Publisher Description

Compiled more than two thousand years ago by a mysterious warrior-philosopher, "The Art of War "is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world today, as eagerly studied in Asia by modern politicians and executives as it as been by military leaders since ancient times. As a study of the anatomy of organizations in conflict, "The Art of War "applies to competition and conflict in general, on every level from the interpersonal to the international. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through understanding of the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict.
Translated from a standard collection of commentaries on Sun Tzu's text by eleven interpreters, this pocket classic has been edited by Thomas Cleary to bring out the meaning of the principles of strategy.

Author Biography

Thomas Cleary earned his Ph.D. in East Asian studies at Harvard University and is renowned for his translations of classic Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit, Pali and Arabic religious texts. His translations include the bestselling 'The Art of War', 'The Essential Tao', 'The Essential Confucius', 'The Essential Koran', and 'The Secret of the Golden Flower'. He lives in Cambridge, MA.

Review

"Thomas Cleary's translation of Sun Tzu's 2,000-year-old "The Art of War " makes immediately relevant one of the greatest Chinese classical texts. There's not a dated maxim or vague prescription in it. 'To win without fighting is best, ' Sun Tzu said. For him, war was coeval with life. Absorb this book, and you can throw out all those contemporary books about management leadership." "Newsweek""

Kirkus UK Review

A mini-sized translation of the 2000-year-old Chinese classic on stategy, whose ideas, which are as applicable to individuals as to whole armies, are just as relevant today as they were then - although more often applied to management or politics than to warfare. There are maxims and analysis on any topic a corporate warrior could ponder, including strategic assessment, doing battle, planning a siege, terrain and even the use of spies. A timeless gem. (Kirkus UK)

Review Quote

"Thomas Cleary's translation of Sun Tzu's 2,000-year-oldThe Art of Warmakes immediately relevant one of the greatest Chinese classical texts. There's not a dated maxim or vague prescription in it. 'To win without fighting is best,' Sun Tzu said. For him, war was coeval with life. Absorb this book, and you can throw out all those contemporary books about management leadership."-Newsweek

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