The Art of War

By: Sun Tzu

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Shelly Frasier

Written before Alexander the Great was born, this Chinese treatise on war has become one of the most influential works on the subject. Read widely in the east since its appearance 2,500 years ago, The Art of War first came to the west with a French Jesuit in 1782. It has been studied by generals from Napoleon to Rommel, and it is still required reading in most military academies of the world.

Although it was meant to be a practical guide to warfare in the age of chariots, many corporate and government leaders have successfully applied its lessons to battles in the modern dog-eat-dog world. Sun Tzu covers all aspects of war in his time, from strategy and tactics to the proper use of terrain and spies. In this version, Sun Tzu's lessons are brought to life with commentaries from ancient Chinese history, which illustrate both the philosophy and the principles of his teachings.

Public Domain (P)2002 Tantor Media, Inc. Originally published in 1910.

Critic reviews

"Scott Brick's steady, imperative tone conveys Sun Tzu's certainty. Shelly Frasier's smooth counterpoint (her reading of illustrative commentary from several sources) balances Brick's pronouncements. Transitions between the two are flawless, and the quick march towards success is maintained." (AudioFile)

always good

This version of the art of war is clear, and gave me no issue on playback. great story for life. #COACHHAWK

WISDOM

A MUST TO HAVE GREAT FOR THE ROAD.COULD NOT GET ENOUGH

Read This for the Wisdom

Any additional comments?

This was fantastic for the wisdom and all that is mentioned here is useful in all areas of life, not just in war. This is very important; read this with no expectations of it reading as a story or anything recabling narration. If you do, you will be really, really, really disappointed.

Approach this as Chinese philosophy and a guide to success. It is a guide, which is why it reads like it. As long as you remember this, you will enjoy it well enough.

Narraters are alright, although Scot could have slowed it down a bit especially because every word counts. Slowing it down would have provides for better digest. I'll have to reread it to ensure I didn't miss anything, but it's a worth while read as long as you remember that the format is no fault of the author.

An insiteful listen.

If you could sum up The Art of War in three words, what would they be?

This ancient text is insiteful, charismatic, and tested by centuries of warfare.

Would you be willing to try another book from Sun Tzu? Why or why not?

Yes. It was worth the time spent.

Good for business trips

To actually study the Art of War, I think you need the text in front of you to mull over. But if you've got to travel a short distance for a meeting or something, this is a great couple of hours to get you pumped up.

Not really a business book

If you have ever heard that The Art of War was essential reading for business professionals, let me tell you something - it isn't. I can see why in the 80's this text was the "go-to" for "sharks" and people who wanted to feel like they could "dominate" their co-workers. But here's the fact. This book is just the original text. If you want insights on how to apply it to business, I suggest getting a book that covers how the Art of War correlates to the business world.

On the performance side, Scott Brick does a great job, but for some reason (I still don't get why) the book is also narrated by Shelly Frasier. The problem with co-readers is that it's not clear when they are going to switch places and why. Also, Frasier has a deep southern draw that's both distracting and incompatible with the text. But hey, if you want to be read to by a combination of Gordon Gekko and Scarlett O'Hara, and learn all about war but nothing about business get this book. You can be the person in the office who wears the "I've read The Art of War" badge on their lapel.

Simply Excellent

What did you like best about this story?

If you are studying history of past wars, this book may shed some insight as to what may go through a General's mind during battle.

The best part about this book is that you can listen to this book over and over again and still learn something new every time.

Any additional comments?

Scott and Shelly read the story very well and at a nice pace. This made taking notes easy.

Classic knowledge

They say the teachings of this book can be applied to many more areas in life than just war, and they are right. We think we are oh so smart today, but it is common sense that wins the day - then and now. A classic for any culture.

Hard of hearing

The female was hard to understand because of her voice. I was wearing a Bose WiFi headset.

Still required reading for a reason

This is one of those classic works that I’ve picked up and browsed through a few times, but never quite got around to reading in its entirety. This audiobook provides a translation of the original sparsely-worded 2,500 year old military manual interspersed with commentary and historical anecdotes from ancient China.

Jaded present-day readers might be tempted to scoff at the simplicity of Sun Tzu’s treatise and its quaint-sounding language about walled cities, terrain, and taxing the peasants -- gosh, Sun Tzu, we should deceive our enemy? we should only attack when he’s weak? Tell me more! -- but look again. The Art of War isn’t a breezy self-help guide -- held in the mind, its principles form a constant admonition to let the circumstances shape your thinking, rather than try to impose your thinking on the circumstances.

Which is something that human beings, when you think about it, aren’t naturally gifted at. We get carried away with emotions. We tie ourselves to inflexible agendas and ideas. We’re indecisive. We prefer direction from others. We underestimate difficult problems and get in over our heads. We bias ourselves towards predictions that say what we want to hear. The point Sun Tzu (or the authors whose work was attributed to him) were making is simple: if you can overcome your own cognitive biases, and take advantage of those of your enemy, you’ll do well.

You don’t have to be much of a student of history to see how military, political, and business leaders have gotten it right or wrong, human nature being as hard to overcome as it was 2,500 years ago. Consider how a loose, cheaply-run network known as Al-Queda managed to goad the United States into wasting vast amounts of money on a war with no clear victory condition, while alienating allies and sacrificing some of its own treasured democratic ideals. Or how China, rather than making a risky show of military strength against the US, keeps our power in check by owning part of our national debt. Someone behind that decision must have read his Sun Tzu.

Just goes to show why The Art of War’s zenlike lessons are still required reading in many circles.