book review of art of war

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Book Review: The Art of War – Sun Tzu

“The supreme act of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” – Sun Tzu.

Fascinating book, more like a guide to perfection of war. War has been and still is the result of every conflict of humanity. It is quite amazing how advanced and way ahead of his time Sun Tzu was! To have a guide on how to defeat the enemy and for this guide to still be relevant in today’s day and age, that itself is an enormous advantage back in the day!

The book covers, most elegantly, the strategies that one ought to bear in mind for the destruction of the enemy. From the 9 different types of ground, using elements such as fire, earth, water and wind to your advantage, how to trick the enemy with spies (all warfare is based on deception), with perfect manoeuvres, the timely use of a bluff or feigning stupidity, the implementation of the utmost discipline to your soldiers and keeping them satisfied with rewards, the incredible importance that the commander-in-chief’s behaviour has on the army and on victory or defeat, how the mindset of your army changes everything, the use of birds for knowing if an enemy has occupied a certain region, if an army is doomed to certain death, their resolve with be maximum “when there is no escape, soldiers will prefer death to flight.”

Above all, rapidity – that is the essence of war. Taking advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness and making your way by unexpected routes, attacking undefended or less defended spots. Like the thunder which is heard before you have time to stop your ears against it. Plus, long delays and long wars is often associated with disaster, with the exhaustion of supplies and decay of the mindset of the solider.

The Art of War is a book attributed to Sun Tzu, who is revered as a legendary historical military figure, as well as a philosopher, and whose real name is Sun Wu. The name Sun Tzu is actually an honorary title meaning “Master Sun”.

Although the historicity of Sun Tzu is doubtable, and the book may very well have been a compilation of several scholars – we still have the privilege of possessing one of the first and most profound books ever written on strategy and war, whose principles are still used to this day due to the their importance.

The Art of War is not only concerned with modern warfare, but also spreads and influences the mindset of people in politics, games, and business.

It presents a sort of philosophy, a state of mind or psychology for managing conflicts and winning battles. It is closely tied to the philosophy of Taoism, which follows the Tao or “The Way”, the principle of the universe to which everything is connected. It is about Yin and Yang, life and death, action and inaction – which is why the highest victory is one attained without engaging in a fight.

Main Takeaways

Chapter 1. Laying Plans

The soldier must be in complete accord with the ruler, regardless of life and death, undismayed by danger. The commander-in-chief’s behaviour can signify victory or defeat: he must be wise and benevolent, but also sincere and strict.

All warfare is based on deception. If an army is strong it must appear weak, if it is weak, it must appear strong. Feigning stupidity and the timely use of a bluff can greatly increase the chance of victory.

Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating to the enemy’s purpose.

“The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.”

Chapter 2. Waging War

War must be swift. Rapidity is the essence of war. Long delays are associated with disaster, exhausting all the supplies, leading to hunger and the decay of the will to fight of an army.

Therefore, take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness and make your way by unexpected routes, attacking undefended or weak spots. Like the thunder which is heard before the flash of a lightning bolt.

For this, the ruler must implement the utmost discipline, an iron will, into his soldiers and keep them satisfied with rewards, essential for the motivation of the army and for having a purpose of defeating the enemy.

Chapter 3. Attack by Stratagem

The skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting, and he captures their cities without laying siege to them. The enemy should be eliminated strategically, leaving the civilians and city untouched and the men will be rewarded with all the enemy’s supplies.

To win, you must know when to fight and when not to fight and how to handle both superior and inferior forces. Great results can be achieved with small forces.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you’ll succumb in every battle.

Chapter 4. Tactical dispositions

Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.

Chapter 5. Energy

In battle, there are no more than two methods of attack: the direct and the indirect; yet these two in combination give rise to an endless series of manoeuvres.

The direct method may be used for joining battle, but indirect methods will be needed in order to secure victory, attacking the enemy’s flank or rear.

Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

The energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain.

Chapter 6. Weak points and strong

By figuring out the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy, you can be sure of succeeding in your attacks.

Sun Tzu was no believer in frontal attacks, but rather in a combination of surprise tactics such as attacking the weak points of the enemy’s camp, splitting up the enemy’s reinforcements as to weaken their strength in numbers, and luring him so as to find out his vulnerable spots.

In essence, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.

Chapter 7. Manoeuvring

The hardship of forced marches are often more painful than the dangers of battle. Fighting with an exhausted army is a sure way to defeat, therefore – they must be only used when intended for surprise attacks within short distances.

Attack the spirit of the enemy’s army while your army’s spirit is at its highest. This is an effective way to victory.

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”

One thing to mention is not interfere with an army that is returning home. For a man whose heart is set on returning home will fight to the death against any attempt to bar his way, making it too dangerous an opponent to tackle.

8. Variation of tactics

The wise leader considers both advantages and disadvantages and turning a disadvantage into an advantage.

If surrounded by enemies with the only objective of retreating, the adversary will pursue and crush the army. It would be far better to encourage the men to counter-attack and use the advantage thus gained to free them from the enemy’s toils.

The art of war teaches us not to rely on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.

Sun Tzu explains that a general is not to be careless with the welfare of his troops, but rather to emphasise the danger of sacrificing any important military advantage to the immediate comfort of his men.

For there is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. Therefore, the profession of arms requires a combination of hardness and tenderness.

Chapter 9. The army on the march

Be aware of your surroundings. If faced with mountains, do not climb heights in order to fight. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it and deliver your attack when half the army get across. If forced to fight in marshes, have water and grass near you and get your back where there are trees, for the ground is less likely to be treacherous.

The rising of birds in their flight is the sign of an enemy ambush beneath the spot. Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming. And at the same time, if birds gather on any spot, it is unoccupied. This is a useful fact to bear in mind when, for instance, the enemy has secretly abandoned their camp.

Chapter 10. Terrain

With respect to terrain, high and sunny places are advantageous not only for their strategic spot, but also because they are immune from disastrous floods.

If we know that our own men are in a condition to attack but are unaware that the enemy is not open to attack, we have only gone halfway towards victory.

If we know that the enemy is open to attack but are unaware that our own men are not in a condition to attack, we have only gone halfway towards victory.

And if we know that the enemy is open to attack, and also know that our men are in a condition to attack, but are unaware that the nature of the ground makes fighting impracticable, we have still gone only halfway towards victory.

Chapter 11. The nine situations

The art of war recognises different varieties of ground. One which is of great importance is contentious ground, that which if occupied, gives great advantage to either side. So, those in possession of it have the advantage in battle over the other side and victory will be assured.

In A.D. 532, Emperor Shen-Wu was surrounded by a great army, with his force being much smaller. Instead of trying to escape, he made orders to block all exits. As soon as his army saw that there was nothing for it but to conquer or die, their spirits rose to an extraordinary pitch of exaltation, charging with such ferocity that they defeated their enemy.

“Plunge your army into desperate straits and it will come off in safety, place it in a deadly peril and it will survive.”

In other words, throw your soldiers into positions from where there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight.

One of the most brilliant battles was carried out by general Han Xin of the Han dynasty in 204 BC. He detached two thousand horsemen from his army to hide in narrow passages, everyone carrying their flags. Then, he confronted the enemy with his men – while in battle, the horsemen made their move to the enemy’s base, tearing up their flags and replacing them with their own flags, when the enemy returned to their base, the sight of these flags struck them with terror. Convinced that their king had been overpowered, they broke up in wild disorder. Then from both sides, they were attacked and defeated.

The skilful tactician may be likened to the shuai-jan (a type of snake). To strike at its head and be attacked by its tail, to strike at its tail and be attacked by its head, to strike at the middle and be attacked by both head and tail.

Chapter 12. Attack by fire

Another important attack is using fire. The prime object of attacking with fire is to throw the enemy into confusion. When starting a fire near the enemy’s camp, it must be done so on the side facing the wind for it to spread faster.

Chapter 13. The use of spies

Espionage was a common practice, since what enables victory is foreknowledge. That is, knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions, and what he means to do.

However, it is impossible to obtain trustworthy spies unless they are properly paid for their expenses. Hence one must maintain an intimate relation with spies, more than the rest of the army. And none should be more rewarded than the spies, in order to keep the secrets, which have the power of gaining a quick and effective victory.

Spies can be obtained from your own men or your enemy’s men, offering them handsome rewards in return for valuable information. In this way, you will be able to find out the state of affairs in the enemy’s city. Thereby gaining knowledge of the enemy.

Spies are a most important element in war, because on them depends an army’s ability to move. An army without spies is like a man without ears or eyes.

The different measures suited to the varieties of ground, the expediency of aggressive or defensive tactics, and the fundamental laws of human nature, are of vital importance in the Art of War.

Sun Tzu ultimately emphasised the purpose of war to give way to peace and harmony within the society.

“In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death , a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected.” – Sun Tzu

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5 thoughts on “ Book Review: The Art of War – Sun Tzu ”

I found chapter 13 to be an interesting chapter as we generally think of spies in a negative light. But they can help win wars without the fighting. I have used that chapter to teach how empathy works as a “spy” to give us insight into the mind of others and allow us to see how we can help them.

That’s fascinating!! So true, empathy gives us access to the other person’s emotions. Thanks for the comment!

The first non military, plain language Bing-fa. https://shibumimanagementcanada.wordpress.com/2019/05/11/praise-for-the-school-of-sun-tzu/ Conveying the meaning and intent of the original Art of War by Sun Tzu.

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Hi greeat reading your blog

An Insightful New Translation of the Timeless ‘Art of War’

By Dwight Garner

Dec. 23, 2019
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The most electric war plan in semi-recent American literature appears in “A Run Through the Jungle,” a story by the much-missed Thom Jones. Here is that plan in its entirety: “Infiltrate Hanoi, grab Uncle Ho by the goatee, pull off his face and make a clean escape.” Because warfare is rarely so simple, books of strategy are consulted.

The most venerable of these, alongside “On War” (1832), by the Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, is Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War,” written some 2,500 years ago. There have been many translations of “The Art of War,” and a new one, by Michael Nylan, will not be the last. It’s a book that seems perpetually useful because it’s a work of philosophy as much as tactics. Doves and hawks (even vultures) can approach it for meaning. The book suggests that the real art of war is not to have to go to war.

I’ve read Sun Tzu several times, in different translations. I’m not sure why I return to it: It’s short, it’s a classic, it’s there. The book’s lessons in deception seem not to stick with me. In my mind, I’m the least devious person in the world, my motives there for all to see. But that is what a devious person would say, isn’t it?

Nylan is a professor of early Chinese at the University of California at Berkeley, and the author of several well-regarded scholarly works. Her translation is the first in any modern language by a female scholar. (Her first name is no tactical feint, but if it were she would have Sun Tzu’s admiration.)

Sun Tzu’s more recent admirers include Tony Soprano and Bill Belichick. How much they have memorized of “The Art of War,” as opposed to merely name-checking it, is uncertain. A high name can be a fig leaf for low deeds. “You always pull out Swift,” Philip Roth said about satire, “when you’re doing something disgusting.”

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The Art of War

Sun Tzu | 4.14 | 666,932 ratings and reviews

Ranked #1 in Kung Fu , Ranked #1 in Buildings — see more rankings .

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Reviews and Recommendations

We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Art of War from the world's leading experts.

