The Art of War

The “Art of War” is one of the most quoted and influential books in history. Written 2,000 years ago in Ancient China, it continues to be studied in military academies the world over. Sun Tzu’s keen observations on warfare and strategy reverberate to this day. The Chinese general’s key premise is that all war should be avoided with diplomacy. Yet when one is forced to fight, he explains the strategy and tactics one must use to ensure a speedy resolution that entails as little suffering as possible. In one famous quote, he explains, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

Dr. Lionel Gills was not the first scholar to translate Sun Tzu’s masterpiece into English, but his translation is perhaps the definitive version. Its reputation has cemented it as a must-read for world leaders, politicians, military strategists, scholars, philosophers, captains of industry, and anyone with an interest in the thoughts and perceptions of a great and highly tactical mind.