“This ancient Chinese text is still utilized by both militaries and business schools around the world…The Art of War is the essential strategy guide of our time.” Time
The words held within these pages, written over two and a half thousand years ago, ring just as true today as they did in fifth century BC China. Bestselling author and master storyteller James Clavell (Shōgun) brought The Art of War to greater prominence in the West in the 1980s and showed how the book’s instruction was applicable on a smaller scale and could be used for personal betterment. Clavell’s wonderfully evocative foreword and helpful notes throughout the text guide the reader through preparations and battle plans, correct use of weapons and knowing when to fight—and when not to fight.
With a deep understanding of both strategy and human nature, this military treatise illustrates the fine craft of knowing one’s enemy and oneself. From military officers to CEOs to those simply looking to be more powerful in their own life, The Art of War has become required reading for anyone seeking a path of success through the modern world.
Praise
“This ancient Chinese text is still utilized by both militaries and business schools around the world…The Art of War is the essential strategy guide of our time.” Time
“Absorb this book, and you can throw out all those contemporary books about management leadership.” Newsweek
“The book has long been heralded for its advice on military success…It’s a smart book.” Business Insider
“The Art of War [is] as relevant now as when it was written…A fascinating mixture of the poetic and the pragmatic.” Irish Times (Dublin)
“The most useful and important book ever written for aspiring leaders.” Toronto Sun Times
“Recommended as a guide to success in any competitive activity, from business to sport.” Asian Review of Books
“Military theory comes in two forms. The first is an attempt to understand the nature of war and its relation to politics…The second and more prevalent form falls into the ‘how to do it’ category…Most military professionals would agree that Sun Tzu’s The Art of War remains at the top of the former list.” Washington Times
“The wisdom in the form of military strategy that Sun-Tzu offers in The Art of War is something you can apply to your life’s daily conflicts, obstacles, and goals. This is why The Art of War is a great read and one that is highly recommended.” Serious Reading
Sun Tzu lived in China in the sixth and fifth centuries BC, serving as a general and strategist to the king of Wu. A philosopher and writer, his military stratagems, written over 2,500 years ago, are still pertinent today.
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.
Overview
The words held within these pages, written over two and a half thousand years ago, ring just as true today as they did in fifth century BC China. Bestselling author and master storyteller James Clavell (Shōgun) brought The Art of War to greater prominence in the West in the 1980s and showed how the book’s instruction was applicable on a smaller scale and could be used for personal betterment. Clavell’s wonderfully evocative foreword and helpful notes throughout the text guide the reader through preparations and battle plans, correct use of weapons and knowing when to fight—and when not to fight.
With a deep understanding of both strategy and human nature, this military treatise illustrates the fine craft of knowing one’s enemy and oneself. From military officers to CEOs to those simply looking to be more powerful in their own life, The Art of War has become required reading for anyone seeking a path of success through the modern world.
