The Art of War: The Essential Translation of the Classic Book of Life Audiobook

" The man's Narration is Bland and the Woman's narration is difficult to listen to. "

" This book was genius in its day. As I read some comments and other reviews on this book, I saw that some people think it is simple and filled with common sense. It was not so common when it was originally written, and is only "common" now because of its vast history of being used in many cultures and environments. Though it is obviously designed for literal warfare, it is a useful tool for training your brain to look at situations analytically in everyday life and spend accordingly. Don't be over eager; patience is often the better route. I personally enjoyed the recurring phrases that encouraged the officers, generals and sovereigns, the leaders, to act for the good of the nation, rather than seeking your own advancement or pleasure at the expense of those you lead. This book was a quick and valuable read and has stood the test of time. "

" Everything in here pretty much seems to be common sense. "

" This fit nicely in the class I read it for, which dealt with war literature. I can see where it has found use throughout the ages, but it made for rather dry reading. It's definitely worth looking at from both the historical standpoint and how it continues to influence modern warfare, even though much of it may seem like common sense now. "

" Interesting material apparently written 2500 years ago, most of which still applies today. It is more of a reference book than a treatise, in that several points could stand embellishment. I am hoping to find an annotated version at some point to help me better understand it. "

" Another classic read that inspires your strategies in Civilizations. "

" The rating reflects the terrible edition I read rather than the text. It wasn`t even this edition, but an Indian one with very poorly translated commentary published by Classic Library. "

" This is by far one of the greatest books on strategy ever written. The author helps to break down the philosophy of warfare into multiple chapters. This book is still a required read for most military officers and is still read by many business men today. Aside from the military aspect of the book, its teachings can be used when dealing with issues in life. A rather short book but very knowledgeable at the same time. "

" Classic by Sun Tzu, an oral and written treatise on war and how to win. This is a tough read both because of content and the translation. Recommended, but again, it is very tough. "

" Brilliant! Applies to every aspect of daily living, from raising children to negotiating with your wife or your boss. "

" The part Sun Tzu actually wrote is good; however, I did not really enjoy the geneolgy lesson at the beginning with all the names I can't pronounce and won't remember. "

" I read this at least once every year. The art of LIFE, is what it teaches. "

" I love this book and have several versions. "

" I remembered this because of James Clavell's foreword, this really is a good read even after thousands of years the schemes still found in this book is still useful "

" I remember reading this with a few friends in my old school. I found it so interesting. I only remember parts of the book. So I will be reading this again for sure. "

" i was an okay read, nothing to special. "

" "Es mejor no pelear pero cuando te ves en la necesidad de hacerlo hazlo para ganar" una de las mejores frases de este libro. "

" A book beloved of aspiring field marshals and captains of industry. Its ancient, oriental provenance adds to its cachet, but it is largely a list of truisms, and if you need a book to learn them you shouldn't be in charge of anyone, especially an army. This edition in its ebook format probably didn't help my appreciation as it resulted in a very fragmented reading experience, with lots of interpolated comments about generals through the ages. The period of it's translation (early 20th century) also adds a somewhat patronising/colonialist tone to some of the comments. It's one of those classic "must reads" I suppose, but after having done so I am left with the question "why?" Probably only its venerable age, and a reminder that while the natives of the British Isles were still living in mud huts and engaged in little more than tribal warfare with pointed sticks, China was already a mature civilisation, with that almost inevitable, ironic mark of civilisation - a structured military. Some of the closing comments should perhaps shape modern military thinking more than the earlier ones, in that the suggestion towards the end is that a prime object of the art of war is to avoid conflict and death. Or is that the line that the military use to justify their existence in every age and culture? "

" This may be a great book, but I was not interested. "

" Favorite Book in the world! Gonna read it again! "

" The Art Of War is a great book and has great insite of the general Sun Tzu also known as Sunzi. The book talks about the strategy the Sunzi uses in the spring and autumn period. I personaly recommend this book for any body interestided in the history of war. "

" Interesting approach to life. Great read! "

" A must-read for anyone with a drive to succeed. "

" When you are small in number, you must appear to be many. When you are near, you must appear to be far. When you are ready, you must appear to be unready. Good advice for every situation. "