Reid Hoffman CEO/LinkedIn Reid read Carl von Clausewitz and Sun Tzu as a boy, which informed his strategic thinking. (Source)

Evan Spiegel After meeting Mark Zuckerberg, [Evan Spiegel] immediately bought every [Snapchat] employee a copy of 'The Art Of War'. (Source)

Neil deGrasse Tyson Astrophysicist, Author & Science Communicator Which books should be read by every single intelligent person on planet? [...] The Art of War (Sun Tsu) [to learn that the act of killing fellow humans can be raised to an art]. If you read all of the above works you will glean profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the western world. (Source)

Steve Blank Recommends this book

Ryan Holiday Author I know this will offend many strategy purists, but for most audiences I recommend these two books only with a pretty strong disclaimer. While both are clearly full of strategic wisdom, they are hard to separate from their respective eras and brands of warfare. As budding strategists in business and in life, most of us are really looking for advice that can help us with our own problems. The reality is that Napoleonic warfare does not exactly have its equivalents in today’s society. On the other hand, Sun-Tzu is so aphoristic that it’s hard to say what is concrete advice and what is just... (Source)

Virginia LeBlanc Question: What books had the biggest impact on you? Perhaps changed the way you see things or dramatically changed your career path. Answer: The Art of War by Sun Tzu Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, M.D. Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle Divergent series by Veronica Roth A mash up, I know…some simple others profound but just as important, eye-opening, and affirming. These and so many more helped change how I see things, my thinking and being, and helped to understand... (Source)

Boban Dedovic When I was starting my career I wasn’t very even tempered, especially when dealing with people who I believed wronged me. This demeanor wasn’t helpful when I started running my own company because things go wrong every day—it’s just the way of things. I found myself spending lots of time chasing down contractors who didn’t finish work properly, domain squatters...etc. We were planning to initiate legal action against a party who was misusing our copyright when I recalled Sun Tzu’s famous The Art of War, a short read on dealing with military conflict. The book outlined how any conflict should... (Source)

Audrey Russo Question: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path? Answer: Anything by Peter Senge. The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz Once you are Lucky, Twice you are good – Sara Lacey Revolutionary Wealth – Alvin Toffler Black Swan – Taleb Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change, by Ellen Pao. Creative Class – Richard Florida Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull & Amy Wallace Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis American Government 101: From the Continental Congress to the Iowa Caucus, Everything You Need to Know About US Politics – Kathleen Spears The Tao... (Source)

Bernard Tan The “Tao Te King” by Lao Tzu probably resonated with me the strongest, but others like the “Art of War” by Sun Tzu, “Bhagavad Gita” or Zen Buddhist scriptures were also real eye-openers, even for a non-religious person like myself. (Source)

Bill Liao The human world occurs in language so best get good at it! (Source)

Michael Hebenstreit If you want to become an entrepreneur and succeed in a competitive environment, then there are some evergreen books as well, for example: The Art of War by Sun Tzu. (Source)

Robert Hajnal eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_6',164,'0','1'])); Because running is, first of all, a mental sport and you need to learn how to dominate your opponent. (Source)

Steve Sanchez Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote in chapter 6 of his timeless book “The Art of War” about how the successful military leader wins a battle before the fight even begins. Trump knows chap. 6 well; “Art of War” is his favorite book and he fashioned his book “Art of the Deal” after it. https://t.co/R6m64TzcZb (Source)

Dave Camarillo Another [book] I have to mention. (Source)

Antulio Echevarria II It has survived, partly because of the way it was written—as aphorisms or pearls of wisdom regarding how to view strategy or to fight wars. That made it easily transferrable from one historical era to another. (Source)

Foti Panagio Honestly, it’s not really as simple as following a career path, at least not anymore. I’d recommend instead reading books on innovation and leadership because that can give you the confidence you need to blaze your own trail and to take your career as it comes. I’d suggest that a good background reading list would include [...] Art of War by Sun Tzu. (Source)

Gilles Bernhard A classic everyone should read. It only takes a few hours to read as well. It is fun to read, doesn't relate explicitly to business but yet connections with business can be drawn easily. I am sure there are loads of information online about it if you want to really go deep with this book and its lessons! (Source)

Rankings by Category

The Art of War is ranked in the following categories:

#4 in Ancient
#3 in Ancient History
#8 in Art History
#3 in Asian
#12 in Bucket List
#33 in Buddhism
#1 in Business Competition
#30 in Business Management
#4 in Business Planning
#6 in Business Strategy
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#1 in China History
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#1 in Chinese History
#7 in Classical
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#1 in Fencing
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#14 in History
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#13 in Human Physiology
#26 in Humanity
#33 in Important
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#16 in Information
#15 in Intellectual
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#2 in International Business
#4 in International Relations
#1 in Karate
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#13 in Leadership
#29 in Learning
#1 in Leather
#3 in Leather Bound
#18 in Management
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#1 in Martial Arts
#1 in Military
#1 in Military History
#6 in Most Influential
#20 in Negotiation
#32 in Nonfiction
#18 in Organization
#16 in Penguin Classics
#23 in Perspective
#20 in Persuasion
#1 in Philosopher
#3 in Philosophy
#7 in Philosophy History
#4 in Political Philosophy
#2 in Political Science
#6 in Political Theory
#4 in Politics
#2 in Poster
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#28 in Success
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The Art of War Summary (and Quotes) by Sun Tzu

July 14, 2020 By

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is a book nominally about, well, war. It’s kind of deceptively titled though. A more accurate title would be “The Art of Not Going to War Unless You Really Can’t Avoid It And Then Still Avoiding Fighting as Much as Possible.” That’s a bit of a mouthful, so probably best to stick the original, but you get the point.

The Art of War applies to competition and conflict in general, on every level from the interpersonal to the international. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through understanding the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict.

Though it can be abused, war is a helpful metaphor to think about conflict because the stakes for being right are really high. Your company being outcompeted by a competitor stinks, but your country being invaded and decimated and many people dying is like way, way worse so there’s a big incentive to get the strategy right.

The central metaphor of Sun Tzu’s work is water.

A military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape. The ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.”

Genius, in Sun Tzu’s explanation, is to behave like water. Water is strong offensively and defensively. If you are standing in the ocean as the waves come at you, punching or pushing at the wave is a strictly futile effort, the water simply redirects around you to the points where you are weak. You can neither strike it offensively nor resist it defensively. It flows away from where you are strong to wherever you are weak.

When the victorious get their people to go to battle as if they were directing a massive flood of water into a deep canyon, this is a matter of formation. When water accumulates in a deep canyon, no one can measure its amount, just as our defense shows no form. When the water is released it rushes down in a torrent, just as our attack is irresistible.”

Water is at once full of power and empty of form, impossible to attack and impossible to resist. That seems pretty powerful.

This metaphor has been echoed by many other strategists. Bruce Lee when talking about his fighting style famously said :

You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend .”

This is a pretty cool thing to think about but it’s not intuitively obvious to me how I would operate differently in my life or business or investments by “becoming like water.”

As I was reading through The Art of War , I thought of the work of John Boyd, another military strategist most famous for his idea of the OODA Loop . OODA is an acronym standing for:

The OODA loop is often seen as a decision making model, but can be more accurately described as a model of individual and organizational learning and adaptation. It is a model for strategy.

Boyd’s primary focus of study for strategy was the German Blitzkrieg.

Before the Second World War, German generals had gone back and studied earlier military strategists and designed the blitzkrieg style to emulate the maneuver warfare styles of Sun Tzu and Genghis Khan rather than the attrition style of World War I.

World War I had been a long, protracted series of trench warfare. It was less like flowing water and more like banging stones. The Blitzkrieg strategy employed by the Germans was much more fluid.

There were three central concepts to the Blitzkrieg that Boyd studied: Schwerpunkt, Einheit and Fingerspitzengefühl.

Schwerpunkt literally translates as center of gravity or emphasis,

In military terms, it is usually the geographic point of attack.

In non-military terms, it is probably best understood as focus or the main priority. Having a clear focus, and emphasizing that over any particular tactic, empowers those around you to make decisions for themselves instead of having to run everything by you.

Famously, Facebook kept the number of users on huge TV screens around their office for many years. Everyone knew that when they were faced with a decision, they should make whatever decision caused that number to go up.

Einheit translates to something like “mutual trust.”

The German Blitzkrieg commander Heinz Gaedcke explained that one of the essential reasons for the success of the Blitzkrieg was that the German commanders all trusted each other implicitly. They had a relationship where they could look at each other in the eye and know exactly what needed to be done without speaking.

Fingerspitzengefuhl translates literally as a fingertip feeling, but is most easily understood as intuitive skill or intuitive knowledge.

A good military commander that has trained well can pattern match in real time which looks to others like an intuitive feeling for how to manage the battle. The German tank commanders could see where the enemy was weak and know to focus their efforts there. Similarly, good business leaders are able to draw on their experience to know where to focus their effort and resources.

If you have all three of these together, it looks like very much like flowing like water. During the German blitzkrieg (which reached Paris in an astoundingly short time), you had all these factors operating together.

Your commanders have fingerspitzengefuhl, a fingertip feeling, which allows them to sense where a weak point is in the enemy lines pops up. This weak point becomes the schwerpunkt, or center of focus for the German troops. Other troops quickly flow to this weak point because they trust their fellow soldiers (einheit). This lets them break through the enemy lines, forcing the enemy to retreat and regroup.

If you were to look at how these troop movements behaved from a top-down view, it would look a lot like flowing water. Little droplets (small groups of troops) probe each point of the enemy’s lines. When they start to sense a weak point and a small breakthrough happens, water (troops) from elsewhere flow downhill towards the weak point. This causes it to weaken further. Eventually, they fully breakthrough and the rest of the troops flow through the wide hold in the enemy’s lines.

Then the enemy retreats to try and form a new line and the same process repeats. Little probes eventually find a weak point and the rest of the forces flow through. The troops are flowing like water, moving through the enemy lines at the point of least resistance.

From the enemy’s perspective, it is like trying to fight with the ocean. Wherever they strike, you fade away, flowing towards the point of least resistance.

Sun Tzu talks about this in terms of emptiness and fullness. Where they strike, you are empty. But, where you strike, there is fullness that “punches” through.

The outcome of this flowing like water is momentum. When you flow like water, you are going where the momentum takes you and so you have the momentum behind you. Having spent a decade advising and working with hundreds of companies across many different industries, I would say there is basically nothing more important to a company’s success than momentum.

When an army has the force of momentum, even the timid become brave; when it loses the force of momentum, even the brave become timid.

When a company has momentum, it seems like everyone is good at their job. Getting in a habit of winning consistently and following momentum is incredibly valuable. One way to lose momentum is to try and do too much. Often projects get scoped too big and drag on for too long, losing momentum.

Good managers and companies don’t let projects drag on. They seize momentum and ship quickly .

Good companies also cut their losses quickly. If you start an initiative and it doesn’t get momentum fast, get rid of it.

Therefore I have heard of military operations that were clumsy but swift, but I have never seen one that was skillful and lasted a long time.

Speed and momentum are the killer forces in all competitive environments and the notion to “become like water” is about how to get those on your side.

In his 2016 letter to shareholders , Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos gave similar advice:

Most decisions should probably be made with somewhere around 70% of the information you wish you had. If you wait for 90%, in most cases, you’re probably being slow.Plus, either way, you need to be good at quickly recognizing and correcting bad decisions. If you’re good at course correcting, being wrong may be less costly than you think, whereas being slow is going to be expensive for sure.”

In Sun Tzu’s terms, seizing the momentum is more important than being right. If you are wrong, you simply stop that direction and flow towards wherever the weakness is. Water doesn’t know the exact path it will take, it just worries about flowing downhill.

Boyd also focused on the idea of momentum, Getting inside your adversary’s OODA loop is done by executing what he called “fast transients,” WTF moments designed to make your adversary feel trapped in an unpredictable world of doubt, mistrust, confusion, disorder, fear, panic, and chaos.

The “transient” is the change between maneuvers. The ideal fast transient is an abrupt, unexpected, disorienting change that causes the other side to say “What the f**k!”

Boyd was a renowned dogfighter because he would create disorienting, WTF moments by engaging in an unexpected maneuver and by the time the other pilot was able to re-orient, it was too late.

Similarly, good leaders seize momentum. When they see an unexpected source of momentum, they don’t think “that’s not in the plan,” they think “this is the new plan.”

One of the most useful questions I ask myself as part of my weekly review is “What were the 3 biggest wins or unexpected sources of momentum and how can I double down on them.” This is basically the idea of flowing to the point of least resistance, being like water.

I think businesses can copy this idea of being like water by employing Boyd’s ideas of schwerpunkt, fingerspitzengefuhl, and einheit.

Indeed, these are the core jobs of a good leader. The leader looks for the most important focus for the company (schwerpunkt) using their intuitive feeling for the market (fingerspitzengefuhl) and then build a culture of mutual trust (einheit) that enables everyone to work in sync.

The leader also knows when to defer to the fingerspitzengefuhl of their team and let them be the ones that run with something when they have a better fingertip feeling rather than trying to micromanage.

Sun Tzus message is clear: Become like water my friend.

My Art of War Highlights and Notes

(*CAO CAO, MENG SHI, MEI YAOCHEN, WANG XI, LI QUAN, MEI YAOCHEN, MASTER SUN, ZHANG YU, DU MU are all names of commentators adding their own interpretation of the book.)

