For more than two thousand years, Sun-tzu's "The Art of War" has provided leader
s with essential advice on battlefield tactics, managing troops and terrain, and
employing cunning and deception. An elemental part of Chinese culture, it has a
lso become a touchstone for the Western struggle for survival and success, wheth
er in battle, in business or in relationships. Now, in this crisp, accessible new translation,
John Minford brings this seminal work to life for today's readers.
Capturing the literary quality of "The Art of War" - its lucid, epigrammati
c, almost poetic style - as well as its philosophical and strategic content, Min
ford presents the core text in two different formats. First, the unadorned thirt
een chapters allow readers to form their own first impressions of the ancient wo
rds of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu. Then the same text appears with extensive run
ning commentary from the canon of traditional Chinese commentators and others, p
roviding context and subtext to the work.
A lively, learned introduction, chronologies, suggested readings, and other valuable apparatus round this authorita
tive volume. Even those readers familiar with "The Art of War" will experience it anew, finding it more fascinating - and more chilling - than ever.