" A compilation of ancient treaties that will forever be relevant. Not a particularly enjoyable read, but interesting and essential for any would be strategist. Can be applied in many facets of life. "

" It's more like "currently listening" "

" Very fascinating. I enjoyed the commentary in my version as well. "

" It's kind of interesting to think about it and realize just how much of Sun Tzu's teachings still apply to the modern world, and in so many different situations besides "I have enemies, they must die." "

" A classic text on strategy.. Yes, the war nature of the book makes it hard for some to apply it to everyday life, but many translations help with this.. As a bonus, it's relatively easy to put down and pick back up.. After all, it's not like it's a story, it's more of a reference... "

" I gave up reading this. the foot notes aren't linked so it was incredibly distracting finding each Terrence and then returning to my place. The breaks are random and the translation so disjointed I don't think it's doing the work justice. "

" I would give this book 3.5 stars if I could. I wanted to see what this book was about and picked this edition because it appears to have a lot more to say than Giles. However, there seemed to be a lot of repetition in the text and I just could not get into it as I had hoped I would. Still, the principles proved their point and it wasn't until I got to the appendix that the book started to pick up. The information is useful if you know what to do with it, but for myself I have yet to discover the potential. "

" Kind of overrated, but one of those books on many people's book list. "

" great leadership advisory. If you lead, or aspire to lead, and want to succeed doing so, read this book. Tactics and theory which hold up through the centuries will benefit you. "

" Nicely rendered in contemporary terminology, but less poetic than other versions. Some spelling and grammar issues in this volume were... offputting... to a grammarphile. "

" I liked it, but didn't love it. It was good, but not great. Interpret this review like the book itself, for this is the art of war. "

" One of the great classical works. Many believe that the subject of this work pertains only to war, sports, and business. Yet this work provides insight to relationships. "

" Interesting. I'm not a military general, thus I have little use but the vague ways to take down your enemy. Interesting, none the less. "

" All of this book is common sense. "

" This book has enlightened me with war techniques in a systematic way.. It could help a lot to win a fight "

" Forget the piffle waffle & just read the main thing! "

" A very short and easy to read booklet. "

" Only a couple of pages in and I started wondering why I got this book. I guess I hoped to read about inspiring war stories whose morals could enrich my knowledge, but this felt more like "Rules and Tips on How to Be a Great Military Strategist". Not to mention half of the sentences in this book could have started with the word "obviously". And even though I'm sure some people value the wisdom (and I do admire the antiquity of this piece of literature) and the applicability of that very same wisdom in present situations, I just found this read to be a real bore. So 2 stars it is. "

" Nice to read about strategic thinking, yet written in a complicated English with lots of non-common/non-modern terms! "

" Not really sure how to find the relevance to modern life here, but it is still cool to imagine how ancient Chinese generals went about their occupations. "

" A good book. I can see why it is popular among those who are looking to compete in various areas (military, obviously, as well as business, sports and the like). An interesting read and a relatively easy read. "

" this is one book that I can read over and over again "

" Yeah... can we say boring? "

" This is one of those books that can be applied to almost any part of any person's life. When I was younger I took a lot of my life lessons from this book and still find myself returning to it from time to time. "

" Great book, but unless you're studying classical Chinese, this probably isn't the most relevant translation available. Clavell's version, which I read years ago, was a more engaging read. "

" Interesting read - easy to replace "war" and "battleground" with any type of confrontation; both professional or personal. "

" It seems very simple at the first glance, but every time you read it, you get more from it. It needs to be read over and over again and cross checking the famous battles in the history to fully understand it. Romance of the Three Kingdoms complements it well. "

" I wish every politician that has a vote on what our military does overseas would read this. Amazing how many simple rules they break and this book accurately predicts the result of their follies. Also a good book for writers to draw upon. "

" The art of war is common sense but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves of how calculated we could be. Good book. "

" Read for some very interesting quotes. "

" I can see how some of these teachings can be incorporated into business, relationships and personal lives but at the end of the day it really is just a strategy guide for war. I can see how this is a must read for military brass and for some in the military a mandatory read. "

" Even to present day, this book makes sense. Amazing. "

" This was a satisfactory book but I personally feel that the majority of critiques stating that this work the best in strategy is overrated. "

