The Art of War (Griffin Translation)

Amazon.com
The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory--pop out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality. Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition trail Sun-tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their soldiers." Elsewhere, Sun-tzu has told us to plunder the enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food? The Tang dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned." Most passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure them in with the prospect of gain, take them by confusion" or "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability is in the opponent." Sun-tzu's maxims are widely applicable beyond the military because they speak directly to the exigencies of survival. Your new tools will serve you well, but don't flaunt them. Remember Sun-tzu's advice: "Though effective, appear to be ineffective." --Brian Bruya


From AudioFile
Sun Tzu doesn't waste words--he doesn't summarize, doesn't review. He makes his point and moves on. You'll need to listen to THE ART OF WAR more than once if you want to follow--or just remember--his guidelines for success. This audiobook delivers two-plus hours of his direct orders. You may be entertained by some of what you hear, but the author's primary purpose is to whip you into shape. Scott Brick's steady, imperative tone conveys Sun Tzu's certainty. Shelly Frasier's smooth counterpoint--her reading of illustrative "commentary" from several sources--balances Brick's pronouncements. Transitions between the two are flawless, and the quick march towards success is maintained. T.J.W. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Review
"The most useful and important book ever written for aspiring leaders."
--Toronto Sun Times


Book Description
Written in China over two thousand years ago, Sun Tzu's The Art of War provides the first known attempt to formulate a rational basis for the planning and conduct of military operations. These wise, aphoristic essays contain principles acted upon by such twentieth-century Chinese generals as Mao Tse Tung. Samuel Griffith offers a much-needed translation of this classic which makes it even more relevant to the modern world. Including an explanatory introduction and selected commentaries on the work, this edition makes Sun Tzu's timeless classic extremely accessible to students of Chinese history and culture, as well as to anyone interested in the highly volatile military and political issues in present-day China.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese


Download Description
Sun Tzu's classic treatise on the art of warfare


From the Publisher
6 1-hour cassettes


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"As a reflection of the Chinese mind, this little work is as relevant as any Confucian classic." -- Brigadier General, ret. U.S. Marine Corps, is the author of The Battle for Guadalcanal, Peking and People and People's Wars, The Chinese People's Liberation Army, and editor and translator of Mao Tse-tung: On Guerilla War. — Samuel B. Griffith


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