Books : The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition

Rating: - ***** One Of The Greatest Books Ever Written *****
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Sun Tzu's "Art of War" is the first known treatise on how to wage war in a professional manner. This little book was written some 2,500 years ago and has been considered to be the seminal work on warfare by nearly every military expert in the world since it became known to Western Civilization.

Sun Tzu pointed out that war is a terrible thing which should be avoided, if at all possible, but, when unavoidable should be carried out so as to minimize the destruction. He was the first to advocate that war should not be undertaken for trivial reasons and that it should be conducted by professionals who know how to do it right - who understand that no one gains from unnecessary death and destruction.

The minute details of his advice are no more directly applicable to modern military circumstances; or to other areas such as business, advertising or sports; than are those from other classic masterpieces of literature from ancient times. The value of this little book is in the philosophy, reason and intelligence it displays and promotes, not in the specifics that were applicable 2,500 years ago.

Sun Tzu's view that those who do not understand the gravity of war, who do not understand the necessity of a clear purpose and for specific goals to be achieved by military action, who do not understand the importance of discipline and effective leadership, etc... will surely come to grief is as true today as it has been throughout the history of the world.

This is merely one of the greatest books that has ever been written. It is an appeal for reason and rational behavior, even when conducting something as inherently irrational as war. Its lessons are monumentally important even if they are occasionally misunderstood and misapplied by those of limited intelligence.