The Art of War

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Has anyone read the book on battle tactics by Sun Tzu, called The Art of War? If so, what do you think?

I certainly found it to be quite insightful into many thing inlvolving strategy and competition.

I liked it, its the cornerstone of any tactical situation,

Its very good. Lays out a very good common-sense heirarchy in terms of the best ways to influence a situation for maximal effect, how to go through as many measures as possible with the best chances for success that you can summon rather than taking anything to armed conflict which, regardless of physical victory, is considered a loss by Sun Tzu as it displays a litany of failures which lead up to its occurence in the first place.

I respect Master Sun. He is the quintessential practical and effective thinker.

ruveyn

A great read in under an hour!

Definitly! It is amazing how few words it actually takes to say everything he says.

Sadly being dyslexic slows my reading significantly, and it took me roughly an hour and a half (including a couple minor distractions)...

I know. Too bad not many folk these days can reiterate something so grand in very few words. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing negative to be said about verbosity, but, in some ways, much highly sought literature is nothing more than a dick-measuring contest.

And that is why I like being a university student, the course material for literature courses tends to be well selected.

Sometimes but very rarely... College reading never satiates my desires to follow through on the chore of what others consider to be interesting. I sure we all can identify with that!

Then again there's no shame in audio books either . Don't let image stand between you and good information.

You know, I went to Borders a couple of days ago and looked through some of their selections of audiobooks and honestly, I felt ashamed, like it was cheating or something. Then I browsed the narrators and then felt disgusted (Like, who the hell is this! Will his voice annoy the living s**t outta me?) So at that point at caved and walked away. Not forgetting to mention how damn expensive those things are!

well, it's certainly easier than von Clauswitz...

i liked it. very simplistic tho. im not impressed by any of the info per se, but at the age of the details.

Not for me - My German is much better than my non-existing knowledge of Chinese.

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Both authors wrote in different circumstances: Clausewitz also provided a theory of war and function of war within the realm of politics. In some respect he is out-dated, because he regarded war as an rational act of sovereigns and could not really analyse the function of war in a mass democracy in respect of forcing discipling internally.

For both authors terms like "war on terror" or "war on drugs" would be regarded as utterly nonsense.