The legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu in the treaty made a compendium of knowledge on military strategy: "The war is of vital importance to the State, is the domain of life or death forced [...] is properly administered. No seriously reflect on everything that concerns him is to show a culpable indifference as regards the retention or loss of what we hold most dear ... "
had long wanted to read this book but never get my hands on a copy. So this Christmas, when looking at random in a bookstore I found second-hand edition Argentina is really cheap.
The book (by extension) does not disappoint. From what I've researched some authors even doubt the real existence of this general, but the work seems to have been written in the sixth century ad C. Given the antiquity of the writings, based on an even older tradition seems impossible to the degree of maturity of thought reflected in them. The basic premise of the book is that armed conflict is very costly in human lives and economic resources as the best victory is one in which not even have to fight. If no choice but to conduct a campaign, the better the shorter and you should only enter combat if there is no alternative or if you are sure it is going to win.
Another oft-repeated phrase that strikes me is: "Victory is not achieved, the victory is made." Hits the lateness of the Eastern wisdom in contrast to contemporary Western culture much later Greco-Roman or other like medieval. The outcome of the battle slightly depends on chance or God or the gods, but the potential, preparation and courage of the troops attached to the ability of officers and to the general good.
To the modern reader it is impossible not to make parallels with other conflicts beyond what war is therefore not surprising that applications have emerged from "The Art of War" for the business world.
My rating: very good.
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