The physician, whose reputation was such that his name became synonymous with medical science in China, replied, “My eldest brother sees the spirit of sickness and removes it before it takes shape, so his name does not get out of the house.” “My elder brother cures sickness when it is still extremely minute, so his name does not get out of the neighborhood.” “As for me, I puncture veins, prescribe potions, and massage skin, so from time to time my name gets out and is heard among the lords. Note: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but an ounce of cure is more marketable than a pound of cure.

Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small. The most difficult things in the world must be done while they are still easy, the greatest things in the world must be done while they are still small. For this reason, sages never do what is great, and this is why they can achieve that greatness.

The master warrior is likewise the one who knows the psychology and mechanics of conflict so intimately that every move of an opponent is seen through at once, and one who is able to act in precise accord with situations, riding on their natural patterns with a minimum of effort. Note: Calculus of Grit . Should feel easy to you but look hard for them.

The Art of War pinpoints anger and greed as fundamental causes of defeat. According to Sun Tzu, it is the unemotional, reserved, calm, detached warrior who wins, not the hothead seeking vengeance and not the ambitious seeker of fortune. The Tao-te Ching says: “Those who are good at knighthood are not militaristic, those who are good at battle do not become angry, those who are good at prevailing over opponents do not get involved.” Note: Like BJJ, you take what the opponent gives you.

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.”

This is a matter of emptiness and fullness. When there are rifts between superiors and subordinates, when generals and officers are disaffected with each other, and dissatisfaction has built up in the minds of the troops, this is called emptiness. When the civilian leadership is intelligent and the military leadership is good, when superiors and subordinates are of like mind, and will and energy operate together, this is called fullness. Note: Einheit. This is like Dalio’s idea of being in sync. Very important to keep everyone in sync with communication protocols.

When welfare and justice embrace the whole people, when public works are sufficient to meet national emergencies, when the policy of selection for office is satisfactory to the intelligent, when planning is sufficient to know strengths and weaknesses, that is the basis of certain victory. Note: Both Boyd and Sun Tzu focus on System Dynamics. It’s not reductionist, it is about how everything operates together .

In Taoist thought, power was moral as well as material, and it was believed that moral power manifested itself both as self-mastery and as influence over others. To explain the strength of a national defense force, Zhuge writes: This in turn depends on the generals entrusted with military leadership. A general that is not popular is not a help to the nation, not a leader of the army. Note: The most important battlefield is that of public opinion .

Zhuge emphasizes the advantages of unexpectedness and speed, capable of reversing otherwise insurmountable odds: Planning should be secret, attack should be swift. When an army takes its objective like a hawk striking its prey, and battles like a river broken through a dam, its opponents will scatter before the army tires. This is the use of the momentum of an army. Note: Blitzkrieg. Momentum is such a critical component to success.

The simultaneous appreciation of very different points of view is a powerful Taoist technique, whose understanding can resolve contradiction and paradox. The model of the paradox of The Art of War can be seen in the Tao-te Ching, where both ruthlessness and kindness are part of the Way of the sage. “Heaven and earth are not humanistic—they regard myriad beings as straw dogs; sages are not humanistic—they regard people as straw dogs,” wrote the philosopher of the Tao-te Ching. A horrified Western Sinologist working in the 1950s, shortly after the truce in Korea, wrote that this passage had “unleashed a monster,” but to a Taoist this statement does not represent inhumanity but an exercise in objectivity, similar to Buddhist exercises in impersonality. Note: Taoism and Sun Tzu emphasize nebulosity. Same as other religious texts. But they are interpreted as eternalisms.

Certain Taoists regard the Tao-te Ching to be a transmission of ancient lore compiled and elaborated by its “author,” rather than a completely original work, and the same may very well be true of The Art of War. Note: the best content is just summarizing and refining .

The Art of War brings up five things that are to be assessed before undertaking any action: the Way, the weather, the terrain, the military leadership, and discipline.

In this context, the Way (Tao) has to do with civil leadership, or rather the relationship between political leadership and the populace. In both Taoist and Confucian parlance, a righteous government is described as “imbued with the Tao,” and Sun Tzu the martialist similarly speaks of the Way as “inducing the people to have the same aim as the leadership.” Note: Like Boyd, focused on the moral aspect. You have to actually win hearts and minds.

The opening statement of The Art of War introduces the three main facets of the warrior’s art: the social, the psychological, and the physical. Note: In a business context, marketing’s the social and psychological and it builds up the physical which is product related, but it can shape the battlefield/marketplace. Musk is good at this.

Considerable attention is devoted to the importance of conservation of energy and material resources. Note: Run lean .

When victory is won, Sun stresses that it should be complete, to avoid the expense of maintaining an occupation force. Note: It’s kind of a systems thinker guide to war. Most people just think about battles or campaigns but there are all these forces around that which influence the outcome and by mastering those, the leader becomes more effective.

The topic of the fifth chapter of The Art of War is force, or momentum, the dynamic structure of a group in action. Here Master Sun emphasizes organizational skills, coordination, and the use of both orthodox and guerrilla methods of war. He stresses change and surprise, employing endless variations of tactics, using opponents’ psychological conditions to maneuver them into vulnerable positions. Note: Very OODA , emphasizing constantly changing to what the conditions are giving you.

The essence of Sun Tzu’s teaching on force is unity and coherence in an organization, using the force of momentum rather than relying on individual qualities and talents: “Good warriors seek effectiveness in battle from the force of momentum, not from individual people.” Note: Momentum is so important. Like schwerpunkt, einheit and fingerspitz – together those let you get and keep momentum, you flow into the enemies weak points as anyone can detect them with fingerspitz and then they trust each other with einheit.

Conserving one’s own energy while inducing others to dissipate theirs is another function of the inscrutability so highly prized by the Taoist warrior: “The consummation of forming an army is to arrive at formlessness,” says Master Sun, for then no one can formulate a strategy against you. At the same time, he says, induce opponents to construct their own formations, get them to spread themselves thin; test opponents to gauge their resources and reactions but remain unknown yourself. In this case, formlessness and fluidity are not merely means of defense and surprise, but means of preserving dynamic potential, energy that could easily be lost by trying to hold on to a specific position or formation. Master Sun likens a successful force to water, which has no constant form but, as the Tao-te Ching notes, prevails over everything in spite of its apparent weakness: Sun says, “A military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape. The ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius.” Note: Kind of like Calculus of Grit . The organization should flow towards whatever the market get Ives it. Effectuation – given what we have, what are the best opportunities in the market. It is the opposite of high modernism.

Be prepared, and you will be lucky.”

Yinyang principles on which they are based, that of reversion from one to the other at the extremes. Note: Yin and yang are about how extremes revert to each other. The far left and far right blend together .

Do not stop an army on its way home. A surrounded army must be given a way out. Do not press a desperate enemy.”

The I Ching says, “The sovereign uses three chasers, letting the game ahead escape,” and “if you are too adamant, action is unlucky, even if you are right.” Note: Give the enemy a way out so they do not feel that they have to fight. Give your competitors somewhere to pivot so they don’t have to compete directly.

Persist too intensely at what is currently beyond your depth, and your fidelity to that course will bring misfortune, no gain.”

Note: Always move just one step away, enlarge your circle of competence but slowly.

Although Master Sun never dismisses the weight of sheer numbers or material might, here as elsewhere there is the strong suggestion that social and psychological factors can overcome the sort of power that can be physically quantified: “In military matters it is not necessarily beneficial to have more, only to avoid acting aggressively; it is enough to consolidate your power, assess opponents, and win people, that is all.”

A government should not mobilize an army out of anger, military leaders should not provoke war out of wrath. Act when it is beneficial to do so, desist if not. Anger can revert to joy, wrath can revert to delight, but a nation destroyed cannot be restored to existence, and the dead cannot be restored to life.”

Note: Don’t compete out of jealousy or anger, do so when advantageous .

The Art of War was evidently written during the so-called Warring States period of ancient China, which lasted from the fifth to the third century B.C.E. Note: Contemporary with the fall of Greece .

Master Sun has his readers dwell on the ravages of war, from its incipient phases of treachery and alienation to its extreme forms of incendiary attack and siege, viewed as a sort of mass cannibalism of human and natural resources. With this device, he gives the reader an enhanced feeling for the significance of individual and social virtues espoused by the humanitarian pacifists. From this point of view, it is natural to think of the Taoist thread in The Art of War not as a random cultural element, but as key to understanding the text at all of its levels. By the nature of its overt subject matter, The Art of War commanded the attention of people who were less likely to pay serious mind to the pacifistic teachings of the classical humanists. Note: Appealing to warriors with a title but advocating for war as last result. Sell them what they want and give them what they need.

The five things are the way, the weather, the terrain, the leadership, and discipline. Note: The way is culture, the weather and terrain are market forces, leadership is the same and discipline is operations. The better culture in the better market with better leadership and ops will win.

The Way means inducing the people to have the same aim as the leadership, so that they will share death and share life, without fear of danger. Note: schwerpunkt and einheit .

Leadership is a matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage, and sternness.

Reliance on intelligence alone results in rebelliousness. Exercise of humaneness alone results in weakness. Fixation on trust results in folly. Dependence on the strength of courage results in violence. Excessive sternness of command results in cruelty. When one has all five virtues together, each appropriate to its function, then one can be a military leader.

Discipline means organization, chain of command, and logistics. Note: Ops is so important .

Structure depends on strategy; strategy is determined according to events.

When they are fulfilled, be prepared against them; when they are strong, avoid them. DU MU – If the enemy’s government is fulfilled—meaning that there is mutual love between the rulers and the ruled, there is clarity and trustworthiness in the system of rewards and punishments, and the soldiers are well trained—then you should be on guard against them. Do not wait for a clash to make your preparations. When the enemy’s military is strong, you should avoid them for the time being, waiting until they slack off, watching for an opening to attack. Note: Take what they give you .

Use anger to throw them into disarray. Note: Get inside their OODA loop, let them get angry and overconfident.

Use humility to make them haughty. Note: To your competitors, you want to be humble. To your customers, confident .

Tire them by flight. Note: Don’t engage directly, come from the side .

Cause division among them.

The one who figures on victory at headquarters before even doing battle is the one who has the most strategic factors on his side. Note: When you have a big asymmetric payoff like a battle or war, you want to be six sigma prepared .

When you do battle, even if you are winning, if you continue for a long time it will dull your forces and blunt your edge; if you besiege a citadel, your strength will be exhausted. If you keep your armies out in the field for a long time, your supplies will be insufficient. Note: Guerilla forces understand this. They force the occupiers to engage for too long. Don’t let projects drag on. Seize momentum. Ship quickly.

When your forces are dulled, your edge is blunted, your strength is exhausted, and your supplies are gone, then others will take advantage of your debility and rise up. Then even if you have wise advisers you cannot make things turn out well in the end. Note: Cut your losses quickly. If you start an initiative and it doesn’t get momentum fast, get rid of it .

Therefore I have heard of military operations that were clumsy but swift, but I have never seen one that was skillful and lasted a long time. Note: Speed kills. Speed and momentum seem like big themes.

Those who use the military skillfully do not raise troops twice and do not provide food three times. Note: Raise money and morale and win quickly. Else do not go. Lack of momentum drags everything down.

When a country is impoverished by military operations, it is because of transporting supplies to a distant place. Transport supplies to a distant place and the populace will be impoverished. Note: Stay near your circle of competence. If you overextend, you will lose .

Therefore a wise general strives to feed off the enemy. Each pound of food taken from the enemy is equivalent to twenty pounds you provide by yourself. CAO CAO – Transportation of provisions itself consumes twenty times the amount transported. Note: What is biz equivalent? Drafting off their marketing?

Where there are big rewards there are valiant men. Note: Show how everyone will benefit and make money .

Change their colors, use them mixed in with your own. Treat the soldiers well, take care of them. CAO CAO – You change their colors to make them the same as your own, you use them mixed in with your own so as not to leave them to their own devices. Note: Poach from your competitors but mix them in with your team so as not to have a faction.

The important thing in a military operation is victory, not persistence. CAO CAO – Persistence is not profitable. An army is like fire—if you don’t put it out, it will burn itself out. MENG SHI – What is best is a quick victory and a speedy return. MEI YAOCHEN – In all of the above-mentioned, it is important to be quick. If you are quick, then you can economize on expenditures and allow the people to rest. Note: Speed and quick wins is a major theme here.

