The original and bestselling leadership book! Sun Tzu′s ideas on survival and success have been read across the world for centuries. Today they can still be applied to business, politics and life. The Art of War demonstrates how to win without conflict. It shows that with enough intelligence and planning, it is possible to conquer with a minimum of force and little destruction. This luxury hardback edition includes an introduction by Tom Butler–Bowdon that draws out lessons for managers and business leaders, and highlights the power of Sun Tzu′s thinking in everyday life.
The Art of War: The Ancient Classic (Capstone Classics)
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From the Inside Flap
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese classic that remains and international bestselling business and self–help manual to this day. With millions of copies sold worldwide in hundreds of translations, its central message of winning without conflict is as pertinent now as it was 2,500 years ago. This edition also includes bonus material, the translated Sayings of Wutzu.
From the Back Cover
Sun Tzu′s ideas on survival and success have been read across the world for centuries. Today they can still be applied to business, politics and life. The Art of War demonstrates how to win without conflict. It shows that with enough intelligence and planning, it is possible to conquer with a minimum of force and little destruction. This edition includes an introduction by Tom Butler–Bowdon that draws out lessons for managers and business leaders, and highlights the power of Sun Tzu′s thinking in everyday life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Robert Morris
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
Those who have read one of the volumes that comprise Tom Butler-Bowdon's "50 Classics" series already know that he possesses superior reasoning and writing skills as well as a relentless curiosity when conducting research on history's greatest thinkers and their major works. For these and other reasons, I cannot think of another person better qualified to provide the introductions to the volumes that comprise a new series, "Capstone Classics."
Unlike so many others, he provides more, much more than a flimsy "briefing" to the given work. For this volume, he poses and then responds to key questions such as these in order to create a context, a frame-of-reference, for Sun Tzu's insights:
o What exactly can the modern reader get from a manual for waging war that is probably about 2,500 years old?
o What Are the book's "spiritual underpinnings" in addition to its practical advice about planning and waging war?
o What was the historical context, the frame-of-reference, in which Sun Tzu lived and worked?
o To what extent does his classic, The Art of War, reflect that period?
o According to Sun Tzu, what are the meaning and significance of each of the "five indispensable matters" that inform (or at least should inform) a leader's decisions, including the one to do nothing, at least for now?
o According to Sun Tzu, what are the various degrees of successful warfare, with the most valued being able to "subdue the enemy without a fight," closely followed by "taking whole" the enemy's forces and other resources?
o What are the "five occasions when victory can be foretold"?
As indicated earlier, Tom Butler-Bowdon's purpose in this Introduction is to create a context, a frame-of-reference, for Sun Tzu's insights. He does so brilliantly in this instance and in each of the volumes in the "Capstone Classics series that have been published thus far.
Unlike so many others, he provides more, much more than a flimsy "briefing" to the given work. For this volume, he poses and then responds to key questions such as these in order to create a context, a frame-of-reference, for Sun Tzu's insights:
o What exactly can the modern reader get from a manual for waging war that is probably about 2,500 years old?
o What Are the book's "spiritual underpinnings" in addition to its practical advice about planning and waging war?
o What was the historical context, the frame-of-reference, in which Sun Tzu lived and worked?
o To what extent does his classic, The Art of War, reflect that period?
o According to Sun Tzu, what are the meaning and significance of each of the "five indispensable matters" that inform (or at least should inform) a leader's decisions, including the one to do nothing, at least for now?
o According to Sun Tzu, what are the various degrees of successful warfare, with the most valued being able to "subdue the enemy without a fight," closely followed by "taking whole" the enemy's forces and other resources?
o What are the "five occasions when victory can be foretold"?
As indicated earlier, Tom Butler-Bowdon's purpose in this Introduction is to create a context, a frame-of-reference, for Sun Tzu's insights. He does so brilliantly in this instance and in each of the volumes in the "Capstone Classics series that have been published thus far.
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superior introductions and stylish design mark this edition as a version to treasure...
8 May 2010
By S. P. Moses
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
I was drawn to this book by the promise of an introduction by Tom Butler-Bowdon. He's the author of a series of books which summarise and contextualise self improvement literature. Indeed, he has already discussed The Art of War in his second book 50 Success Classics: Winning Wisdom For Work & Life From 50 Landmark Books. Thankfully there is more to say on this subject.
Butler-Bowdon commentaries are always clear and concise. Indeed some people will find they don't need to read Sun Tzu's words once they have read the introduction. As the text of The Art of War is rather short, this book also contains The Sayings of Wu Tzu, a warrior who lived at the same time as Sun Tzu. This section gets a separate Butler-Bowdon introduction.
My favourite piece of advice from the introduction is that we should let The Art of War seep into our consciousness over several readings. This is not a book to read if you are looking for practical solutions to your problems. Even if you were in a combat situation I'm not sure how much use this book would be. Much of what Sun Tzu says is either common sense, or irrelevant to someone living in the modern world.
