Art of War is almost certainly the most famous study of strategy ever written and has had an extraordinary influence on the history of warfare. The principles Sun-tzu expounded were utilized brilliantly by such great Asian war leaders as Mao Tse-tung, Giap, and Yamamoto. First translated two hundred years ago by a French missionary, Sun-tzu’s Art of War has been credited with influencing Napoleon, the German General Staff, and even the planning for Desert Storm. Many Japanese companies make this book required reading for their key executives. And increasingly, Western businesspeople and others are turning to the Art of War for inspiration and advice on how to succeed in competitive situations of all kinds.Unlike most editions of Sun-tzu currently available (many simply retreads of older, flawed translations), this superb translation makes use of the best available classical Chinese manuscripts, including the ancient „tomb text“ version discovered by archaeologists at Linyi, China.Ralph Sawyer, an outstanding Western scholar of ancient Chinese warfare and a successful businessman in his own right, places this classic work of strategy in its proper historical context. Sawyer supplies a portrait of Sun-tzu’s era and outlines several battles of the period that may have either influenced Sun-tzu or been conducted by him. While appreciative of the philosophical richness of the Art of War, this edition stresses Sun-tzu’s practical origins and presents a translation that is both accurate and accessible.

12 Top Lessons From The Book

1. “The wise warrior avoids the battle.”
2. “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.”
3. “Who wishes to fight must first count the cost”
4. “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
5. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
6. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity”
7. “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”
8. “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”
9. “It is easy to love your friend, but sometimes the hardest lesson to learn is to love your enemy.”
10. “Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”
11. “Disorder came from order, fear came from courage, weakness came from strength.”
12. “Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”