The general rule for use of the military is that it is better to keep a nation intact than to destroy it. It is better to keep an army intact than to destroy it, better to keep a division intact than to destroy it, better to keep a battalion intact than to destroy it, better to keep a unit intact than to destroy it. CAO CAO – If you raise an army and penetrate deeply into your opponent’s territory, keeping on the move, blocking the space between the inner stronghold and the outer city walls, cutting off communications between inside and outside, then if the opponent surrenders completely, that is best. If you attack destructively and take a nation by force, that is a lesser accomplishment. Note: Very OODA, moral and psychological fronts are the most important .

If you make it clear what is to be rewarded and what punished, make your directives reliable, keep your machines in good repair, train and exercise your officers and troops, and let their strengths be known so as to overcome the opponent psychologically, this is considered very good. Note: If you are fully prepared and show strength then no one will want to fight. That is the best victory. Make it seem like you are destined to win.

Therefore one who is good at martial arts overcomes others’ forces without battle, conquers others’ cities without siege, destroys others’ nations without taking a long time.

If you are equal, then fight if you are able. If you are fewer, then keep away if you are able. If you are not as good, then flee if you are able. CAO CAO – If your forces are equal to those of the enemy, even if you are good you should still set up ambushes and surprise attacks to prevail over them. Otherwise, be defensive and do not engage in battle, or if outmatched, take your soldiers and run away. Note: Never let pride or anger cause you to fight a superior force. Always operate from strength or hide your time until you become strong.

So there are three ways in which a civil leadership causes the military trouble. When a civil leadership unaware of the facts tells its armies to advance when it should not or tells its armies to retreat when it should not, this is called tying up the armies. When the civil leadership is ignorant of military affairs but shares equally in the government of the armies, the soldiers get confused. When the civil leadership is ignorant of military maneuvers but shares equally in the command of the armies, the soldiers hesitate. Once the armies are confused and hesitant, trouble comes from competitors. This is called taking away victory by deranging the military. WANG XI – To get rid of these problems, it is necessary to delegate unbridled authority, so it is imperative that officers who are to be generals be both loyal and talented. Note: There is a big advantage to being centralized and acting fast so you need to delegate authority and let people make decisions. Wartime CEOs have to be all powerful to make the company survive .

So there are five ways of knowing who will win. Those who know when to fight and when not to fight are victorious. Those who discern when to use many or few troops are victorious. Those whose upper and lower ranks have the same desire are victorious. Those who face the unprepared with preparation are victorious. Those whose generals are able and are not constrained by their governments are victorious. These five are the ways to know who will win. Note: Be careful about what fights you engage in. Don’t use too many or too few resources. Have a cohesive culture, schwerpunkt and inherit. Prepare adequately. Delegate decision making and don’t run democratically .

JIA LIN – The movements of the armies must adapt to the situation on the spot—nothing causes more trouble than trying to run them from behind the lines. Note: Delegate authority down the chain .

If you know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know others but know yourself, you win one and lose one; if you do not know others and do not know yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

Invincibility is a matter of defense, vulnerability is a matter of attack. CAO CAO – For an invincible defense, conceal your form. When opponents attack you, then they are vulnerable. Note: Very BJJ, you let them act first and take whatever they give you .

Those skilled in defense hide in the deepest depths of the earth, those skilled in attack maneuver in the highest heights of the sky. Therefore they can preserve themselves and achieve complete victory.

Defense here means lying low when you do not see any effective way to attack, sinking into stillness and recondite silence, not letting opponents find you out. Attack is for when you see an advantage to aim for. On the attack you should be extremely swift, taking advantage of unexpectedness, wary of letting opponents find you out and prepare against you. Note: Most of the time, you are low key looking for opportunities and probing. Then when you see the weak point, you go full force, like water flowing.

Everyone says victory in battle is good, but if you see the subtle and notice the hidden so as to seize victory where there is no form, this is really good. Note: One of the themes is really taking time to think through things, see what the enemy and market and terrain is giving you .

The victories of good warriors are not noted for cleverness or bravery. Therefore their victories in battle are not flukes. Their victories are not flukes because they position themselves where they will surely win, prevailing over those who have already lost. Note: A lot of this is about risk reduction and ergodicity. Take what is given to you and live to fight another day. The first rule of war is to survive .

Therefore a victorious army first wins and then seeks battle; a defeated army first battles and then seeks victory. CAO CAO – This is the difference between those with strategy and those without forethought. Note: Only engage if you know you can win .

The rules of the military are five: measurement, assessment, calculation, comparison, and victory. The ground gives rise to measurements, measurements give rise to assessments, assessments give rise to calculations, calculations give rise to comparisons, comparisons give rise to victories. Note: Basically OODA. You win in the orientation phase .

When the victorious get their people to go to battle as if they were directing a massive flood of water into a deep canyon, this is a matter of formation. DU MU – When water accumulates in a deep canyon, no one can measure its amount, just as our defense shows no form. When the water is released it rushes down in a torrent, just as our attack is irresistible. Note: The water metaphor feels so apropos here. Like water seeping into the Earth’s crust. Though it looks solid, by seeking out the holes and nooks and crannies, the water descends.

When the speed of rushing water reaches the point where it can move boulders, this is the force of momentum. When the speed of a hawk is such that it can strike and kill, this is precision. So it is with skillful warriors—their force is swift, their precision is close. Their force is like drawing a catapult, their precision is like releasing the trigger. Note: Speed and precision are the factors he emphasizes. The water metaphor throughout is interesting .

When an army has the force of momentum, even the timid become brave; when it loses the force of momentum, even the brave become timid.

Getting people to fight by letting the force of momentum work is like rolling logs and rocks. Logs and rocks are still when in a secure place, but roll on an incline; they remain stationary if square, they roll if round. Therefore, when people are skillfully led into battle, the momentum is like that of round rocks rolling down a high mountain—this is force. DU MU – Roll rocks down a ten-thousand-foot mountain, and they cannot be stopped—this is because of the mountain, not the rocks. Get people to fight with the courage to win every time, and the strong and the weak unite—this is because of the momentum, not the individuals. Note: If you have a company with momentum and hire people then they will do good. It brings out the best in people .

Those who are first on the battlefield and await the opponents are at ease; those who are last on the battlefield and head into battle get worn out.

Therefore good warriors cause others to come to them and do not go to others. Note: You want to have confidence and pick a strong position to fight from .

If you make opponents come to fight, then their force will always be empty. If you do not go to fight, then your force will always be full.

So when opponents are at ease, it is possible to tire them. When they are well fed, it is possible to starve them. When they are at rest, it is possible to move them. CAO CAO – You cause them trouble with some affair, you cut off their supply routes to starve them, you attack what they like and appear where they will go, thus causing opponents to have to go to the rescue. Note: Guerilla warfare, you don’t attack directly, you gnaw at the sides. Biz equivalent is disruptive innovation? Starting with something that seems small and unimportant that they have to deal with like smaller microchips .

To advance irresistibly, push through their gaps. To retreat elusively, outspeed them. Note: Blitzkrieg. Use the four forces to flow like water through their lines .

When you are on your home ground and are well supplied compared to the number of soldiers you have, while opponents are on alien territory and have little food compared to their number, then it is to your advantage not to fight. If you want to be sure opponents will not dare come to do battle with you even though you are not heavily fortified, let them see a setup that confuses them and deflects their course. For example, when Sima Yi was going to attack Zhuge Liang, Zhuge took down his flags and put away his battle drums, opened the gates, and swept the road. Yi suspected an ambush, so he withdrew his forces and fled. Note: Jujitsu. Make it feel like a trap .

When you are concentrated into one while the opponent is divided into ten, you are attacking at a concentration of ten to one, so you outnumber the opponent. Note: Focus. Schwerpunkt. Concentrate your energies.

Your battleground is not to be known, for when it cannot be known, the enemy makes many guard outposts, and since multiple outposts are established, you only have to do battle with small squads. CAO CAO – When your form is concealed, the enemy is in doubt, and so divides up his company to be on guard against you. This means that enemy groups are small and easy to hit. Note: Don’t let your enemies know where to attack you or where you are focusing. Give the appearance of doing many things while only focusing on one internally.

So when the front is prepared, the rear is lacking, and when the rear is prepared the front is lacking. Preparedness on the left means lack on the right, preparedness on the right means lack on the left. Preparedness everywhere means lack everywhere.

DU YOU – This means that when troops are on guard in many places, they are perforce scattered into small bands. Note: Companies get scattered and work on too many things at once and that makes them weak. Focus.

Therefore victory in war is not repetitious but adapts its form endlessly. Note: Non-ergodic . Like markets, warfare is made up of people adapting, you must constantly change as the environment changes.

Military formation is like water—the form of water is to avoid the high and go to the low, the form of a military force is to avoid the full and attack the empty; the flow of water is determined by the earth, the victory of a military force is determined by the opponent. LI QUAN – How can you ensure victory if not on the basis of the enemy’s own posture? A light brigade cannot hold out long, so if you keep it under siege it will inevitably lose; a heavy brigade will unfailingly respond to a provocation and expose itself. If the opposing army is angry, shame it; if the army is strong, get it to relax. If the opposing general is proud, humiliate him; if the general is greedy, bait him; if the general is suspicious, spy on him right back—therefore the manner of victory is determined according to the enemy. Note: Like BJJ, you have to go where they let you, take what is open, flow like water to the opportunity and arrive there with great momentum .

A military force has no constant formation, water has no constant shape: the ability to gain victory by changing and adapting according to the opponent is called genius. Note: An investment strategy has no constant makeup, it must adapt. War and markets are similar in that they are people competing against others so they are fundamentally about human psychology. They are different in that war is zero-sum and markets are not .

Struggling for an advantage fifty miles away will thwart the forward leadership, and as a rule, only fifty percent of the soldiers make it. Struggle for an advantage thirty miles away, and two out of three get there. So an army perishes if it has no equipment, it perishes if it has no food, and it perishes if it has no money. Note: Play on your home ground where you have an advantage and make sure you have adequate resources. You are best off fighting smaller forces and consolidating over time to take on bigger ones. Strive for ergodicity , more important to avoid losses than to get gains .

Cymbals, drums, banners, and flags are used to focus and unify people’s ears and eyes. Once people are unified, the brave cannot proceed alone, the timid cannot retreat alone—this is the rule for employing a group.

Therefore the rule for military operations is that if you can stir up the soldiers of all ranks with a common anger, then no one can stand up to them. Therefore, when opponents first come and their energy is keen, you break this down by not fighting with them for the time being. Watch for when they slump into boredom, then strike, and their keen energy can be taken away. Note: It is more about the mental and emotional state of the army than the physical. Like markets, buy when they are slow .

Using order to deal with the disorderly, using calm to deal with the clamorous, is mastering the heart. DU MU – Once your basic mind is settled, you should just tune and order it, making it calm and stable, undisturbed by events, not deluded by prospects of gain. Watch for disorder and clamor among the enemy ranks, then attack. Note: When you are leading then your mental state matters a lot so you need to keep things in a good place. Meditation, good routine, etc .

Do not stop an army on its way home. LI QUAN – When soldiers want to go home, their will cannot be thwarted. MEI YAOCHEN – Under these circumstances, an opponent will fight to the death. MASTER SUN – A surrounded army must be given a way out. CAO CAO – The ancient rule of the charioteers says, “Surround them on three sides, leaving one side open, to show them a way to live.” Note: Always give competitors a way out or they will fight harder and may win .

If you can change with the momentum of forces, then the advantage does not change, so the only ones who get hurt are others. Therefore there is no constant structure. If you can fully comprehend this principle, you can get people to work. Note: Not too tight, not too loose. You must know when to press and when to pull back. For every time, there is a season .

Therefore there are five traits that are dangerous in generals: Those who are ready to die can be killed; those who are intent on living can be captured; those who are quick to anger can be shamed; those who are puritanical can be disgraced; those who love people can be troubled. CAO CAO – Those who are brave but thoughtless and insist on fighting to the death cannot be made to yield, but they can be struck by ambush. Note: Every general has a weakness, you must discover and exploit it while recognizing your own.

