Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" seemed like more universal part of this book than Sun Pin's "The Art of Warfare". By more universal I mean the fact that bigger part of Sun Tzu work seems still up to date and proper to apply in many situations, not only military ones. Maybe because it was more "general", not as specific as Sun Pin's work?

Although I felt like I need to pick parts that would be right for me and modern situations, it's not like it's universal book with universal wise words that will guide you through every problem in life and is always right, no matter what is the context of that problem. Some parts feel to me like clearly military thing, and to say more, ancient military thing, so they may be not even good when it comes to modern military.

I mentioned that "The Art of War" seemed for me like a better source of wise words for nowadays reader, but I found few nice quotes in Sun Pin's work too, and I am glad that those two books were joined together and released like that, with comments.

It's just how I feel about it.

This is really two books in one: Sun Tzu's and Sun Pin's. I only read Sun Tzu. Does that count as finishing the book? I don't know, but I'm going to count it anyways.

Excellent edition of two standard historical works. This edition contains Sun Tzu's, The Art of War and Sun Pin's, Military Methods. Both works have commentary at the end of each chapter, Chronologies for both Dynasties, and a very well written Introduction giving the reader a nice historical context of both works, extant manuscript issues, etc.

I realize this isn’t on everyone’s “to be read” list. Some of it seems overly obvious if you don’t consider its context. Historically it’s cool to see where many of these common strategies come from. Many of the concepts can be applied both literally and figuratively if you feel so inclined. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Pretty good one to study and read it again.

Sun Tzu's Art of war

This book is a extremely good book. It takes you through the history of ancient China and teaches you life lessons and strategies along the way. His strategies have been read by strategists to business men. And is still incredibly hard to interpret.

I recommend this book to any deep thinker or strategical person. The interpretation of it is much simpler than other additions and anyone older than 12 should understand it.

Realmente es un libro muy bueno, lleno de estrategias militares que se pueden tomar para nuestro diario vivir, nuestra vida militar y el actuar con la sociedad.

Fue un libro que leí por recomendación de un gran amigo y en verdad es notorio los cambios que se pueden alcanzar con buenos concejos.

This book is a checklist on how to win a war. A good checklist though. I am so glad that Putin never read it. Or if he did, he did not understand a word. Jokes aside. Some of the practical advice could be used (in a little transformed way) in our personal and work life. Worth reading.

I am not ready for battle.
...very smart guy, though.

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”

"Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.”

“Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”

good for newbie.. in life..

I first read this book back in elementary school because I hoped it would make me better at Romance of the Three Kingdoms for the NES. It did.

Look, I know that there's a million douche bags who have waxed rhapsodic about how this is still a great thing to read if you want to win at business or at sports or whatever. But they aren't wrong. Not only is this a great work on strategy, but it's a definitive text on leadership.

There are definitely parts that have little if any relevance to the modern reader. There's a whole chapter on how to use fire as a weapon (though that did help in Romance of the Tree Kingdoms. I think the game designers read the same book). But I've even used his leadership advice in parenting. If you are thinking "what kind of asshole raises his kids in accordance with the Art of War?" keep in mind that Sun Tsu was all about fairness and consistency in leadership, and parent is a leadership position.

Personally, I think Sun Tsu was also surprisingly compassionate. I don't think he really liked war. I think that he lived in a time when war was pretty unavoidable so he just figured he might as well get good at it. That is if he even was just one person. Some scholars think that he's a mythical amalgam of several real generals. If so than my thesis goes all to shit.

I listened to an audiobook version, and I didn't fully understand the structure. I believe I listened to the standard text straight through, and then it re-went through the whole book but adding the editor/translator notes. Usually when I read books with notes, I tend to flip back and forth to get the notes on my first read, so it felt a little strange to me.