" I've read 2 translations and like Samuel B. Griffith's best. He does a good job of using footnotes to point out where he's going against other translators and give a wider view. "

" Come on. Has anyone not read this book? "

" It's amazing that a book written over 2000 years ago can hold value in a modern world. "

" It's kind of interesting to think about it and realize just how much of Sun Tzu's teachings still apply to the modern world, and in so many different situations besides "I have enemies, they must die." "

" An interesting read - I can understand why the book has become so popular among management and leadership texts. It's basic message being, think before acting, but don't fail to act. "

" Amazing book... Not only applicable to war, but to leadership in general. The book also has a direct application to sports strategy. I've been meaning to read this for years. Glad I finally did. "

" My favorite translation of the Art of War. The translation is as spare as the original epigrams. It also contains translations of the core commentaries as well as various modern commentaries. "

" get in the shoes of author and ancient china to have a feel of what strategy means when lives depend on it. "

" This book is not solely about staging warfare, but understanding your fellow man and reasoning in difficult situations. It is a fantastic manual to guide one in business -- and contains wonderful insights into steering one's life peacefully. "

" Un muy buen libro sobre las estrategias del triunfo "

" it is a must read, the first story however you dont have to read "

" This book is actually pretty awesome! I was impressed by all the tactics that Sun Tsu presented, along with interesting details such as how to be a great commander, what having an united army means and how to use spies in a useful way. Outstanding piece of work, really. "

" Yeah... can we say boring? "

" Ancient insight that holds true to today. "

" Most of this appeared to be basic common sense. It seems not being a complete idiot is the real secret to being a good general. "

" A reminder that things still require planning, strategy, discipline, integrity and working together to be successful. "

" Everyone should read this book. I found myself relating to a range of topics that Tzu was famous for documenting. "

" I will have to reread this. Not good choice after reading The Life of Pi. I'll give if another shot down the road & see how I feel then. "

" Recordo-me frequentemente dos seus ensinamentos. "

" 2500 years and as useful as ever. "

" It focuses a lot on strategy, which can be applied to any situation in real life. Although it is a good book, I'm not in a stage in life where I could appreciate it as much as it should be. Another bright side is the short chapters make it easy and quick to finish. "

" All day. Love this book. Short and worth meditating on. Not a one time read. "

" If I was a general I would look this up again. "

" A compilation of ancient treaties that will forever be relevant. Not a particularly enjoyable read, but interesting and essential for any would be strategist. Can be applied in many facets of life. "

" this might sound stupid, as to why I love this book, but I do not particularly care. I know for a fact that my opinion is better than yours. I never, not one, won a game of chess before reading it. I'm still not good at it, but what I read helped me actually won a game. "

" Skip all the bargan copies of The Art of War. The copy by Samuel B. Griffith is by far the most authoritative and well done copy out there. "

" Recordo-me frequentemente dos seus ensinamentos. "

" Sun Tzu's axioms of strategy in warfare deserve a yearly reading, along with MCDP-1. Great bathroom reading material. This version contains an analysis and description of the historical context. About 1/5 of it is actually ancient writings. "

" A must-read for anyone with a drive to succeed. "

" Gives a good theoretical background and shows principles of how to set a good strategem in warfare. Not very specific. Other operation booklets which I'm using are more specific and executable. "

" I found this to be quite a dull read. Most of what it says is common sense which most people know. "

" Preparation for reality. I pride myself on peace and calmness .. and prepare myself for wars that may be ahead. This book does just that. "

" Even to present day, this book makes sense. Amazing. "

" Who has not wanted to read this book? This is a must read book. It is not a novel, but a philosophic way of approaching life...or war. "

" This was a very enjoyable book. It is easy to see how one can translate some of what the book has to say about war into personal life philosophies. "

" After having read quite some books on negotiation, this one couldn't be missed. An interesting read, a body of knowledge that indeed has served as a foundation for many of our daily and military operation. I'm not at all surprised the Chinese have been a major world force ever since.. "

" Reads like proverbs, but one of the few books that time has proven its value. My favorite parts were the distinctions made between the psychology of leading people to defend vs. Attack based upon the ype of "ground" your forces and your enemy forces occupy. "

" Semplice e antica saggezza, forse eccessivamente interpreta. Esaltazione dell'importanza delle informazioni sul nemico. Da rileggere. "

