The Art Of War By Sun Tzu

The Art of War is one of the greatest classical books that deal with warfare. Although it was written to reflect the warring Chinese people around 400 BC, every page of this book transcends time and culture. The central argument of the book is to attack when the enemy is weak, set up the enemy to attack you on your terms, and use espionage to deal with the enemy. These ideas as written were used by succeeding military figures as age-old wisdom, but the same ideas can easily apply to our personal lives.

Art of War had to be translated from Chinese into other languages. Thus, we can never know what Sun Tzu meant in some of the old phrases, but even if there are some words that are lost in translation, the Art of War has a clear and universal message that everyone can relate to. Some versions or translation of the book have commentaries that explain the background and history of the text in order to pain the context of the words, and measure the impact according to its time. Other translations also have comments on how the texts influenced recent people like Mao Zedong and the Japanese forces during the Second World War.   

Students at West Point and other military schools will take lengths to completely understand the book. The relevance of the book does not only touch on the strategies of war but also how a soldier and a leader should carry himself to prepare in the time of crisis. If you are just the typical everyday person who does not see himself joining the military, the Art of War is still a must read nonetheless.

Sun Tzu’s Art of War teaches a different philosophy, supported by ancient eastern wisdom that we don’t see in mainstream culture. If you want a different angle on how you look at the world, this book is a great start. Instead of looking into what actions to take, Sun Tzu explains the philosophy of how these actions are created and how we should prepare ourselves to be the victors at the right moment. This book teaches us how being the best does not always mean being the winner in every battle. Heroes are born when they overcome the toughest tasks, but true heroes are those who prevent opponents from acquiring power and bringing them to their knees when the least expense.

A lot of symbols is take from this classic. The book does not teach us to be cunning and deceitful, unlike Machiavelli. Instead it teaches is how to balance forces to our advantage and when to hit the right opportunity. This book teaches foresight and beating asks by attacking them at the weakest points.

This book is not a motivational piece. It does not teach us what needs to be done. What it teaches though is how to look at challenges from a different perspective. Once you read the book, you will slowly understand what Sun Tzu means as you apply it to your experiences in life.