Book Review SUN TZU THE ART of WAR

BOOK REVIEW – SUN TZU – THE ART OF WAR C.403 BCE Wordworth Classic edition 1998.

Probably the World’s most famous study of military strategy and a work that has became essential reading of many politicians and generals since it was first presented in print.  It is believed that Mao Tze Tung used the work religiously during his Long March during the WW2 Japanese Occupation of China, and throughout his own political rule. Ho Chi Minh used the book as a guide in his stance against the us during the Vietnam conflict too.

Much of the book deals with diplomacy as a form of war in itself and advises battle as a final resort to be taken in desperate situations. War is costly and destructive.  Sun isn’t being humanitarian here, but economic. A long war drawing armies into siege and stalemate destroys castles, cities and crop fields. A general’s duty is therefore to fight hard and swiftly to bring the enemy to destruction or surrender quickly.

Much of the study emphasises the importance of information. Telling the enemy nothing of your strengths and weaknesses, but learning all there’s to know of theirs is vital; Sun sets great store by espionage with spies granted great social freedoms for the dangers their career presents them.

On the field, control and understanding of terrain is essential. You want the enemy fighting uphill from the marshes, not your own men.

Sun was writing very much for commanders, and never for the ordinary soldiers.  The work carries considerable class snobbery and sees soldiers as mere pawns in the conflict that rages.

Modern editions of the short book often come with an analysis text presented by General Tao Hanzhang, one of Mao’s leading generals. He demonstrates the text in a chapter-by-chapter study, showing examples of work from Sun’s own period and modern battles where the losing forces ought to have perhaps read the book themselves.  

Arthur Chappell