The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy, and does not require too much from individuals.
* When you surround an army, leave an outlet free.
This is a relatively simple and quick read, but a hugely rewarding one. Highly recommended.