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The 33 Strategies of War

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

The 33 Strategies of War Cover

ISBN13: 9780670034574
ISBN10: 0670034576
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Robert Greene's groundbreaking guides, The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction, espouse profound, timeless lessons from the events of history to help readers vanquish an enemy or ensnare an unsuspecting victim. Now, with The 33 Strategies of War, Greene has crafted an important new addition to this ruthless and unique series.

Spanning world civilizations, synthesizing dozens of political, philosophical, and religious texts and thousands of years of violent conflict, The 33 Strategies of War is a comprehensive guide to the subtle social game of everyday life informed by the most ingenious and effective military principles in war. Structured in Greene's trademark style, The 33 Strategies of War is the I-Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Abundantly illustrated with examples from history, including the folly and genius of everyone from Napoleon to Margaret Thatcher, Shaka the Zulu to Lord Nelson, Hannibal to Ulysses S. Grant, as well as movie moguls, Samurai swordsmen, and diplomats, each of the thirty-three chapters outlines a strategy that will help you win life's wars. Learn the offensive strategies that require you to maintain the initiative and negotiate from a position of strength, or the defensive strategies designed to help you respond to dangerous situations and avoid unwinnable wars. The great warriors of battlefields and drawing rooms alike demonstrate prudence, agility, balance, and calm, and a keen understanding that the rational, resourceful, and intuitive always defeat the panicked, the uncreative, and the stupid. An indispensable book, The 33 Strategies of War provides all the psychological ammunition you need to overcome patterns of failure and forever gain the upper hand.

Review:

"As in his bestselling The 48 Laws of Power, Greene puts a modern spin on wisdom that has stood the test of history, only this time his role model is Sun Tzu rather than Machiavelli. The argument is fairly standard: despite our most noble intentions, 'aggressive impulses that are impossible to ignore or repress' make military combat a fitting metaphor for getting ahead in life. Greene's advice covers everything from steeling one's mind for battle to specific defensive and offensive tactics — notably, the final section on 'dirty' warfare is one of the book's longest. Historical lessons are outlined and interpreted, with amplifying quotations crammed into the margins. Not all of the examples are drawn from the battlefield; in one section, Greene skips nimbly from Lyndon Johnson's tenacity to Julius Caesar's decisiveness, from Joan Crawford's refusal to compromise to Ted Williams's competitive drive. Alfred Hitchcock, he says, embodies 'the detached-Buddha tactic' of appearing uninvolved while remaining in total control. The diversity of subject matter compensates for occasional lapses into stilted warriorese ('arm yourself with prudence, and never completely lay down your arms, not even for friends'). For those willing to embrace its martial conceit, Greene's compendium offers inspiration and entertainment in equal measure. (Jan. 23) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

Abundantly illustrated with examples from history, this newest work in the bestselling amoral series is a brilliant distillation of the strategies of war that can help people gain mastery in the modern world. 2-color interior.
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About the Author

Robert Greene has a degree in classical studies.

Joost Elffers is the producer of Viking Studio's bestselling The Secret Language of Birthdays and The Secret Language of Relationships, as well as Play with Your Food.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Ayodeji Olayemi, May 11, 2007 (view all comments by Ayodeji Olayemi)
Like many other people that I?m sure have read the 48 Laws of Power and the Art of Seduction, I was immensely curious about what the 33 Strategies of War had to offer. After what numerous authors through history have written on the subject, what could anyone else possibly have to add? War is the continuation of politics by other means, says Carl von Clausewitz. In the same vein, you could say Robert Greene?s 33 Strategies of War is a continuation of his 48 Laws of Power - by other means.

In the first parts of the book he talks about self directed-, organizational and offensive warfare. He also talks about defense; which is noteworthy, since everybody seems to think only attack is important. He stresses that resources are limited, and battles must be carefully chosen. The definitive theme he lays out in these first chapters is that the general is ultimately responsible for the outcome of the war; and the individual ultimately responsible for the outcome of his life, which in itself is war. Winning, of course, can be the only acceptable option. In the end no one will remember or care that the odds or circumstances were against you, or that you even almost won. Everybody will only be concerned about who did win.

There are also the juicy military stories and references: Sun Tzu, who elevates war and strategy to the level of poetry; the disciplined Romans and their organized, inexorable war machine; Hannibal, thinking creatively ?out of the box? and pulling off all sorts of military surprises; and the Samurai sword masters, squaring each other off physically as well as psychologically. Napoleon at Austerlitz provides a new concept that caught my interest: ?strategic depth of thinking?, as opposed to formulaic thinking. Strategy conventionally involves identifying an overall aim and working sequentially through a set of lesser goals, or steps, to achieve that aim. But Robert Greene points out a deeper and more profound approach that involves not just linear, or formulaic, progression towards an eventual objective, but also means working to increase one?s options and create new opportunities along the way ? with every situation, with every passing event, as Napoleon did victoriously against the allies.

The last part of the book ? Dirty Warfare ? reads like you?re back again within the pages of the 48 Laws of Power. But in the 33 Strategies, the lessons appear to contradict themselves to a lesser extent; especially the ?reversals? at the end of each chapter. The reversals this time not only represent contrary courses of action but provide, more appropriately, the context under which each strategy can be applied. And context: I think that should be the key word in reading all of Robert Greene?s books - whether you chose to accept the lessons at face value or interprete them according to your own moral code. There?s always something to learn ? for the hawks as well as for the doves.


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Product Details

ISBN:
9780670034574
Author:
Robert Greene and Joost Elffers
Publisher:
Viking Books
Author:
Elffers, Joost
Author:
Greene, Robert
Subject:
Business Life - Inspirational
Subject:
Motivational
Subject:
Social Psychology
Subject:
Conduct of life
Subject:
Personal Growth - General
Subject:
Personal Growth - Success
Subject:
Violence in Society
Subject:
Psychology
Publication Date:
February 2006
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
469
Dimensions:
9.40x7.20x1.28 in. 1.89 lbs.
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