Good generals are otherwise: they are not committed to death yet do not expect to live; they act in accord with events, not quick to anger, not subject to embarrassment. When they see possibility, they are like tigers, otherwise, they shut their doors. Their action and inaction are matters of strategy, and they cannot be pleased or angered. Note: For everything, there is a season. There is a time to be long vol and a time to be short vol. Avoid ideology. Fingerspitzengefuhl – you must know when the time is right.

Fight going down, not climbing up.”

Note: Engage when you have the momentum .

Those whose words are humble while they increase war preparations are going to advance. Those whose words are strong and who advance aggressively are going to retreat. CAO CAO – If his emissaries come with humble words, send spies to observe him and you will find that the enemy is increasing his preparations. ZHANG YU – When emissaries come with strong words, and their army also moves ahead, they want to threaten you, seeking to retreat. Note: People posture in inverse to their position. Being calm means you seem like you are operating from a position of strength .

JIA LIN – A large group striking a small group is not held in high esteem; what is held in high esteem is when a small group can strike a large group. Note: There is a moral component too. It can be good to be the underdog because it causes others to come to your aid and the enemy to not fight as hard .

If soldiers are punished before a personal attachment to the leadership is formed, they will not submit, and if they do not submit they are hard to employ. WANG XI – If feelings of appreciation and trust are not established in people’s minds from the beginning, they will not form this bond. MASTER SUN – If punishments are not executed after personal attachment has been established with the soldiers, then they cannot be employed. ZHANG YU – When there are underlying feelings of appreciation and trust, and the hearts of the soldiers are already bonded to the leadership if punishments are relaxed the soldiers will become haughty and impossible to employ. MASTER SUN – Therefore directs them through cultural arts, unify them through martial arts; this means certain victory. CAO CAO – Cultural art means humaneness, martial art means law. Note: Not too tight, not too loose. Kind of radical candor. You wNt to be their friend but you also need to push them .

One advances without seeking glory, retreats without avoiding blame, only protecting people, to the benefit of the government as well, thus rendering valuable service to the nation. Note: Leave military matters to military people. Make the best decision for the company at large not what the board tells you .

Look upon your soldiers as beloved children, and they willingly die with you. LI QUAN – If you treat them well, you will get their utmost power.

If you are so nice to them that you cannot employ them, so kind to them that you cannot command them, so casual with them that you cannot establish order, they are like spoiled children, useless. Note: He uses this children analogy a lot. You want to be radically candid with your kids too .

According to the rule for military operations, there are nine kinds of ground. Note: Maybe terrain is market conditions?

The condition of a military force is that its essential factor is speed, taking advantage of others’ failure to catch up, going by routes they do not expect, attacking where they are not on guard. Note: All about speed .

So a skillful military operation should be like a swift snake that counters with its tail when someone strikes at its head, counters with its head when someone strikes at its tail, and counters with both head and tail when someone strikes at its middle. ZHANG YU – This represents the method of a battle line, responding swiftly when struck. A manual of eight classical battle formations says, “Make the back the front, make the front the back, with four heads and eight tails. Make the head anywhere, and when the enemy lunges into the middle, head, and tail both come to the rescue.” Note: Like water, you take whatever they give you. Flow with the path of least resistance.

Therefore those skilled in military operations achieve cooperation in a group so that directing the group is like directing a single individual with no other choice. Note: Einheit

The business of the general is quiet and secret, fair and orderly.

He can keep the soldiers unaware, make them ignorant. Note: You don’t reveal your strategy to employees. You paint a vision of victory but strategy and tactics stay with the executives .

When a leader establishes a goal with the troops, he is like one who climbs up to a high place and then tosses away the ladder. When a leader enters deeply into enemy territory with the troops, he brings out their potential. He has them burn the boats and destroy the pots, drives them like sheep, none knowing where they are going.

Employ the entire armed forces like employing a single person. Employ them with actual tasks, do not talk to them. Motivate them with benefits, do not tell them about harm. MEI YAOCHEN – Just employ them to fight, don’t tell them your strategy. Let them know what benefit there is in it for them, don’t tell them about the potential harm. Note: Explain a clear goal, schwerpunkt. Give them tasks to get there. Be clear about the benefits of victory.

A major military operation is a severe drain on the nation and may be kept up for years in the struggle for one day’s victory. So to fail to know the conditions of opponents because of reluctance to give rewards for intelligence is extremely inhumane, uncharacteristic of a true military leader, uncharacteristic of an assistant of the government, uncharacteristic of a victorious chief. So what enables an intelligent government and a wise military leadership to overcome others and achieve extraordinary accomplishments is foreknowledge. Note: If you know more about the opponent, they are easy to outcompete. Knowledge is valuable and worth paying for.

Last Updated on July 15, 2020 by Taylor

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Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” stands as a quintessential work on military strategy and tactics, its relevance undiminished despite being composed in the 5th century BC. Over centuries, it has profoundly influenced a diverse array of leaders, from the tactical genius of Napoleon to the revolutionary fervor of Mao Zedong, underscoring its timeless applicability. The treatise, although ancient, remains a critical reference point for modern military strategists and leaders beyond the battlefield, reflecting a philosophy of pragmatism, strategic patience, and an astute understanding of human nature and politics.

The text’s brevity and precision are among its most striking features. Each of the thirteen chapters is meticulously crafted, delivering profound insights in a concise, almost aphoristic style. This conciseness, a hallmark of classical Chinese literature, ensures that every sentence carries weight and every principle is articulated with clarity and purpose. Sun Tzu’s teachings emphasize flexibility, deception, and the importance of understanding both oneself and one’s adversary—a lesson encapsulated in his famous adage, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”

A recurring theme in “The Art of War” is the preference for strategy over brute force. Sun Tzu advocates for achieving victory with minimal conflict, echoing the philosophy that war should be a last resort and that the true skill of a commander lies in winning without fighting. This principle is exemplified in his statement, “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” This idea resonates with the modern emphasis on diplomacy and psychological warfare, where the aim is to outmaneuver opponents through superior strategy and the exploitation of weaknesses rather than through direct confrontation.

Sun Tzu’s philosophical underpinnings further distinguish “The Art of War.” Despite his role as a military advisor, Sun Tzu exhibits a profound aversion to war, advocating for its use only when absolutely necessary. He underscores the destructive nature of war and the irreversible consequences it brings, cautioning against the perils of ego and emotion in decision-making. This anti-war stance, combined with his strategic insights, renders the text not just a manual for military operations but a guide for ethical leadership and wise governance.

The text’s structure, divided into thirteen succinct chapters, each addressing a distinct aspect of warfare, makes it accessible and practical. The clarity with which Sun Tzu presents his strategies—often through analogies to natural elements like water and fire—demonstrates a deep understanding of both the physical and psychological landscapes of conflict. This approach ensures that “The Art of War” remains relevant not only to military leaders but also to anyone involved in strategic planning, from business executives to political leaders.

Sun Tzu’s influence extends far beyond the realm of military strategy. His insights into human behavior, leadership, and strategic thinking have been adopted by leaders in various fields, demonstrating the universal applicability of his principles. The text’s emphasis on adaptability, the importance of information, and the value of strategic positioning are principles that have found resonance in fields as diverse as business, sports, and personal development.

The universal appeal of “The Art of War” lies in its fundamental understanding of conflict and strategy, applicable to any competitive or adversarial situation. Sun Tzu’s assertion that “all warfare is based on deception” reflects a keen insight into the nature of competition, where success often depends on one’s ability to mislead and outmaneuver opponents. This principle, when applied beyond the battlefield, underscores the importance of innovation, psychological insight, and strategic foresight in achieving success.

How is the art of war still relevant to the current world?

Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” remains highly relevant in the contemporary world, its principles resonating across various domains beyond traditional military strategy. The core tenets of adaptability, strategic planning, and understanding human behavior offer valuable insights for modern leaders in business, politics, sports, and personal development.

In the business world, “The Art of War” is frequently cited for its strategic wisdom. The concept of knowing both oneself and one’s competition to achieve victory is directly applicable to corporate strategy. For instance, tech giants like Apple and Google continuously analyze market trends, competitor strategies, and internal capabilities to maintain their competitive edge. Sun Tzu’s emphasis on flexibility and adaptation is evident in how companies pivot their business models in response to market changes, such as Netflix’s transition from DVD rentals to streaming services, ensuring they remain relevant and dominant in their industry.

Political leaders also draw from Sun Tzu’s insights. The idea of winning without fighting is particularly pertinent in international relations and diplomacy. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a strategic battle of wits, known as the arms race, where both sides sought to outmaneuver each other without engaging in direct conflict. This strategic positioning helped prevent a potentially catastrophic nuclear war. In more recent times, China’s Belt and Road Initiative can be seen as a strategic move to expand its influence through economic and infrastructural investments rather than military aggression, aligning with Sun Tzu’s principles of indirect strategy and long-term planning.

In conclusion, Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” transcends its historical and cultural origins to offer enduring wisdom on strategy, leadership, and the nature of conflict. Its concise and profound insights continue to inspire and guide leaders across various domains. As a seminal work on strategy and human behavior, “The Art of War” remains a vital resource for understanding and navigating the complexities of competition and conflict in both ancient and modern contexts. The text’s timeless relevance and applicability ensure that it will continue to be a cornerstone of strategic thought for generations to come.

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The art of war, by sun zi (also written in english as sun tzu), recommendations from our site.

“It has survived, partly because of the way it was written—as aphorisms or pearls of wisdom regarding how to view strategy or to fight wars. That made it easily transferrable from one historical era to another.” Read more...

The best books on Military Strategy

Antulio Echevarria II , Military Historians & Veteran

“Sun Tzu, a Chinese general 26 centuries ago, tells us: “If you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss.” That is the mission of intelligence. We can build all the billion dollar spy satellites we want – and we do – but to know your enemy is to talk to him in his own language. That is the job of spies, and that is what The Art of War teaches.” Read more...

The best books on The US Intelligence Services

Tim Weiner , Journalist

“Sun Tzu is completely outside the whole Western way of looking at politics and at states. For him, war was an art and an art being practised by generals, by individual commanders…He regards war as a sort of chess, one which could be played by all kinds of players against one another. He powerfully influenced Mao Zedong and developed a way of looking at war, which was then use by Mao Zedong first against the Japanese and then against his rivals.” Read more...

The best books on War

Michael Howard , Military Historians & Veteran

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The Art of War by Sun Tzu

The book in three sentences.

Know when to fight and when not to fight: avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak. Know how to deceive the enemy: appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Know your strengths and weaknesses: if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

The Art of War summary

This is my book summary of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. My notes are informal and often contain quotes from the book as well as my own thoughts. This summary also includes key lessons and important passages from the book.

“According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”
“All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. When using our forces we must seem inactive. When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.”
“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
“If he is superior in strength, evade him.”
“Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.”
“The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”
“There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.”
“A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own.”
“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
“The worst strategy of all is to besiege walled cities.”
“There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win who’s army is animated by the same spirit throughout all it’s ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”
“In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.”
“In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.”
“An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”
“You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”
“Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”
“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.”
“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”
“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”
“It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”
“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.”
“Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.”
“If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.”
“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”
“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.”

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The Art of War

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 21, 2018 | Original: April 23, 2010

Sun Wu, style name Changqing, better known as Sun Tzu or Sunzi, was an ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who is believed to have authored 'The Art of War', an influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Sun Tzu's 'Art of War' grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society, and his work has continued to influence both Asian and Western culture and politics.

“The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.” So begins The Art of War, a meditation on the rules of war that was first published in China. Historians don’t know the exact date of the book’s publication (though they believe it to be in the 4th or 5th century); in fact, they don’t even know who wrote it! Scholars have long believed that The Art of War’s author was a Chinese military leader named Sun Tzu, or Sunzi. Today, however, many people think that there was no Sun Tzu: Instead, they argue, the book is a compilation of generations of Chinese theories and teachings on military strategy. Whether or not Sun Tzu was a real person, it’s clear that “he” was very wise: The Art of War still resonates with readers today.

The Mystery of Sun Tzu

For generations, scholars have been trying to figure out who Sun Tzu was–if he existed at all. Legend has it that he was a Chinese military leader in an era known as the Spring and Autumn Period. This was a time of great turmoil in China, as many vassal states vied for power and control of the country’s unpopulated territories. Under these circumstances, Sun Tzu’s skills as a warrior were much in demand.

