The Art of War by Sun Tzu [Review]

If you’re at all familiar with Sun Tzu’s Art of War, then you know it’s been applied to all manner of things, from getting jobs and doing business, to actual military strategy as it was originally intended, but is really about understanding how to determine your relative advantage in any given situation, and how as a result to optimize your outcome. While succinctly written, the short entries hold a wealth of meaning, and is worth revisiting multiple times. Between this and the various translations that can add different emphases, there’s always something new to take from a reading, and so it’s no exaggeration to say that this nuanced book can take a lifetime to truly appreciate. An excellent resource for anyone looking to enhance their critical thinking, you will need to make your way through the sections detailing the logistics for supporting an army and the maneuvers to be utilized on the battlefield, but even these sections highlight how “battles” can be won or lost without ever firing a shot. All that said, this book, whatever the translation you’ve got access to, is definitely worth reading – regardless if you’re interested in military strategy or not.