Posts tagged books

*This is the second installment in the 12 Books in 12 Monthes  – a series designed to encourage reading books that I’ve been meaning to read for some time.  (‘Where’s Part One?’  Good Question.  Answer:  it deserves more time and effort.)

 Sun Tzu, The Art of War; translated and with an introduction by Samuel B. Griffith

I picked this book for the challenge because:

1.  it had been hanging around a long time

2. I had tried to read it, several times, but failed to see the appeal.  But,

3.  it is a classic in Chinese literature (or, at least, military literature).

I’ve heard that much of the insight can be related to modern life – be it business, sports, or just living.   I heard about this book in college (let’s not talk about how long ago that was.)  

There are tidbits of wisdom inside but there is also much editorial comment.  (Which is well done and scholarly, but it’s more a book about a book than just Sun Tzu’s Art of War.)

I read it twice – once, skipping all the editorial stuff (a very quick enjoyable read) and again, slower with all the editorial knowledge about how this came to be or what was happening in China 2000 years ago or how this line might be alternatively translated.  All excellent info, especially for a college course, but it did detract from reading Sun Tzu himself.)

A  number of reviewers (on-line) suggest re-reading it numerous times, to let it sink in and adapt to one’s own life.

I don’t think so.

However, best example (badly paraphrased): 

Sun Tzu:  [War] is a matter of vital importance … appraise it in terms of the five fundamental factors … moral influence, weather, terrain, command, and doctrine.

If  I take “war” to mean life or actions, then this line becomes “appraise each {action) in terms of what is right or honorable, the larger climate in which one is operating, the immediate local environment, capabilites of self and ”doctrine”.  (In the Title this word is translated as “Art” but in the text, translators (not just Griffith) tell me this word is “doctrine” which is law or method.)

That is good advice in any century.

However, the idealist in me must shut up point out:   This book is about winning (and losing) and how to win.  I hope to find myself creating more win-win situations than win-lose.