Did you know? The Art of War became a best-seller in 2001, when television mobster Tony Soprano told his therapist that he’d been reading the book. After that, the book was in such demand that Oxford University Press had to print 25,000 extra copies.

As the story goes, the king of one of the feuding vassal states challenged Sun Tzu to prove his military expertise by turning a harem of royal courtesans into an organized, well-trained fighting force. At first, the courtesans failed to perform their duties; in response, Sun Tzu beheaded two of the king’s favorites in front of everyone. After that, the courtesan armies followed orders perfectly, and the king was so impressed that he put Sun Tzu in charge of his whole military.

Scholars do not know how The Art of War came to be—and whether or not “Sun Tzu,” if he existed, had anything to do with its creation. What they do know is that copies of the book, typically written on sets of sewn-together bamboo slats, ended up in the hands of politicians, military leaders and scholars across China. From there, translated copies of “Sun Tzu’s” work found their way to Korea and Japan. (The oldest Japanese version dates from the 8th century A.D.)

For more than 1,000 years, rulers and scholars across Asia consulted The Art of War as they plotted their military maneuvers and imperial conquests. Japanese samurai, for example, studied it closely. However, it did not reach the Western world until the end of the 18th century, when a Jesuit missionary translated the book into French. (Historians say that the French emperor Napoleon was the first Western leader to follow its teachings.) It was finally translated into English in 1905.

Premises of The Art of War

The Art of War presents the basic principles of warfare and gives military leaders advice on when and how to fight. Its 13 chapters offer specific battle strategies–for example, one tells commanders how to move armies through inhospitable terrain, while another explains how to use and respond to different types of weapons–but they also give more general advice about conflicts and their resolution. Rules like “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight;” “He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces;” “He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks;” “Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men;” and “Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril” can be applied to particular battle situations as well as to other kinds of disagreements and challenges.

The Art of War Today

Ever since The Art of War was published, military leaders have been following its advice. In the twentieth century, the Communist leader Mao Zedong said that the lessons he learned from The Art of War helped him defeat Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist forces during the Chinese Civil War . Other recent devotees of Sun Tzu’s work include Viet Minh commanders Vo Nguyen Giap and Ho Chi Minh and American Gulf War generals Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell .

Meanwhile, executives and lawyers use the teachings of The Art of War to get the upper hand in negotiations and to win trials. Business-school professors assign the book to their students and sports coaches use it to win games. It has even been the subject of a self-help dating guide. Plainly, this 2,500-year-old book still resonates with a 21st-century audience.

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The Art of War | Sun Tzu | Book Review

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Meticulously written with old takes on an otherwise contentious topic like war, written to highlight the multi-dimensional implications of its central topic, The Art of War is a book meant for all levels of readers regardless of whether they are beginners, at an intermediate level, or advanced and voracious book worms.

This book is known well as a timeless classic of East Asian culture and history, but it will not be wrong to say that it is a timely classic abounding in wisdom, advice, and higher-order thinking. The book is bound to make readers ponder over the sayings and wonder at the limitless wisdom that the ancients held in a time when there was little advancement in technology.

It is an ancient Chinese text which is better termed a treatise written by Sun Tzu, who was a 6th-century warrior philosopher. According to traditional historians, there is a consensus that Sun Tzu lived between 544- 496 BC, and apparently, his name at birth was Sun Wu.

The theme of the book as its title suggests is about the philosophy behind fighting the enemy and the politics of warfare, and the strategies that will lead to successful military interventions effortlessly. This has a lot to do with the scientific manner of relaying the ideas that make this text not only informative but also interesting.

The ideas of this book are meant to serve beyond its literal ends of planning and propagating battle strategies, and also include the philosophical side of life and the battles that each individual is bound to face. It is this notion of being at war with the darkness of life to be able to tackle these difficulties and emerge as a victor. The book also serves to ward off the victim mentality and to instill the value of fighting against the odds no matter how bleak the situation and circumstances look.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

It is with this sense of positive outlook that fighting for life becomes an art that Sun Tzu helps the reader to master through his adages. These are more logical tactics and strategic methods that will help boost the reader’s understanding of the backstage situation of war. This book has been so deeply and widely read that almost all global leaders are familiar with it and have drawn extensively from Sun Tzu’s wise sayings.

The text is divided into 13 chapters and all ideas are presented in numbered points. This eases the reading process as readers do not need to skim through lengthy passages and jot down the ideas. It reduces the hassle and does the homework for the reader too. It only asks for attentive reading while the text caters to the thought process of readers by acknowledging and understanding that not all readers have an equal amount of time and attention span.

Hence, the ideas are put forth without too much of instructive guidelines and this leaves room for readers to interpret and make the most of what is being conveyed by Sun Tzu.

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”

Each chapter has a certain theme that is then elaborated in the points noted in the chapter. While fighting with energy and a good tactical plan is important, the emphasis of the text is on the laying down of proper plans that are rational, organised, systematic, and require less impromptu thinking on behalf of the warrior at the battleground.

The concept is that this reduces the risks of going unplanned at war and it transfers full control onto the warrior without letting the enemy or opposition see how well-prepared the troop is.

The text covers almost all the aspects of war and particularly the various areas of a warzone. This includes the importance of the positioning of soldiers and warriors as a part of the military strategy to fool spies and enemy warriors undercover, to the behavior that is expected from warriors, and the counter-treatment of troops in order to have a foolproof dynamic strategy that will lead to a definite victory.

However, the text is not only restricted to the physical aspects of war but also goes in-depth towards the psychology of war and being a warrior. It delves into subjects such as the need for and how diplomacy should be conducted by assuring the proper cultivation of relationships with other states.

The moot point of the text is, in fact, not to go to war with other states but to nip such a situation in its bud and to ensure that war can be avoided through peaceful talks and negotiations. Terse, crisp, and epigrammatic, the teachings of this text remain utterly significant, relatable, and relevant to modern-day readers.

The book is also not too lengthy at hardly 100 pages. It makes this more like a short pamphlet, but one that has a lot of density of thought and requires twice as much attention and dedication in deciphering the wisdom behind these thoughts.

Cannot wait to read it? Buy your copy of The Art of War by Sun Tzu using the link below.

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By: Skott Schoonover, Strategy Analyst | 04/14/2022 |

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The first time I heard those words, I instantly had to find out who said it, and buy the book to find out what else was in it.

Little did I know I was purchasing one of the greatest strategy guides in the history of humanity.

The Art of War was written in the 5 th Century BC by Sun Tzu. While initially written as a literal guide to war strategy, today it has many non-military applications including Business, Sports, and even Relationships. It has 13 separate chapters, each with a focus on a specific aspect of planning for and managing conflict. Many of these are broken down into every individual factor or variable which may occur, and how to prepare for each. It is an all-encompassing guide that accounts for all intricacies and edge cases.

It teaches the value of planning, costing, and assessing the value of a project. It discusses the importance of Creativity, Flexibility, and Contingency Planning. And it emphasizes the necessity of good Information, being Brilliant at the Basics, and Honest Self-Assessment.

What I enjoyed most about The Art of War was that I found it to be more of a Thought-Provoking piece, than an Inspirational Manifesto. While it explains that a great leader will win the hearts of their army, the book does not rely on the emotions of the reader. It does not depend upon the Reader’s adrenaline for impact, but rather shows the value of being able to temper your passion and approach tasks with a clear mind and a well-thought-out plan.

As it pertains to the quote above, I still remember standing in a row of books at Barnes and Noble pouring through those pages and coming across this quote. It was one of those “Aha!” moments where I was introduced to a thought that I hadn’t contemplated before. I realized that things I had used as excuses were actually Areas of Opportunity. The only way to guarantee my own success was to put in the hard work to make self-improvements.

In my opinion, there are helpful pieces of this book that can be applied in almost every situation. If nothing else, I highly encourage everyone to read The Art of War for the myriad of quotes that have inspired people for the past 2,500 years and see which one moves you.

The Art Of War Summary

1-Sentence-Summary: The Art Of War has been considered the definitive text on military strategy and warfare ever since being written in ancient China around 500 BC, inspiring businesses, athletes, and of course generals to beat their opponents and competition the right way until today.

Favorite quote from the author:

Audio Summary

Listen to the audio of this summary with a free reading.fm account:

Here’s a great promotion tip: Whenever you create something, where you draw inspiration from someone else, let them know. For example, I always tweet at the authors of the books I read and write about here, to let them know I wrote something about their work. Sometimes, they share it.

I’m afraid that won’t be possible today because the author of this book died 500 BC. His name is Sun Tzu , and he was a Chinese general, philosopher and military strategist. His book, The Art Of War , is the most influential strategy text in all of East Asia. It is divided into 13 chapters , each dedicated to a different aspect of warfare.

The reason it’s been so popular all around the world is that most of the lessons can be translated directly to other, competitive fields, like sports or business. In order to make it more actionable, we’ll look at it in a business context.

Here are 3 lessons from Master Sun Tzu :

Only enter battles you know you can win.

Deceive your competition to make them do what you want.
Lead your team as if you were leading a single man by the hand.

Are your mental faculties sharpened? Let’s win the battle of business!

If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.

Lesson 1: Only enter battles you know you can win.

Winners know when to fight and when not to fight. Losers always fight and thus often end up losing.

Fools enter battles and then start thinking about how to win. Strategists know how they’re going to win before they even start to battle.

Have you ever thought about the fact that the most skillful fighters often avoid battles and that that’s why they’re never defeated?

Take Bobby Fischer , for instance. The most brilliant chess player of all time instantly retreated, after he won the world championship, not playing again for 20 years.

So if you’re starting a business, look at the industry first. Can you even win against your biggest competitors? And if not, is there a different niche you can fill?

Creating a soda brand to compete with Coca-Cola would certainly be an effort in vain, given that over 1 billion drinks of the brand are consumed every single day .

But maybe you can create a higher-priced, eco-friendly alternative, that targets single mums. That could make a fortune!

Lesson 2: Deceive your competitors to impose your will on them.

Mask strength with weakness, courage with timidity and order with disorder, Sun Tzu says.

A clever army will win not with their bodies, but with their minds .

Making it seem like you’re miles away when you’re close to the enemies base with distractions, or surprise attacking in several places to splinter opposing forces are common tactics in the battlefield.

They’re based on deceit and supposed to make your enemy do what you want them to do .

In business, you can do the same. I’m always baffled to discover insanely profitable and dominating businesses, which, on the front-end, appear like they’re a mom-and-pop store.

Take Appsumo , for example. There’s not much to discover, it seems like a small daily deal site, right?

Here’s the kicker: Appsumo is an 8-figure business. If you have to count, that’s north of $10 million/year. They have over 1 million email subscribers and made $1 million in their first year (2010).

There are endless examples like this one on the web, and this humbleness and modesty are a great way to throw off competitors – even if they might be your default setting, like Noah’s , who’s the founder.

Lesson 3: Lead your team as if you were leading a single man by the hand.

Eventually, your business will need a team. And eventually, that team will have to grow. But as companies get bigger, they get more complex.

Every single human adds an infinite amount of feelings, thoughts and ideas to the business, and all of those have to be managed.

When talking about armies, Sun Tzu says:

“A skilled general leads his army, as if he was leading a single man by the hand.”

Whether you’re managing a big army or a small one, the tools are the same: Break them down into smaller groups and then use clear signals to steer them into the right direction .

In business, that means teams should stay small, 3-4 people are often a good number to cooperate, before things get too complicated.

Then you can set clear signals, like sales targets, tools to use, and a daily morning briefing, to make sure everyone’s on track.

Never forget 1-on-1 interaction with everyone on your team, because if you treat your employees like family, they’ll be just as loyal.

The Art Of War Review

Wow. When I started typing I didn’t know I’d end up here. I have learned a ton about business in the past 50 minutes. Yet, this book is about, well, war.

The Art Of War is absolutely staggering. I thought I’d get a kick out of this, because I’m a big fan of The War Of Art , and just wanted to see where Steven Pressfield came from, regarding the title of his book.

I didn’t expect the advice to be so practical. Brilliant read. I’m not sure the 7 blinks cover all of the 13 chapters, but there are definitely lessons from all of them in there.

Let the blinks inspire you and then take the ideas into an entirely different field. You’ll be surprised how much you learn.

Who would I recommend The Art Of War summary to?

The 21 year old athlete, who wants to go professional in a competitive sport, the 37 year old founder, who just came up with his business plan and is still in the research phase, and anyone who ever had to lead a team, even if it was just in high school.

