Strategy and Philosophy Book Listing:
Sun Tzu: The Art of War
The Art of War is the Swiss army knife of military theory—pop out a different tool for any situation. Folded into this small package are compact views on resourcefulness, momentum, cunning, the profit motive, flexibility, integrity, secrecy, speed, positioning, surprise, deception, manipulation, responsibility, and practicality. Thomas Cleary's translation keeps the package tight, with crisp language and short sections. Commentaries from the Chinese tradition trail Sun Tzu's words, elaborating and picking up on puzzling lines. Take the solitary passage: "Do not eat food for their soldiers." Elsewhere, Sun Tzu has told us to plunder the enemy's stores, but now we're not supposed to eat the food? The Tang Dynasty commentator Du Mu solves the puzzle nicely, "If the enemy suddenly abandons their food supplies, they should be tested first before eating, lest they be poisoned."
Most passages, however, are the pinnacle of succinct clarity: "Lure them in with the prospect of gain, take them by confusion" or "Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability is in the opponent." Sun Tzu's maxims are widely applicable beyond the military because they speak directly to the exigencies of survival. Your new tools will serve you well, but don't flaunt them. Remember Sun Tzu's advice: "Though effective, appear to be ineffective."
The Art of War Sun Tzu
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lou Guan Zhong
Romance of Three Kingdoms is not just the novelized version of the history record "Three Kingdoms." It overtook the heart of both Chinese and Japanese. The story is based on the history of ancient China around late 2nd century to late 3rd century when the Chinese continent was divided by three strong kingdoms, Shu (Gui in Japanese), Wu (GO in Japanese), and Wei (SHOKU in Japanese). On first reading you will enjoy the way the characters outsmart the other camps. On second reading you will be struck by the humanity upon which the story is based. It is much more than a legend. It will surely get you closer to the mind of either Chinese and Japanese.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: San Guo Yan Yi
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is seen as the book of wisdom relevant to all parts of life: interpersonal, competitive, rhetorical, ethical, military, economic: at home, at work, at play, at war. The premise of the story is that there are three men who pledge to be brothers and to overthrow the usurper who has displaced the rightful emperor from the throne. What follows is a breathtaking picture of ancient Chinese life, battle strategy, and court intrigue.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Volume 2
Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel
Patrick Hanan, New York Times Book Review
"A martial epic with an astonishing fidelity to history, which has been translated now into lively English by Moss Roberts. The subject matter of the Three Kingdoms has long held an extraordinary grip on the Chinese imagination. The great achievement of the author was to match historiography with fiction and gain a synergistic effect from the combination of elite and popular tradition."
Mastering the Art of War
A translation of Zhuge Liang's The Way of General can be found in the Thomas Cleary book Mastering the Art of War. This book clearly delineated Zhuge Liang's thoughts on strategy, organization, and leadership. Cleary's book also included Liu Ji's (another famous Chinese statesman-general) serious commentary on the original framework of Sun Tzu principles, then extends the parameters. Basically this book is an in-depth study of The Art of War, detailing the practical applications of waging war both materially and mentally, with a focus toward leadership and strategic thinking.
