The book "The Art of War"

[maface]

I started reading "The Art of War" has anyone read it? what did you think?

[slinky]

i've flipped through once but never had the time to actually get into it. this is the book with ancient chinese in it?

[daveleau]

It might seem simplistic at first, but you must realize that these were all new ideas never compiled into a set of principles. It is one of the best guides to life, in general. It doesn't only pertain to war. Although, all of the great military leaders of today have read this and some have studied it extensively. Sun Tzu and Clausewitz are heavily taught in military schooling.

[Redwolf]

Make sure to read the balck one. the one with a Terra Cota warrior on the front (best translation I've read, with tons and TONS of notes). Do not read the White one, as the the translation is pretty bad and there are virtualy no notes.

-edit- The black one is translated by Samuel Griffith.

It's a grat, great book. It jsut makes sense, and the tactics work. If you like that book, you may also want to pick up Machiavelli's The Prince. Both are good readings for the future revolutio--err, leader.

[Gouki]

Another book I'd recommend is The Book of Five Rings by Miyamato Musashi...one of the greatest Samurai that ever lived. It's his book on swordplay and fighting tactics but the principles can be applied to every day life...great book.

[edwelly]

I would second The Book of 5 Rings - very nice book indeed...
---edwelly

[maface]

Originally posted by slinky
i've flipped through once but never had the time to actually get into it. this is the book with ancient chinese in it?

Thats the one

Redwolf,
I have the Denma translation. it has essays and commentary so even I might understand it
Dave,
I didnt realize this was taught in military school thats interesting

I will have to check out the the book of five rings

Thanks all

[ben-the-slacker]

Art of War has been used in military, economics, politics, personal discipline for a long time.

[Gouki]

Originally posted by ben-the-slacker
Art of War has been used in military, economics, politics, personal discipline for a long time.

As has The Book of Five Rings...well at least in Japan it has. Actually the first time I heard about the book was in a business class I took in College...the Prof suggested we all read it.

[Redwolf]

I haven't read the 5 rings yet but it does come highly reccomended. Art of War wasn't a problem for me to understand, but I still haven't absorbed it all (read it 3 times in the past year). The Prince is easy to understand (especially if you know a little more than squat about medieval history), but it's problem is that many of the things writte there don't have too much application in today's world (hereditary governments, peasents are a little more educated nowadays, etc). The Art of War has similar problems but to a lesser degree (like groupings containing chariots and swordsmen, although if you say chariot=tank and swordsman=soldier/grunt, you shouldn't have too much of a problem (in fact, taken that way, you can see that the book parallels Rommel's military style to a degree. Wonder if he ever read it?)).