Last Updated on July 28, 2022

Niklas Göke

Niklas Göke is an author and writer whose work has attracted tens of millions of readers to date. He is also the founder and CEO of Four Minute Books, a collection of over 1,000 free book summaries teaching readers 3 valuable lessons in just 4 minutes each. Born and raised in Germany, Nik also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration & Engineering from KIT Karlsruhe and a Master’s Degree in Management & Technology from the Technical University of Munich. He lives in Munich and enjoys a great slice of salami pizza almost as much as reading — or writing — the next book — or book summary, of course!

*Four Minute Books participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising commissions by linking to Amazon. We also participate in other affiliate programs, such as Blinkist, MindValley, Audible, Audiobooks, Reading.FM, and others. Our referral links allow us to earn commissions (at no extra cost to you) and keep the site running. Thank you for your support.

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The Art of War – Ancient competitive tactics for the modern age

It’s almost a decade since Mark Zuckerberg invited Snapchat CEO, Evan Spiegel to meet him. I’ll assume that most of us would be excited about this invite. But not Spiegel. His response. “I’m happy to meet you…if you come here.” Thereby forcing Zuckerberg to fly Los Angeles to meet (and warn) Spiegel about his new photo sharing app, Poke, that would make Snapchat disappear. Spiegel’s first act on returning was to order a book for all his employees: The Art of War.

Fast forward a few months. Poke’s incredible debut is followed by a dramatic slump, soon followed by a second meeting involving Zuckerberg, Spiegel, and a $3 billion offer to buy Snapchat. An offer that seemed ridiculously good to be true given’s Snapchat’s young age, low revenues, and future uncertainties. And an offer that Spiegel would decline.

It may be unwise to believe that The Art of War held the secret to their triumph over Poke. But it seemed important to Spiegel that his team reads a copy of the text. An indication of its value. And a read will tell you the impact it can have not just in a competitive landscape, but on a personal one as well.

The Art of War – A 2500-year-old Guide for the Modern Age

Originally conceived as a document on military strategy and warfare, Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ remains a guiding text for modern society, over 2500 years after it was first written. One of the world’s oldest known texts on the subject, it is today a highly influential strategic guide in competitive endeavours across politics, sports, legal strategy, business boardroom, and battlefields.

Written for the battleground, its lessons can also be deployed in personal battles faced in a digital era. As opposed to what the title may suggest, The Art of War is not a strategic framework, but a guide. A guide to thinking in critical moments of conflict. And while we all hope and aim to avoid conflicts, they are nevertheless something we must endure from time-to-time. Whether your conflict is external with another individual, or with yourself, the advice this text delivers can be used to develop an approach that ensures you win.

If you avoid conflict to keep the peace, you start a war inside yourself Cheryl Richardson

The Art of War – Or an Art and Way of Life

We’ve been hearing from a very young age that we’re growing up in a very competitive world. Our entire environment growing up in fact was designed to encourage competition. For all the good that the competition does in instilling certain values, competition invariably breeds conflict. Sometimes with the ones we compete against. Sometimes within our teams. And sometimes, within ourselves. Despite what we want to believe, there’s hardly anyone who isn’t faced by these conflicts. They are no longer an avoidable hazard. But very much a part of our lives today. A way of living. And when faced with such battles every day, it wouldn’t be unwise to reach out to a guide in your struggles. In this case, a guide in the form of a centuries-old military strategy text.

Lessons for a Lifetime

Choose your battles “He will win who knows when to fight. And when not to fight.” Just as Sun Tzu urges armies to engage in a battle only when they have a clear advantage, you need to pick your battles in life with a similar approach. Life is largely about choices. Choosing a career path for instance is about choosing where you can make successful moves depending on your skills, and avoiding choices that don’t fit your skills.
Timing is key “The quality of a decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim .” Sun Tzu believed that the outcome of a move on a battlefield depends not only on the of its execution, but also on its timing. While a good strategy and plan is certainly key, its success will also depend on how well it suits a given situation. Don’t rush into anything, without ensuring the conditions favour your move. Consider marketing campaigns for example. Especially in the digital age when you can reach millions, and trends can change within days, if not hours. Your idea needs to be executed at a time when it is relevant.
Know yourself. More importantly, know who you’re against “It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.” Perhaps one of the most important points Sun Tzu makes in The Art of War. Overcoming a rival is as much about your opponent and his strengths as it is about your own. Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, desires, and any tactics they may look to deploy is critical to swinging the outcome in your favour. Businesses across sectors and scale understand (or at least need to) this as well. The increasing use of data and research about your competitors and customers – even though you wouldn’t categorize your customers as opponents – is what drives survival and growth in an increasingly competitive world.
The art of deception and disguise “A ll warfare is based on deception. ” Sun Tzu believed that a plan is not enough to win a battle. The plan needs to be disguised by deploying means of deception. Deception and disguise, or at least ‘confidentiality’ is quite common in today’s corporate environment. Whether it’s about an organization’s business mergers or deals, innovations, business launches, marketing campaigns, or even employee compensations. Secrecy and confidentiality is today a big part of running a successful business.
Change is an opportunity “In the midst of chaos, there is opportunity.” According to Sun Tzu, change and one’s ability to adapt to change is an important factor that will decide the outcome of any conflict. As we have all witnessed at some point or another, change is an inevitable part of both, life and business as well. And the best way to adapt to change is to be calm, and prepared. Changes in the form of new laws, regulations, new innovations can all pose a challenge to any business. But a calm leadership can not only deal with these changes, but also use them as opportunities.
Everyone loses in a prolonged war “There is no instance of a nation benefitting from a prolonged warfare.” Sun Tzu’s simple advice on winning a battle is to make every strike count. Efficiency is key. A prolonged battle takes its toll on all camps involved in terms of manpower, resources, time, and energy. The same holds true for businesses. A legal dispute for instance is bound to have a severe impact on the resources and finances of all parties involved. Not to mention what these long-drawn conflicts can do to their public reputation.
Move first “Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.” Be first to the battlefield. Familiarise yourself with the environment where you will engage your opponent. And you will always have the upper hand. Businesses have for long been taking this advice to the marketplace. Understanding a need in the market, and address it before any of your competitors. And by doing the right things, you’ll likely be ahead of anyone who follows. As one of my professors would often say, ‘If there is a gap in the market, find out if there is a market in the gap.’
Drums and flags “On the field of battle, the spoken word does not carry far enough: hence the institution of gongs and drums. Nor can ordinary objects be seen clearly enough: hence the institution of banners and flags.” Whether in wars or businesses, leaders need tools to help share their plans, and committed teams of individuals to help execute those plans that are then seen by the world. The modern-day leader doesn’t need drums to spread his message. Rather a simple mail, or a Zoom call serves as his banner. Similarly, a business’ name, brand logo and colours serve as flags to the modern-day leaders.
The greatest win is one where you don’t fight at all “To win 100 battles is not the height of skill, to subdue the enemy without fighting is” Wars of any kind and form are counterproductive. I think we’ll all agree to that. The best tacticians Sun Tzu believes are not the ones who defeat their opponents on the battlefield. But the ones who can manoeuvre a win through diplomacy, without fighting at all. This is perhaps the best piece of advice The Art of War offers. For businesses, governments, groups, or individuals. Winning through diplomacy and negotiation is a bigger victory than winning any conflict. One of the reasons why merging with an existing player in a new market is beneficial to businesses as opposed to entering it as a competitor.

Life is too short to spend it at war with yourself Ritu Ghatourey

Sun Tzu – The Artist behind The Art of War

A Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and a philosopher, Sun Tzu’s historicity is quite uncertain. And although he is revered as a legendary military figure and warfare tactician who has influenced military strategy in both Western and East Asian philosophies, a large part of his work focused on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, the use of spies, making alliances and the use of deceit.

His work has over the years found more and more use in modern competitive endeavours, making Sun Tzu a common name among tacticians, strategists, business leaders, and even sports coaches. And although a lot of facts about his own life remain in the dark, perhaps even lost over the last 2500 years, one thing is certain. His legacy will not be forgotten any time soon.

The Last Word

Quite often when we think of war, we think of weapons, physical battles, destruction, and death. If our fortunes favour us, we may not have to witness such a war. But there are other battles, some hidden, and some in plain sight that we’re all fighting. Some by ourselves. Some as part of a group. The Art of War arms you for just that. Which is what makes this short book a highly recommended one even today. Especially today.

Ronak Shetty

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Book review: ‘the art of war’ by sun tzu.

THE ART OF WAR

Translated by Peter Harris

Everyman’s Library, $24, 312 pages

Military theory comes in two forms. The first is an attempt to understand the nature of war and its relation to politics. Clausewitz and Machiavelli represent the best of this school.

The second and more prevalent form falls into the “how to do it” category. Most such works in this type of venue are written by former successful practitioners of the art and science of war. Most military professionals would agree that Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” remains at the top of the former list. Peter Harris has given us a new translation, and perhaps a new twist, on this timeless classic.

Chinese in either its Mandarin or Cantonese versions, is a notoriously hard language to translate into English. As in Arabic, some characters have multiple meaning depending on the context in which they are used. Most former military officers of the Vietnam era were raised on Marine Brig. Gen. Samuel Griffith’s 1963 translation. Griffith’s translation became popular during the Vietnam War because North Vietnam’s brilliant Gen. Giap was known to be a Sun Tzu student, as was Chairman Mao, who was then considered to be the primary sponsor of the North’s cause.

Before 1963, Western interest in Sun Tzu was spotty at best. It is highly unlikely that Erwin Rommel or George Washington had ever read Sun Tzu, but both made excellent use of deception, feigned retreats, reconnaissance and surprise to win their most notable victories in ways recommended in “The Art of War.” Critics of Sun Tzu have complained that he depends too much on the non-military aspects of war fighting rather than the mere act of trying to kill more of the enemy than he kills of you.

Washington used campfires to cloak his disengagement from a superior enemy in several situations. Rommel won many battles by withdrawing his smaller tank force through a line of the superb 88-millimeter anti-tank guns allowing those weapons to break the momentum of the pursuing British allowing his tanks to counterattack on more favorable terms. Sun Tzu would have approved in both cases.

Mr. Harris tends more than Griffith to emphasize the non-military aspects of national power — economic, information, diplomatic means.

Retired Gen. David Petraeus tends to agree on a more balanced approach in his foreword to the Harris translation. Gen. Petraeus was famous in his philosophy of a mixed military, diplomatic, information and economic approach to counterinsurgency rather than using the military sledgehammer as the main effort, and it worked well for him in Iraq.

Mr. Harris is a notable New Zealand scholar, but he has also been heavily involved in humanitarian issues, and this probably colors his views on the non-military aspects of war and policy. In Griffith’s defense, he was writing in a context of trying to understand how America’s 1963-era enemies might be expected to apply Sun Tzu. Mr. Harris has the advantage of over a half-century of military history against very diverse military situations to try to put Sun Tzu into a modern framework.

Perhaps the greatest academic controversy regarding Sun Tzu’s writing over the years is his advocacy of allowing a surrounded enemy an apparent avenue of escape to achieve political goals short of absolute destruction of the enemy army. This runs against the American way of war from Grant to MacArthur where the complete destruction of the enemy’s army was seen as the acme of success.

However, in Vietnam the Communist side made great use of negotiations to convince the Americans to withdraw from the war. The North Vietnamese had every intention of attacking once the Americans were safely gone. This reinforces the old military adage that strategy and tactics depend on the terrain and situation. The Harris translation should be read in that context.

In any case, it is a mistake to try to put the views of any military theorist into a “one size fits all” template. Several unsuccessful American Civil War Union generals tried to mimic Napoleon by applying the works of Baron Jomini who was viewed as Napoleon’s greatest interpreter of the 19th century. It turned out that Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson had a very different cut on both Napoleon and Jomini.

The truly great generals of both modern and classical military times have been voracious readers of military history and have practiced recognitional decision making; “I know of a situation like this in the past” and they react accordingly. Any translation of Sun Tzu should be read in the context of a far greater knowledge of military literature.

• Gary Anderson is a retired Marine Corps colonel. He lectures at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

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The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

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The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles Paperback – January 11, 2012

A succinct, engaging, and practical guide forsucceeding in any creative sphere, The War ofArt is nothing less than Sun-Tzu for the soul.

