Perhaps one of the most famous ancient books on warfare, Sun-tzu’s The Art of War
As I began reading I expected some introductions, explanations, etc., but what I did not expect or want was 162 pages of history before even getting to Sun-tzu. I could only read sixty pages before I found myself flipping ahead to the thirteen sections of The Art Of War. My impatience got the best of me, but I really wanted to read only Sun-tzu’s work and I found it very interesting and perhaps would be useful reading by some of our political leaders.
“No country has ever profited from protracted warfare. Those who do not thoroughly comprehend the dangers inherent in employing the army are incapable of truly knowing the potential advantages of military actions.”
“Thus the highest realization of warfare is to attack the enemy’s plans; next is to attack their alliances; next is to attack their army; and the lowest is to attack their fortified cities.”
“Thus there are five factors from which victory can be known: One who knows when he can fight, and when he cannot fight will be victorious; One who recognizes how to employ large and small numbers will be victorious; On whose upper and lower ranks have the same desires will be victorious; One who, fully prepared, awaits the unpreparted will be victorious; One whose general is capable and not interfered with by the ruler will be victorious.” [emphasis added]
I enjoyed reading Sun-tzu’s translated works, but could certainly have skipped the rest and the book would have been around 20 pages long. This one is going for sale on Amazon and I will look for a shorter, concise version for my bookshelf.
