The Art of War

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sunzi, active 6th century B.C.

Contributor:

Giles, Lionel, 1875-1958

Standardized Title:

Sunzi bing fa. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Art of War" by Sunzi is a treatise on military strategy written in the 6th century B.C. This foundational text delves into the principles governing warfare and strategy, emphasizing the importance of intelligence, deception, and the understanding of various elements such as terrain and troop movements. It has been highly influential throughout history, impacting not just military thinking but also business strategy and leadership principles. The content of "The Art of War" is structured into thirteen chapters, each focusing on different aspects of warfare, including planning, tactics, and the use of spies. Sunzi discusses the significance of preparation and adaptability in achieving victory while minimizing casualties and destruction. He emphasizes the value of deception, urging leaders to mislead their opponents to gain the upper hand. The work also highlights the importance of logistics, confrontations on different types of terrain, and the morale of troops, illustrating that a deep understanding of both the enemy and oneself is crucial in warfare. Through these principles, Sunzi asserts that the most effective victories are achieved without direct conflict. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Notes:

Text only, no commentary. The commentary can be found in #132.

Reading ease score: 68.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War

Release date is 2005-12-28