" As a martial artist this book was an invaluable insight into the interworkings of not only physical combat, but overall logical regimentation in order to achieve goals, which has been a driving force in my success as one. "

" The greatest book on strategy ever written. "

" Not much for a story. Has some good tips for doing business. "

" Bet me, its a masterpiece. "

" Not a very good translated version. Better to read the original text. "

" Sun Tzu says there has not been an instance in human history where a country has benefitted from protracted warfare. "

" The rating reflects the terrible edition I read rather than the text. It wasn`t even this edition, but an Indian one with very poorly translated commentary published by Classic Library. "

" attack at their weakest and do not engage where they are the strongest. "

" Nice book to think about challenges in life. "

" Had to read this book for class and I'm glad I did. I found this to be a very interesting read, one that I can apply in my career. "

" Another classic read that inspires your strategies in Civilizations. "

" Reads like proverbs, but one of the few books that time has proven its value. My favorite parts were the distinctions made between the psychology of leading people to defend vs. Attack based upon the ype of "ground" your forces and your enemy forces occupy. "

" The part Sun Tzu actually wrote is good; however, I did not really enjoy the geneolgy lesson at the beginning with all the names I can't pronounce and won't remember. "

" A short, dry treatise on how to command an army and beat your opponent. Most of it seemed to be either common sense or not applicable conflict in general. "

" Skip all the bargan copies of The Art of War. The copy by Samuel B. Griffith is by far the most authoritative and well done copy out there. "

" What can be said? 2500 years after it was written and still is a leading reference in strategy... and will likely continue to be. "

" It's kind of interesting to think about it and realize just how much of Sun Tzu's teachings still apply to the modern world, and in so many different situations besides "I have enemies, they must die." "

" one need not be a general to appreciate the wisdom within "

" I will now be very well prepared the next time I find myself leading a third century Chinese army into battle. "

" As the title suggests, this book is about the art of war and military strategy but it can be applied on almost everything.. Some of the texts are common sense but after all, it is an ancient book with so much wisdom.. Liked it.. "

" I'm glad to have finally read this book. It's just as relevant now as it was when it was first written, not only in terms of military strategies, but in other areas as well such as business, where knowing your competition is the key to success. "

" This was a satisfactory book but I personally feel that the majority of critiques stating that this work the best in strategy is overrated. "

" The masterpiece can be applied as the Art of Life and Competition. "

" I haven't read any other editions of this classic. But I think that Giles' commentary adds a lot to Sun Tzu's wisdom. I wholeheartedly recommend this book! "

" It's not just for the war, it for all the areas of the life. it was a unique experience "

" A very insightful read, especially if you apply the teachings beyond the obvious military aspects. "

" Interesting, remember the Monty Python sketch about pirate companies attacking each other...this is board room reading apparently. "

" Had to read this book for class and I'm glad I did. I found this to be a very interesting read, one that I can apply in my career. "

" a new permanent read in my bookshelf "

" I surprised myself by seriously liking this book. I think because I related about 80% of it to non-war things. I really think the principles in this book could be very applicable to a lot of different situations, especially in business. "

" very good book. All leaders should read it. no need to be at war. life is filled with little battles which all must fight. many of these war tactics are perfect analogies for today's common people's problems. "

" i love this is my bible on business and everyday life ! "

" i love this is my bible on business and everyday life ! "

" There will be conflict. So war is always going to happen at any given moment. Sun Tzu has a great timeless way of breaking down the entire definition of war, and it makes great reading for anyone interested. "

" There will be conflict. So war is always going to happen at any given moment. Sun Tzu has a great timeless way of breaking down the entire definition of war, and it makes great reading for anyone interested. "

" It's a very interesting book. Many of the princples said by sun tzu help us in many situations in our life. It's truely a great work and I loved reading it. "

" It's a very interesting book. Many of the princples said by sun tzu help us in many situations in our life. It's truely a great work and I loved reading it. "

" The whole book can be summarized into one sentence: "Think before you act". "

" The whole book can be summarized into one sentence: "Think before you act". "

" This is the first book I've read on my iPhone. I should've read this classic years ago; God knows I could've used some of the information in meetings with university administrators a few years ago. "

