The Art of war

[billybob]

I'm in the middle of reading this book, and was wondering how it's applied to life outside... well war. Winning without ever entering a fight and thinking every possibility through before you make a move are some, but how do people who've read it use it? Outside war and business, how do totseans apply this to life? Or how much do you think is useful in business/relationships rather than war? I must not be reading deeply enough into it or something :s

I'm thinking some parts must be just exclusively for war, right?

[Nihilist]

use it?

i dont consider it enough by itself to be a treatise on how to interact with society or whatever. at the end of the day, its an addition to a mindset, just like any other book.

if you can cough up 11 or 12 bucks, you should invest in the 7 military classics of ancient china. im in the middle of it right now, and i have to say its pretty amazing.

the prince is another good one, as is 48 laws of power. and if you happen to find sun pins [or bin] Sun Bin Bing Fa, online and complete, id sure love a link.

[billybob]

Originally Posted by Nihilist

use it?

i dont consider it enough by itself to be a treatise on how to interact with society or whatever. at the end of the day, its an addition to a mindset, just like any other book.

if you can cough up 11 or 12 bucks, you should invest in the 7 military classics of ancient china. im in the middle of it right now, and i have to say its pretty amazing.

the prince is another good one, as is 48 laws of power. and if you happen to find sun pins [or bin] Sun Bin Bing Fa, online and complete, id sure love a link.

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll have to look into those. I've been interested in this type of book for a while, but just now started. Sorry, no idea where to find Sun Bin Bing Fa online now, I actually checked the art of war out from a public library. If i find it, i'll let you know.

[Knight of blacknes]

Sun Pin Ping Fa

Sun Ping was Sun Tzu's grand child and also a military genious. "Il Principe" by Machiavelli (The Prince) is okay but kinda dated. Sun Tzu isn't dated at all in my opinion but Machiavelli is. You could also try Clausewitz' "On War", which will help you understand war up until 1915. Anything after that is to modern to be governed by his rules. Modern warfare, you should read "Achtung Panzer" by Heinz Guderian.

For war Sun Tzu is directly uniformly applicable. Change the word chariot in tank and Sun Tzu was like written yesterday, just an example. Sun Tzu's work was meant for war, not for business. However business is often an economic war so some verses can be used but not all. I think that Chapter I, III and the last chapter are very useable in the cooperate world as they govern preperation, offensive strategy and using spies.

Some other recommendations:

Go Rin No Cho - Musashi
The book of the family traditions of the art of war - Munenori

[danzig]

much of that book is not related even to physical endeavors. the being of water is not something that can be applied, it must be something that is understood. the ideals of creative opportunism are something that can not be expressly taught for war; if you truly understand what he teaches, you will find it affecting every facet of your life - every single one.

[Big Steamers]

You mean to tell me that you have begun reading the book and you still have the idea that war is a distinct entity from the rest of your surroundings? Weak! All war is deception. Was this axiom not simply stated in the book?

Read the bible if you want something to live by, read Art of War if you want to keep flavor.

PS. I don't mean to be harsh, rather I am trying to be critical.

[billybob]

I feel like I must not have communicated what I meant very well...

I realize that it was written for war. Seems like I just need to try and understand the idea behind what he's saying. As far as war, it seems like a great book. Its just that i'd heard people say it was applicable in other situations/life in general, which parts of it are, but not all. It is a great book. Thanks for the help everyone.

[danzig]

the book was NOT written for war. you don't understand it if you think it is. war is merely the greatest allegory for the philosophy it teaches.

[billybob]

Originally Posted by danzig

the book was NOT written for war. you don't understand it if you think it is. war is merely the greatest allegory for the philosophy it teaches.

right. thanks.

[ilovesawedoffpump]

how does it even help in war?

"if the enemy is far stronger in numbers evade him" wow like thank god for "the art of war" or else i would have never thought to do that.