Book review The Art of War

 

World's most renowned text on martial strategy and tactics

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” 

GENRE  Strategy

AUTHOR Thomas Cleary, Lionel Giles (First English translation)

PAGES    180

About the Author   

Sun Tzu  was a Chinese   general and military  strategist. He lived during the Eastern Zhou period. Born in 544 BC. The literal meaning of his name is Master Sun. Han Dynasty historians placed him as minister to king Helu. His work "Art of War" is praised throughout east basin warfare since its composition. This book grew popularity in western culture as well, here people discovered its teaching in other spheres of the profession.

Art of War Contents

• Laying Plans
• Waging War
• Tactical Dispositions
• Energy
• Weak Points and Strong
• Maneuvering
• Variation in Tactics
• The Army on the March
• Terrain
• The Nine Situations
• The Attack by Fire
• The Use of Spies

Book Review The Art of War

• Art of War is Jewel from history. Written by Chinese general Sun Tzu in 6th century BC. A famous translation is from Chow Hou Wee(2004).

• The book devotes itself to advice on military success but the usage has reached business and politics as well. Comprising of thirteen chapters on a different aspects of war, the reader may find himself related to his professional front. The tone is authoritative and straightforward.

• The philosophy described here can help people to analyze themselves, enemies, and surroundings to predict the outcomes. How to act in oppressive and submissive situations. 

• Art of War discusses the detailed assessment of environment & planning, war operations, the strategy of attack, deployment of the army, use of creativity, timing and momentum of the army, analysis of strengths and weakness, how to act in variations and adaptability. 

•  In the end, it gives a supreme note to the intelligence network and espionage, focusing on the importance of good information sources & specifies five types of intelligence sources and how to manage each of them.

• The central message of this book is that it is best to win without fighting. Conflicts are however inevitable in this world that we live in. But these conflicts in nature are such that the harmony of the world is preserve. Conflicts takes place but they cause minimum possible damage. And this is exactly what is advocated by Sun Tzu.

Advice to readers

• To be able to use these advices in our own lives, I think, it is necessary that we should read the text at least a couple of times. Go through it slowly .This book cannot be read like a novel .Read one maybe two pages at a time and take your time to understand and absorb its philosophy. The language is open-ended and metaphorical. You  need to think how you can apply the concepts or methods to a specific situation  in your life.

• It will be an injustice to underestimate its scope to mere warfare strategy. We are well aware that every technological advancement or business model originates from the military. 

Quotes Art of War

·  “ 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.”

·  “All warfare is based on deception."

·  “It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.”

·  “The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice.”

·  “To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.”

·  “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”

·  “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 defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

·  “What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.”

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

·  “Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.”

·  “Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.”

·  “Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.”

·  “Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.”

·  “If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.”

·  “In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.”

·  “If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in.”

·  “We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.”

·  “The experienced soldier, once in motion, is never bewildered; once he has broken camp, he is never at a loss.”

·  “If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.”

·  “The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”

·  “The general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven.”

·  “The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”

 

 

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