Synopses & Reviews
Long acknowledged as a classic text on strategy, Sun Tzu's
The Art of War had been admired by leaders as diverse as Mao Zedong and General Norman Schwartzkopf. However, written two thousand years old, the book can often be hard to fathom.
Now Mark McNeilly, author of Sun Tzu and the Art of Business, which made Sun Tzu accessible to the business executive, has extracted six concepts most applicable to modern warfare, making them easy to understand and apply to military situations. Drawing on a wealth of fascinating historical examples, McNeilly shows how these six principles might be used in wars of the future--limited actions, regional conflicts--and how they can provide insight into current affairs, such as the future course of China's increasingly important strategic and military role in the world. He describes how to win the information war, how to lead by example, and how to use alliances to defeat the opponent. Perhaps the most important lesson to be learned from Sun Tzu, especially for strategists who want to maximize their resources, is how to "win without fighting". And, should fighting be unavoidable, victory should be achieved in a manner that minimizes losses, leaves the victor stronger and ensures a lasting peace.
Including the full text of The Art of War in the popular Griffith translation, with cross-references to quotations used in the book, Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare unlocks these elusive secrets for anyone interested in strategy and warfare, whether they are professional soldiers, military history buffs, or business executives.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [295]-299) and index.
About the Author
Mark McNeilly is a former U.S. Army infantry captain and graduate of the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles" Helicopter Assault School. The author of
Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers, he is a marketing strategist for IBM. He lives in Apex, North Carolina.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Relevance of Sun Tzu to Modern Warfare
1. Win All Without Fighting: Achieving the Objective Without Destroying It
2. Avoid Strength, Attack Weakness: Striking Where the Enemy Is Most Vulnerable
3. Deception and Foreknowledge: Winning the Information War
4. Speed and Preparation: Moving Swiftly to Overcome Resistance
5. Shaping the Enemy: Preparing the Battlefield
6. Character-based Leadership: Leading by Example
7. The Changing Character of War: Ancient Principles for Future Battlefields
8. The War on Terrorism: Applying Sun Tzu's Principles
Notes
Original Translation of The Art of War by Samuel B. Griffith
Bibliography to Sun Tzu Translation
Index to Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare