The Tao of Becoming a Strategist
continuedQ: What other Asian strategy books do you recommend to interested readers?
A: For starters, try...
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: San Guo Yan Yi
by Lou Guan Zhong, C. H. Brewitt-Taylor (Translator)
The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China (History and Warfare)
by Ralph D. Sawyer
The next book, Sun-Tzu: The Art of Warfare: The First English Translation Incorporating the Recently Discovered Yin-Ch'Ueh-Shan Texts (Classics of Ancient China) is a classic for true strategists.
For those who are interested the inner qualities of a warriors from the perspective of Japan's Sword Saint Miyamoto Musashi, try Vic Harris's translation of Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings.
Other recommended strategy books can be found on Jade Dragon's Strategy & Philosophy page.
Q: What other books do you recommend?
A: Some books on Taoism and Zen:
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching: The Way of Virtue. My favorite translations are by Stephen Mitchell and Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English.
Shunryu Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind and Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness.
D.T. Suzuki's The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind (Princeton Press's book on the I-Ching)
Q: What non-Asian reading on strategies do you like?
A: One interesting book is 48 Laws of Power. This book is a compilation of many writings from Niccolo Machiavelli and many other strategic thinkers. Other books are Machiavelli's
The Prince, Machiavelli's The Art of War, and any writings on strategy from B.H. Liddell Hart.
Q: Besides reading about strategy, what else should I do?
A: Always study history and learn from it. History repeats itself over and over again. Regardless of the readings, it is important to get as much"experience as possible.
Q: How do I get that experience?
A: Search for organizations that are in need of a new strategic perspective. See if they are interested in applying your viewpoint and your ideas.
Q: Beside war and business, where else can I apply those strategic principles?
A: Try playing board games like Go and Chinese Chess for purpose of strategic simulations.
