The Art of War Book Summary

Book Summary

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Brief Summary

Considered the essential reference text on military strategy and warfare, The Art of War has been a source of inspiration for military generals, business professionals and multidisciplinary strategists. Five factors govern the art of war: The Moral Code, Heaven, Earth, The Commander and Method & Discipline. A leader who knows these will be successful and one who does not will be doomed to defeat. All warfare is built on a premise of deception: appear weak when strong and strong when weak. The supreme art of war is to dismantle the opponent without fighting at all.

About the Author

Born Sun Wu in China in 544 BC, Tzu was a general and military strategist controversially touted as being the author of The Art of War. For Tzu, victory and defeat are psychological states and his strategies focused on dismantling enemies through psychological warfare with Taoist principles. His teachings gained notoriety in the Western world in the 20th century as accurate translations became available.

Topics

Management & Leadership Motivation & Inspiration

The Art of War Book Summary Preview

What You’ll Learn

The Five Fundamental Factors of any conflict
Examples of strategy and tactics
How to conserve resources in the battle
The implementation of perception and deception
The role of spies
How to manage an army

Who This is For

Military commanders or students of military tactics
Business management executives and entrepreneurs
Anyone interested in reading the most influential book there has ever been on war strategy

Key Insights

Although The Art of War was written by a Chinese general, Sun Tzu, who lived more than 2,500 years ago, it has survived the centuries and is widely used today as a classic text for military generals and business leaders alike. Its teachings apply to war, politics, economy, and business. War determines life or death; therefore its importance can’t be underestimated and the study of the best tactics to achieve victory is essential.

The Importance of War

The very existence of a country is at stake when it goes to war. It is critical that the most effective strategies be studied, known, and effectively implemented. The first question to be addressed is if the country is strong enough. Strength is appraised through financial metrics as well as the spirit of the people and fighters. If either or both of these are weak, a country should not enter into battle. Remember, war is “a matter of life or death, a road to either survival or ruin.”

The Five Fundamental Factors of Any Conflict

There are five concepts that must be considered to gauge the potential success of any conflict. They are:

Politics- Are your neighbors with you or will they unify against you should you pursue military action? Is there unity or division on the homefront regarding the potential war? Strife at home will weaken your strength on the battlefield and no war should be waged if the people oppose it. No country should enter more than one war at a time.

Weather- The conditions in which your armies will have to fight can have a direct impact on the outcome of a battle. Be sure your army is prepared to fight in any weather extremes. Knowing they will be supplied and supported no matter what conditions arise will increase the fighting spirits of the soldiers.

Terrain- The land on which you will fight has a fundamental effect on the outcome. Is the area open or will your army be fighting from a geographical disadvantage? If both armies are on open ground, gain the advantage by striking first. Don’t be caught in terrain where movement is inhibited and you are at the mercy of the enemy. Manipulate the battleground to your advantage, such as taking the high ground and forcing the enemy to go uphill or position so that the enemy is squinting in the sun.

Command- The leader must retain attributes that gain trust and loyalty. The commander must stay calm and be fair. Not maintaining emotions can put the entire army at risk. Counsel and change plan quickly, so as to be unpredictable. The commander must continuously study the battlefield. Ordering the army to advance without having full knowledge...