The Art of War -- Spirituality for Conflict: Annotated & Explained

I have taken my time going through this book. I will be reading several more times. I find it very insightful. One of the reasons I am taking my time is to learn to apply it in my daily life. I am looking at situations now and asking myself questions in regard the 5 principles like, "Do I have The Way in this situation?" "Do I have Heaven and Ground in this?" and so on. I have been finding that I seldom, very seldom have all 5 and yet must take action. Even if that action is inaction. It is confidence building to know which strengths and vulnerabilities I have in situations with business and my wife and my children and so on. It takes a something, however, to apply these concepts to people that one would not consider an adversary but well worth the time figuring out the practical application.

Read through the reviews written here and you'll get a sense of the profound impact Sun Tzu's treatise has had on military officers, businessmen and regular people alike. You'll also read about the amazing work Thomas Huynh has done translating and annotating the treatise and presenting it to the contemporary reader. So I won't linger on the point that studying this book will, without a doubt, help you live a better and more successful life.I would like to express a point that hasn't been made, however. The 6-page forward Marc Benioff wrote is alone worth the price you'll pay for the entire book. It is excellently written and Benioff tells the story of how he has employed the teachings of Sun Tzu every step of the way in building a $2 billion dollar company from the ground up over the past 14 years.The key to unlocking the power of Sun Tzu is to take the strategies and tactics he presents and apply them to the every day challenges of your life and work. Benioff is a master of this and he identifies the exact teachings in the text that guided him in devising the creative and bold solutions to problems he faced in building Salesforce.com. Everyone's challenges are different, but the theory to overcoming them remains the same. Seeing how someone else has done it is extremely helpful to someone who seeks to learn how for themselves. You will observe your own creativity and boldness being stirred by the story.Benioff also zeros in on a key point that you're unlikely to encounter elsewhere. In "The Art of War", this treatise on defeat and victory on the battlefield, there is a surprising theme at the heart of all Sun Tzu's counsel: Compassion. Personally, I find it inspiring that a Chinese general from 2,500 years ago presents the profound ideal of compassion that Marc Benioff lives by.And I believe you will, too.

By far a great read. It’s amazing!!!

This book, which comes in many different editions, was recommended by a friend when I was defending myself in an unfair skirmish. It enabled me to see through and rise above so much of the conflict and hurt. This book can help so much with any kind of conflict - even internal. It's very well organized and easy to skim in and out of to find the relevant gems. It's an ancient classic with strikingly relevant contemporary wisdom, showing us that humans have not changed all that much over the past eons -- at least when they are in defensive mode and prone to being at their worst.

Love this book. Especially how it translates the meaning

The reason for the Art of War derives from the understanding that conflict is an integral part of human life. Some circumstances allow us to avoid conflict, while at other times we are challenged to confront it directly. Sun Tzu teaches that making better decisions quickly, while under competitive pressure, is the means by which we conquer these challenges.The conventional theory in competition, according to today's standards, is that success goes to the strongest or most aggressive. Sun Tzu's theory differs. Those who possess an in-depth understanding of the present situation, as well as alternatives to normal methods, win the day."Win all without fighting" is one of the pillars of the Art of War. Using strong positioning we are able to create problems for our opponent in a way that may cause him to refrain from entering into conflict at all. In the midst of battle, however, our strategy proffers foreknowledge about our adversary's potential plan which allows us to create a more than proportionate response to his attacks. In essence we are painting a picture where the risks far outweigh the gains, making it unreasonable for our opponent to continue in the fray.Mr. Huynh articulates these principles in an original, cogent and lucid manner. The likes of which anyone at any age can easily understand. "The Art of War, Spirituality for Conflict" is written so the tenets of this wisdom classic can be naturally implemented into one's everyday life. It is truly an outstanding interpretaion of the Art of War.For those endeavoring to enrich your life with concepts deriving a true peace of mind, this book serves as a conduit to that end.

There was something smeared on a couple of spots on the cover.

Finally, a book written by someone who understands the true meaning behind the Art of War. War is costly. The Art of War teaches us that we must do everything to avoid conflict. A line-by-line explanation helps to translate Sun Tzu into modern terms that is suitable for all occupations.Jason T. Brower, MBA, DML, ABDwww.linkedin.com/in/jasontbrower

This translation lays out the various strategies for planning and winning wars as stated by Sun Tzu. The foreword and annotations are particularly helpful in putting the arcane war related terminology into context. Though the translation stays faithful to the original context of actual warfare, the lessons translate seamlessly into professional life in most cases. In true Sun Tzu style, the choice of words is blunt and precise, the wisdom is timeless and the overall experience of reading it leaves you with enough techniques to navigate the pitfalls of life. Fair warning... Some of the lessons might appear negative or Machiavellian at first glance, but reader discretion is advised while extrapolating the lesson to day to day living.

good book, nothing really earth shattering. Worth buying if you're into the whole art of war thing..

Great book on management strategy. Must read for not only management people but for everyone, its about how to live daily life with proper planning.

Must read for all. simple strategies that can be implemented in our daily life. Corporates must learn from this.Enjoy!

A must read for all. A book for all seasons, especially the annotations