" This is the first book I've read on my iPhone. I should've read this classic years ago; God knows I could've used some of the information in meetings with university administrators a few years ago. "

" SPOILER ALERT: He wins. Quirky little book with a decent charm to it. "

" SPOILER ALERT: He wins. Quirky little book with a decent charm to it. "

" The way this book is written is interesting and amazing even If a person doesn't like the subject and wat is written in the pages is very wise :) "

" The way this book is written is interesting and amazing even If a person doesn't like the subject and wat is written in the pages is very wise :) "

" Not my cup of tea :D "

" Not my cup of tea :D "

" Great info but it just kind of ended... "

" Great info but it just kind of ended... "

" i read it so many years ago, i remember it was a good book.. i might read it again.. "

" Resourceful war strategies that can be adapted to many day-to-day situations. Stimulating and dynamic, I find this translation is clean and easy to follow. "

" i read it so many years ago, i remember it was a good book.. i might read it again.. "

" Resourceful war strategies that can be adapted to many day-to-day situations. Stimulating and dynamic, I find this translation is clean and easy to follow. "

" Notes and explanations took up an unnecessary amount of space and made the text somewhat convoluted. I would've preferred just the straightforward writings of Sun-Tzu, although the effort and depth of the additional information is appreciated. "

" Notes and explanations took up an unnecessary amount of space and made the text somewhat convoluted. I would've preferred just the straightforward writings of Sun-Tzu, although the effort and depth of the additional information is appreciated. "

" Full of concepts that will forever serve to guide the leaders of the present. "

" I love this book and have several versions. "

" I really learned a lot from this book. This book taught me many strategies that are not only used during military occasions, but strategies which could also be used in any sort of situations. "

" Another classic read that inspires your strategies in Civilizations. "

" Pretty darn good but a lot of the ideas just go over my head. Good thing that the other half of the book included interpretations of the passages. "

" Great book. I would love to find a version that can bridges the tenets and modern day challenges. "

" A quick read, worth reading again. Its not a strech to see these applications in modern life. "

" Epic. Not any other way I can explain it. Just be prepared to have your mind twisted. "

" I read this to give myself a competitive edge. Didnt really work, but you find out what it takes to kick ass in the year 400. Some wisdom carries over, but if you need an ancient army's ass kicked, I'm now your man "

" A rather interesting read--but, I can't understand why it has received the attention that it has over the past few years. "

" As a martial artist this book was an invaluable insight into the interworkings of not only physical combat, but overall logical regimentation in order to achieve goals, which has been a driving force in my success as one. "

" Disappointing. I was expecting something deeper and more unknown. The book is very basic and very simple. I am sure at the time this work was written the substance was very wise and fresh but know it is just dull. "

" Disappointing. I was expecting something deeper and more unknown. The book is very basic and very simple. I am sure at the time this work was written the substance was very wise and fresh but know it is just dull. "

" Disappointing. I was expecting something deeper and more unknown. The book is very basic and very simple. I am sure at the time this work was written the substance was very wise and fresh but know it is just dull. "

" Disappointing. I was expecting something deeper and more unknown. The book is very basic and very simple. I am sure at the time this work was written the substance was very wise and fresh but know it is just dull. "

" I did not get this book. I'll be honested, i read the executive summary and i was told to read it to draw the parallels in modern business, but i really struggled to put two and two together. I can see how it'd be a great book from a military or strategic perspective, however. "

" I did not get this book. I'll be honested, i read the executive summary and i was told to read it to draw the parallels in modern business, but i really struggled to put two and two together. I can see how it'd be a great book from a military or strategic perspective, however. "

" I did not get this book. I'll be honested, i read the executive summary and i was told to read it to draw the parallels in modern business, but i really struggled to put two and two together. I can see how it'd be a great book from a military or strategic perspective, however. "

" I did not get this book. I'll be honested, i read the executive summary and i was told to read it to draw the parallels in modern business, but i really struggled to put two and two together. I can see how it'd be a great book from a military or strategic perspective, however. "

" If they read "Art of War", you know their strategy. "

" If they read "Art of War", you know their strategy. "

" If they read "Art of War", you know their strategy. "

" If they read "Art of War", you know their strategy. "

" This is a book tha needs to be read and re-read. There is so much information in it the brain cannot take it all in. "

