Sun Tzu

The masterpiece of the sage Sun Tzu is a military treatise written in China more than 2,500 years ago. He recognised that we live in a world of conflict, which could not be ignored or denied but had to be understood and mastered. Sun Tzu's profound wisdom is not limited to military applications - his aphorisms offer important advice on dealing with other realms of human conflict, such as the psychological tensions of everyday life and the difficulties of any joint endeavour, including business ventures. Arranged into 13 chapters, from Estimates to Employment of Secret Agents, and enhanced by beautiful calligraphy, The Art of War is more relevant now than ever. The book begins with a Foreword by B. H. Liddell Hart, a Preface by Samuel B. Griffith and a 74-page Introduction, covering such key topics as the author, the original text and the historical background, with a fascinating section on Sun Tzu and Mao Tse-Tung. Then follows the essence of the book in 13 chapters: Estimates, Waging War, Offensive Strategy, Dispositions, Energy, Weaknesses and Strengths, Manoeuvre, The Nine Variables, Marches, Terrain, The Nine Varieties of Ground, Attack by Fire, Employment of Secret Agents. There are two fascinating appendices and a detailed Bibliography. The Art of War is now required reading at military, business and law schools in the US and around the world. It is widely believed that no book in history better describes how to be a winner in any situation of conflict or any competitive environment, whether in the office or workplace, in a relationship, or in everyday disagreements and tensions. This deluxe edition turns a classic of practical, universal wisdom into an attractive gift or a book to relish for any home library.

This classic Chinese text, the earliest known treatise on war, offers strategy and tactics that can be applied to every type of human conflict. Central to Sun Tzu's philosophy is the concept of using deception and superior intelligence to minimize risk, which has made his book required reading at military, business, and law schools around the world. With a Foreword by B. H. Liddell Hart and a 74-page Introduction, this deluxe edition--beautifully presented in a sumptuous silk hardcover--is a standout offering in the successful Art of Wisdom series.

Les treize articles de Sun Tzu sont le manuel le plus r put de la strat gie asiatique. Cette oeuvre chappa la grande destruction des livres ordonn e par l'empereur Chehouangti des T'sin en 293 ap. JC et resta longtemps la grande r f rence des g n raux chinois. Elle fut en particulier la doctrine de l'ensemble des g n raux des royaumes combattants l' poque des guerres des Trois Royaumes. L'id e fondamentale des treize articles est que l'objectif de la guerre est de contraindre l'ennemi abandonner la lutte, y compris sans combat, gr ce la ruse, l'espionnage, une grande mobilit et une bonne utilisation des diff rentes ressources: il s'agit donc de s'adapter la strat gie de l'adversaire, pour s'assurer la victoire moindre co t. Sun Tzu est un g n ral chinois du VIe si cle avant notre re (544-496 av. JC). Grand th oricien, il prouva au roi de Ou qu'il tait aussi m me d'appliquer ses th ories. C'est ainsi que Sun Tzu vainquit le roi de Tchou pour le compte du roi de Ou. Didier HALL P E, rudit passionn de strat gie et officier en retraite a s lectionn ces textes pour vous.

P J Ivanhoe is one of the English-speaking world's foremost translators and interpreters of classical Chinese philosophical texts. His translation of the "Sunzi Bingfa" reads beautifully, adorned only by sobering photographic plates of the famed terracotta army of the first Qin emperor that turn one back to the text in a properly reflective mood.

P J Ivanhoe is one of the English-speaking world's foremost translators and interpreters of classical Chinese philosophical texts. His translation of the "Sunzi Bingfa" reads beautifully, adorned only by sobering photographic plates of the famed terracotta army of the first Qin emperor that turn one back to the text in a properly reflective mood.

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