What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do?

Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid theroadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dreambusiness venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?

Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy thatevery one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer thisinternal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success.

The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognizeand overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectivelyshows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline.

Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself.

Whether an artist, writer or business person, this simple,personal, and no-nonsense book will inspire you to seize thepotential of your life.

Print length 190 pages
Language English
Publication date January 11, 2012
Dimensions 5 x 0.48 x 8 inches
ISBN-10 1936891026
ISBN-13 978-1936891023
See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author.

STEVEN PRESSFIELD is the author of Turning Pro , Do the Work , The Warrior Ethos and the international bestselling novels, The Legend of Bagger Vance , Gates of Fire , Tides of War , Last of the Amazons , The Virtues of War , The Afghan Campaign , Killing Rommel , and The Profession . He lives in Los Angeles.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Irish Entertainment LLC; 47716th edition (January 11, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1936891026
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1936891023
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.48 x 8 inches
#8 in Creativity (Books)
#77 in Personal Transformation Self-Help
#90 in Success Self-Help

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Book review: The War of Art

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Book Review for The War of Art (by Steven Pressfield)

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Review: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

About the author

Steven pressfield.

Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art which has sold over a millions copies globally and been translated into multiple languages. He is a master of historical fiction with Gates of Fire being on the required reading list at West Point and the the recommended reading list of the Joint Chiefs. His other books include A Man at Arms, Turning Pro, Do the Work, The Artist's Journey, Tides of War, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign, Killing Rommel, The Profession, The Lion's Gate, The Warrior Ethos, The Authentic Swing, An American Jew, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t, and The Knowledge.

His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance was over 30 years in the making. He hasn't stopped writing since.

Steve lives and writes in California. You can following him on IG @steven_pressfield. Sign up for his weekly writing newsletter at stevenpressfield.com

"It is one thing to study war, and another to live the warrior's life."

Customer reviews

5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 71% 17% 7% 3% 2% 71%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 71% 17% 7% 3% 2% 17%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 71% 17% 7% 3% 2% 7%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 71% 17% 7% 3% 2% 3%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 71% 17% 7% 3% 2% 2%

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book easy to understand and valuable. They also find it inspiring, helpful for mindset and motivation. Readers describe the book as short, compact, and incisive. They say it's great for artists and vital to them. Customers also mention the book is honest and down-to-earth.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book smart, interesting, and easy to understand. They say the author puts the creative process into words eloquently. Readers also mention the prose is laconic but piercing. Overall, they describe the book as excellent, original, and inspiring.

"...While reading its entirety is do-able , one can just as easily flip through the chapters and meditate on the headline and chapter that speaks to you..." Read more

"...This book is an extremely easy read , and was very encouraging to me personally...." Read more

"...Would I buy it again having read the book? Yes. It was worth my time to read it . It’s a nice pep talk that I look forward to reading many more times...." Read more

"...At 165 pages, you can zip through the book quickly , especially because some pages contain only one paragraph...." Read more

Customers find the book inspiring, practical, and helpful for mindset and motivation. They say it's an important book for all creative people. Readers also mention the book is like a personal coach, reminding them of their personal power.

"...It’s organized like a manual, with short chapters, and important titles and messages that will resonate with you at different points in your life...." Read more

"...Ideas come.”Following this simple but powerful truth , Pressfield talks about the day he finished his first book...." Read more

"...Yes. It was worth my time to read it. It’s a nice pep talk that I look forward to reading many more times...." Read more

"...Two, there’s a universal consciousness. This is a higher power, creative in nature , and possessing all knowledge...." Read more

Customers find the book short, compact, and easy to read. They also say it doesn't overstay its welcome. Readers also mention the book itself is small and easy for carrying around.

"...It’s organized like a manual, with short chapters , and important titles and messages that will resonate with you at different points in your life...." Read more

"... It's short , but worthy of rereading...." Read more

"...But the negative reviews didn't quite convince me. Realizing this book is short , I can download it to my Kindle and read it quickly, and if it is..." Read more

"I liked the book was short but very direct on what is trying to teach us...." Read more

Customers find the chapters incisive, Koan-like, and engaging. They say the premise behind the book is sound, and the book itself is straight to the point. Readers also mention the book navigates the war analogy well, using it as a thread within each book.

"...It is straight to the point , raw, and hard-hitting...." Read more

"...4. The pro masters the technique of their craft. 5. The pro doesn’t accept excuses . 6. The pro keeps working with the cards he is dealt. 7...." Read more

"...claims and gives advice that is unsupportable, incorrect, and sometimes contradictory ...." Read more

"...He navigates the war analogy well , using it as a thread within each book without overdoing it...." Read more

Customers find the book great for an artist. They say it's hard-hitting and vital for creative artists. Readers also appreciate the brilliance and clarity of the writing. They mention the book deals with artist's struggles and the roadblocks we put up to keep from creating.

"...This book is aimed at creative artists , especially writers...." Read more

"...and passion converge to constitute this small, yet mighty, work of art ...." Read more

"...It immediately struck me as an amazing guide to understanding the voice in our head we call procrastination or as Jews call it the Yetzer Hara...." Read more

"...The rest of the book is just too valuable. Pressfield is an immensely talented , insightful writer who knows what he is talking about...." Read more

Customers find the book honest, candid, and powerful. They say it's validating and encouraging.

"...Pressfield has a unique , impactful style. There are a couple F bombs, but colorful language is not gratuitous...." Read more

"...in all our work and reading is the absolutely integral need for clear, honest , incisive and creative thinking...." Read more

"...This is an excellent, original and inspiring book that every writer or otherwise creative person should read at least once and than keep at hand..." Read more

"...Extremely well written, at times funny, frequently painfully accurate , this was the perfect first read of the year for someone who hates the..." Read more

Customers find the humor in the book provoking, encouraging, and witty. They say it's a quick, easy, and often laugh-out-loud read. Readers also appreciate the author's tone, which is direct without being arrogant. They also mention the book has some great quotes.

"...Pressfield uses humor and a confident , competent demeanor in what he shares...." Read more

"...His straight forward, no BS talk is refreshing and humorous ...." Read more

"...I come at it from a more romantic, poetic , and soulful approach. Now, I'll add this...." Read more

"...It's written in a way that is witty , unexpectedly hilarious, and truly soulful!..." Read more

Customers find the book sensitivity to fear. They say it helps them understand the feelings and fears that are keeping them from it. Readers also describe the book as reassuring, comforting, and inspiring. They mention it helps overcome personal issues and resonates deeply.

"...nonsense approach to tackling procrastination, self-doubt, and fear resonates deeply , making this book a powerful tool for anyone looking to..." Read more

"Can’t put the book down. It challenges us to move past our fears and comfort zone. Love this book so much" Read more

"...Read it for the discipline, encouragement, coaching, and comfort of our common humanity ...." Read more

"...He has an uncanny ability to wake up your inner-self, to enliven your emotions , to MOVE you in some way, shape or form...." Read more

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The Art of War by Sun Tzu
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Book Review of The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Summary. Perhaps the greatest warfare novel written, The Art of War, is believed to have been written by Chinese military official, Sun Tzu, around 500 B.C. However, historians continue to debate the authority of the book as well as the very existence of Sun Tzu himself. The novel, a relic of Chinese history, was only recently introduced to ...
Book Review: The Art of War
A review of the classic book on war strategy and philosophy by Sun Tzu, a legendary military figure and philosopher. The review covers the main themes, principles and takeaways of the book, such as deception, rapidity, energy, weak points and strong, and variation of tactics.
An Insightful New Translation of the Timeless 'Art of War'
The Art of War. By Sun Tzu. A new translation by Michael Nylan. 157 pages. W.W. Norton & Company. $24.95. A version of this article appears in print on , Section C, Page 6 of the New York edition ...
Book Reviews: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu (Updated for 2021)
For more than two thousand years, The Art of War has stood as a cornerstone of Chinese culture-a lucid epigrammatic text that reveals as much about human psychology, politics, and economics as it does about battlefield strategy. The influence of Sun-tzu's text has grown tremendously in the West in recent years, with military leaders, politicians, and corporate executives alike finding valuable ...
The Art of War Summary (and Quotes) by Sun Tzu
The Art of War Summary (and Quotes) by Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a book nominally about, well, war. It's kind of deceptively titled though. A more accurate title would be "The Art of Not Going to War Unless You Really Can't Avoid It And Then Still Avoiding Fighting as Much as Possible.". That's a bit of a mouthful, so ...
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
In conclusion, Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" transcends its historical and cultural origins to offer enduring wisdom on strategy, leadership, and the nature of conflict. Its concise and profound insights continue to inspire and guide leaders across various domains. As a seminal work on strategy and human behavior, "The Art of War ...
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Tim Weiner, Journalist. "Sun Tzu is completely outside the whole Western way of looking at politics and at states. For him, war was an art and an art being practised by generals, by individual commanders…He regards war as a sort of chess, one which could be played by all kinds of players against one another. He powerfully influenced Mao ...
Book Summary: The Art of War by Sun Tzu
This is my book summary of The Art of War by Sun Tzu. My notes are informal and often contain quotes from the book as well as my own thoughts. This summary also includes key lessons and important passages from the book. "According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one's plans.". "All warfare is based on deception.
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The Art of War became a best-seller in 2001, when television mobster Tony Soprano told his therapist that he'd been reading the book. After that, the book was in such demand that Oxford ...
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Meticulously written with old takes on an otherwise contentious topic like war, written to highlight the multi-dimensional implications of its central topic, The Art of War is an ancient Chinese text which is better termed a treatise written by Sun Tzu, who was a 6th-century warrior philosopher. Terse, crisp, and epigrammatic, the teachings of this text remain utterly significant, relatable ...
Book Review: The Art of War
The Art of War was written in the 5 th Century BC by Sun Tzu. While initially written as a literal guide to war strategy, today it has many non-military applications including Business, Sports, and even Relationships. It has 13 separate chapters, each with a focus on a specific aspect of planning for and managing conflict.
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Mon Mar 26 2018 - 15:09. The Art of War by Sun Tzu translated, edited and introduced by Peter Harris. The Art of War has rightly become one of the world's most influential books on military ...
The Art of War By Sun Tzu
The Art of War is a timeless and classic work on strategy, written by Sun Tzu, a Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher. The book was written over 2,500 years ago, yet its teachings continue to be relevant in today's world, not only in military strategy, but also in politics, business, and even personal relationships.
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1-Sentence-Summary: The Art Of War has been considered the definitive text on military strategy and warfare ever since being written in ancient China around 500 BC, inspiring businesses, athletes, and of course generals to beat their opponents and competition the right way until today. Read in: 4 minutes.
The Art of War
The Art of War - A 2500-year-old Guide for the Modern Age. Originally conceived as a document on military strategy and warfare, Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' remains a guiding text for modern society, over 2500 years after it was first written. One of the world's oldest known texts on the subject, it is today a highly influential ...
BOOK REVIEW: 'The Art of War' By Sun Tzu
OPINION: THE ART OF WAR. By Sun Tzu. Translated by Peter Harris. Everyman's Library, $24, 312 pages. Military theory comes in two forms. The first is an attempt to understand the nature of war ...
The Art Of War: Sun Tzu: 9781599869773: Amazon.com: Books
The Art Of War. Paperback - November 1, 2007. by Sun Tzu (Author) 4.5 13,187 ratings. See all formats and editions. Note: The chapters in the book are not in order and it is intentional. This edition approved by the Holden-Crowther Organisation for Asian Studies. Report an issue with this product or seller.
The Art of War: Sun Tzu, Ralph D. Sawyer: 9780813319513: Amazon.com: Books
The Art of War: A New Translation. $38.97. (85) Only 1 left in stock - order soon. The definitive translation of Sun-tzu's timeless classic of military strategy, Art of War. Sun-tzu's Art of War is almost certainly the most famous study of strategy ever written. This treatise has been credited with influencing some of the most legendary ...
The Art of War (Original Classic Edition)
Amazon.com: The Art of War (Original Classic Edition): 9781722502171: Tzu, Sun, Horowitz, Mitch: Books ... Book reviews & recommendations: IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities: IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need: Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy
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Lesson 1: Only enter battles you know you can win.

Lesson 2: Deceive your competitors to impose your will on them.

Lesson 3: Lead your team as if you were leading a single man by the hand.

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