" This is a book tha needs to be read and re-read. There is so much information in it the brain cannot take it all in. "

" This is a book tha needs to be read and re-read. There is so much information in it the brain cannot take it all in. "

" This is a book tha needs to be read and re-read. There is so much information in it the brain cannot take it all in. "

" Makes you want to put on a suit and go take over something. "

" Hard to believe that this was concieved so many years ago yet it still holds so much insight into all types of conflict, even today. Amazing....... "

" Hard to believe that this was concieved so many years ago yet it still holds so much insight into all types of conflict, even today. Amazing....... "

" Makes you want to put on a suit and go take over something. "

" Makes you want to put on a suit and go take over something. "

" Hard to believe that this was concieved so many years ago yet it still holds so much insight into all types of conflict, even today. Amazing....... "

" Makes you want to put on a suit and go take over something. "

" Hard to believe that this was concieved so many years ago yet it still holds so much insight into all types of conflict, even today. Amazing....... "

" The commentary sometimes gets in the way of the individual aphorisms, but sometimes that's critical so problems in translating can be understood by the reader. "

" The commentary sometimes gets in the way of the individual aphorisms, but sometimes that's critical so problems in translating can be understood by the reader. "

" The commentary sometimes gets in the way of the individual aphorisms, but sometimes that's critical so problems in translating can be understood by the reader. "

" The commentary sometimes gets in the way of the individual aphorisms, but sometimes that's critical so problems in translating can be understood by the reader. "

" This man taught me to fight when there's a clear objective. He also takes a lot of the chance out of the battle. "

" This man taught me to fight when there's a clear objective. He also takes a lot of the chance out of the battle. "

" This man taught me to fight when there's a clear objective. He also takes a lot of the chance out of the battle. "

" This man taught me to fight when there's a clear objective. He also takes a lot of the chance out of the battle. "

" A deceptively simple and easy to read treatise actually holds quite a lot of interesting strategies not just to war but to life itself. "

" A deceptively simple and easy to read treatise actually holds quite a lot of interesting strategies not just to war but to life itself. "

" A deceptively simple and easy to read treatise actually holds quite a lot of interesting strategies not just to war but to life itself. "

" A deceptively simple and easy to read treatise actually holds quite a lot of interesting strategies not just to war but to life itself. "

" Poetic and always confident, the Art of War is still capable of inspiring the modern man with its occasionally dated descriptions. This edition also includes a similar piece by Wu Tzu - also worth reading. "

" Poetic and always confident, the Art of War is still capable of inspiring the modern man with its occasionally dated descriptions. This edition also includes a similar piece by Wu Tzu - also worth reading. "

" Poetic and always confident, the Art of War is still capable of inspiring the modern man with its occasionally dated descriptions. This edition also includes a similar piece by Wu Tzu - also worth reading. "

" Poetic and always confident, the Art of War is still capable of inspiring the modern man with its occasionally dated descriptions. This edition also includes a similar piece by Wu Tzu - also worth reading. "

" Every manager must read it. "

" Every manager must read it. "

" A must read for everyone in the military who happens to have common sense. If more military and political leadership would read this we would have more successful battles, unfortunately they do not. "

" A must read for everyone in the military who happens to have common sense. If more military and political leadership would read this we would have more successful battles, unfortunately they do not. "

" A must read for everyone in the military who happens to have common sense. If more military and political leadership would read this we would have more successful battles, unfortunately they do not. "

" A must read for everyone in the military who happens to have common sense. If more military and political leadership would read this we would have more successful battles, unfortunately they do not. "

" Short, but with some very interesting thoughts when the wisdom is applied widely. Or conversely, an interesting way to think about war in the modern day - how much still applies, and the few things that are outdated. "

" Short, but with some very interesting thoughts when the wisdom is applied widely. Or conversely, an interesting way to think about war in the modern day - how much still applies, and the few things that are outdated. "

" Short, but with some very interesting thoughts when the wisdom is applied widely. Or conversely, an interesting way to think about war in the modern day - how much still applies, and the few things that are outdated. "

" Short, but with some very interesting thoughts when the wisdom is applied widely. Or conversely, an interesting way to think about war in the modern day - how much still applies, and the few things that are outdated. "