33 Strategies of War

By: Robert Greene

Narrated by: Donald Coren

33 Strategies of War is a comprehensive guide to the subtle social game of everyday life, informed by the most ingenious and effective military principles in war. It's the I-Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun Tzu's The Art of War, and is abundantly illustrated with examples from history, including the folly and genius of everyone from Napoleon to Margaret Thatcher, Hannibal to Ulysses S. Grant, movie moguls to samurai swordsmen.

©2007 Robert Greene and Joost Elffers (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Great for thinkers

What I like most about this book and its counter part the 48 laws of power is the style in which the author delivers a ton of information. The stories he tells are real and are from the lives of many different well known and influential people from different time periods. Its like having someone piece together twenty or thirty biographies of interesting peoples lives and getting just the good parts. I enjoyed 48 laws of power more but the principles in this book make you think a lot. I found myself looking inward and asking myself how I acted in certain social situations in and outside of the work place.

It is a very interesting and well done work!

Impressive array of moves, stories, coaching

This book is very qualitative: it mostly describes possible moves or approaches, in fairly plain terms, to challenging situations, posed as war or conflict, with stories spliced in from history (and occasionally literature) to back each one up. There is not some deep analytical means to opt for one move versus others. Likewise it is not excessive in its humility -- the basic tone is, you can do it. Grasp this, understand this, dare that. (It does, however, counsel a calm, deliberate, self-critical, and self-aware approach.) It thus hits a nice balance, being energizing, but not overly risk-obsessed. I find it very pleasant and uplifting to pass time (as on a commute or a walk-run) letting this endless sort of breeze of coaching tips stream over my ears and mind. I like a book that can stand up to that sort of shifting environment and still be understandable. This is one of those few books I may very well listen to multiple times. I like this author a lot and will check out his other titles.

Alongside more of Napoleon than I ever heard, this author has a great appreciation for east Asian strategies of indirection and seeming retreat or "not-doing." For example, there are ideas of trading space for time, both from European tacticians and Chinese in different eras. There are many great mind-stretchers here along these lines. And how about that Joan Crawford! What a tactician! The author reaches in many unexpected directions and opens vistas and bios I would never have thought of.

Original Presentation Style, Well Researched

I own this title as an ebook, hardback and audiobook. Having a professional interest in the topic I have read many titles on the subject area and only found one other to rival it for originality and usefulness. The narration is excellent and the narrator's cadence is very well timed. A superb treatment of an important topic but one which is so often merely a dull restatement of older works. Greene combines a decent repertoire of sources and historical accounts with a practical perspective that is rare. Very well worth the investment

very practical and relevant to today's world

At first I was very interested in the historical stories but did not feel like the theories or strategies were applicable to my life.

however as the author progresses to some more advanced ideas I started to recognize the similarities. The chapter on passive aggression was particularly helpful.

it was so good

i enjoyed being in the minds of the most foward thinking men in history , i will reread this book 2 more times

Fascinating book!

I read a good number of positive reviews before purchasing and they were correct. I have a number of bookmarks to refer to for reflection. Don’t think of this as just “War”, this is about thoughts and strategies for dealing with people and situations.

This is one great book!

This book is very readable and as rewarding as any book I have listened too in years

Unnerving but necessary

When I first read the book I was a unnerved as it challenged the way I've been raised, as I read more I felt it's necessary to survive, if only to recognize these strategies and know exactly how to defend yourself. Thank you

Very interesting

I really enjoyed the historical and present day examples. Very well written and the performance was great.

Never fight the last war

This book changed my life, truly a hidden gem of a book.

I love Robert Greene, I truly believe he’s the greatest author to have ever lived.

Also extremely underrated, but that just makes this book all the more valuable.