On the other hand The Art of War may prove useful if you use it as an inspiration for your own thinking. The layout of this book is calming and restful and the words themselves carefully considered. If you know that the answers to your dilemmas lie within you, this book may help you find them. Try reading some of Sun Tzu's words, then spend time mediating on them. See if they can cast light on your situation.
Equally, it is hard to disagree with Sun Tzu when he says that to be successful we should develop an ethic of constant refinement and improvement. If this is your goal then I would recommend Tom Butler-Bowdon's other books 50 Self-help Classics: 50 Inspirational Books to Transform Your Life from Timeless Sages to Contemporary Gurus, 50 Success Classics: Winning Wisdom For Work & Life From 50 Landmark Books, 50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose, 50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do, and 50 Prosperity Classics: Attract It, Create It, Manage It, Share It. These books are excellent signposts on your road to self improvement.
The design of The Art of War is modern and stylish, making it ideal as a present or as a book you might want to treasure yourself. It offers no easy answers, but it might provide you with a fresh way of thinking that leads to revelations of your own devising.
Butler-Bowdon commentaries are always clear and concise. Indeed some people will find they don't need to read Sun Tzu's words once they have read the introduction. As the text of The Art of War is rather short, this book also contains The Sayings of Wu Tzu, a warrior who lived at the same time as Sun Tzu. This section gets a separate Butler-Bowdon introduction.
My favourite piece of advice from the introduction is that we should let The Art of War seep into our consciousness over several readings. This is not a book to read if you are looking for practical solutions to your problems. Even if you were in a combat situation I'm not sure how much use this book would be. Much of what Sun Tzu says is either common sense, or irrelevant to someone living in the modern world.
On the other hand The Art of War may prove useful if you use it as an inspiration for your own thinking. The layout of this book is calming and restful and the words themselves carefully considered. If you know that the answers to your dilemmas lie within you, this book may help you find them. Try reading some of Sun Tzu's words, then spend time mediating on them. See if they can cast light on your situation.
Equally, it is hard to disagree with Sun Tzu when he says that to be successful we should develop an ethic of constant refinement and improvement. If this is your goal then I would recommend Tom Butler-Bowdon's other books 50 Self-help Classics: 50 Inspirational Books to Transform Your Life from Timeless Sages to Contemporary Gurus, 50 Success Classics: Winning Wisdom For Work & Life From 50 Landmark Books, 50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose, 50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do, and 50 Prosperity Classics: Attract It, Create It, Manage It, Share It. These books are excellent signposts on your road to self improvement.
The design of The Art of War is modern and stylish, making it ideal as a present or as a book you might want to treasure yourself. It offers no easy answers, but it might provide you with a fresh way of thinking that leads to revelations of your own devising.
By smd
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There is so much you can learn from this. Although primarily referenced to war, the way in which it's written is on philosophical terms rather than direct mechanisms, which make it applicable to many things in life.
In terms of the book itself by the author, apart from the introduction, it only comments on small things which may be confusing to the modern reader. The blue and down shown on the cover is only really a strap, which if you take off makes it just a black book with barely noticeable title. However this is what I love about this particular book. Everything is just so simple, and when searching for the right book to buy, my ideal choice was one where I could read through and attempt to understand with my own thoughts rather than have so many commentaries and notes covering each page, so this fits the bill for me.
In terms of the book itself by the author, apart from the introduction, it only comments on small things which may be confusing to the modern reader. The blue and down shown on the cover is only really a strap, which if you take off makes it just a black book with barely noticeable title. However this is what I love about this particular book. Everything is just so simple, and when searching for the right book to buy, my ideal choice was one where I could read through and attempt to understand with my own thoughts rather than have so many commentaries and notes covering each page, so this fits the bill for me.
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2.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why didn't I buy this book years ago!!
A genuinely great read, very insightful and still very relevant not only to warfare but to living your life. Read more
Published 1 month ago by James A. Barry
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great product!
Very interesting read, the book is a great hardback and definitely worth having in your collection. Also, this edition is great for anyone.
Published 3 months ago by Niki
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good printing and cover and all, but the book itself is overrated
If you want to read The Art of War, you might want to buy this edition. Good printing and cover and all. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rami
5.0 out of 5 stars
the art of war
great book, surely a must read quality of the book itself is great the disign is very sleak and stylish. Read more
Published 15 months ago by gille
3.0 out of 5 stars
NO Lionel Giles
This version is far inferior to the lionel giles version which is more accurate and easier to understand, this version has artistic license which i dont like and its harder to... Read more
Published on 7 May 2011 by A Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good for the price
Binding good, print size good but the blue band is a paper slipover, not an integral part of the cover design.
Published on 4 Jan 2011 by bulbulamir
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