The Art of War: In Sun Tzu's Own Words

Rating:
Summary: Learn to use Competitive Advantage
Review: Gary Gagliardi is considered by many to be a leading expert in understanding and using the competitive methods embodied in Sun Tzu's treatise on the Art of War. A short visit to the Clearbridge web site is all it takes to understand why. Still, I wonder what I might be missing in the translation of the book. In this particular book (the author has written several based on Sun Tzu's work), the left hand pages have each Chinese character with the translated word next to it so that you have a word for word translation. The right hand pages contain a translation of the words into everyday English.

The problem with a translation of this style is one that has plagued translators for centuries and is the reason why there are so many slightly differing translations of Sun Tzu's work. If the author sees one Chinese character and wants to indicate the English word that this character translates to then what word does he pick? After all we have a Thesaurus because there are often many words that mean the same thing or almost the same thing such that choosing one over the other automatically colors the translation. What if there is no exact word in the English language? Well, you have to choose the closest one and that affects the translation. Sometimes words, even if translated exactly, do not give the whole essence of the concept in the original language due to cultural or other differences. Translators can't even seem to agree on something as simple as Sun Tzu's name! Is it Sun Tzu or Sun Tsu? You will find it transliterated both ways. With this in mind I was glad to see that the purchase of the book gets the reader access to the Clearbridge web site where they can see much more exhaustive analysis on the treatise.

Sun Tzu's treatise on The Art of War is really a treatise on competitive advantage that applies not only to actual war but such things as getting a job, marketing, and any other competitive situation that you might come across. A deep understanding of competitive advantage, it is still the definitive text for understanding the concepts of how to come out on top in such situations. An easy book to read and understand on a basic level, it can take a lifetime to truly appreciate in on all levels and apply it to the various areas of your life. This translation still seems to be one of the best that I have seen. It is internally consistent between the translated concepts and so shows a level of knowledge and detail that is not present in some other translations. As a translator the author obviously sees the big picture.

Rating:
Summary: Learn to use Competitive Advantage
Review: Gary Gagliardi is considered by many to be a leading expert in understanding and using the competitive methods embodied in Sun Tzu's treatise on the Art of War. A short visit to the Clearbridge web site is all it takes to understand why. Still, I wonder what I might be missing in the translation of the book. In this particular book (the author has written several based on Sun Tzu's work), the left hand pages have each Chinese character with the translated word next to it so that you have a word for word translation. The right hand pages contain a translation of the words into everyday English.

The problem with a translation of this style is one that has plagued translators for centuries and is the reason why there are so many slightly differing translations of Sun Tzu's work. If the author sees one Chinese character and wants to indicate the English word that this character translates to then what word does he pick? After all we have a Thesaurus because there are often many words that mean the same thing or almost the same thing such that choosing one over the other automatically colors the translation. What if there is no exact word in the English language? Well, you have to choose the closest one and that affects the translation. Sometimes words, even if translated exactly, do not give the whole essence of the concept in the original language due to cultural or other differences. Translators can't even seem to agree on something as simple as Sun Tzu's name! Is it Sun Tzu or Sun Tsu? You will find it transliterated both ways. With this in mind I was glad to see that the purchase of the book gets the reader access to the Clearbridge web site where they can see much more exhaustive analysis on the treatise.

Sun Tzu's treatise on The Art of War is really a treatise on competitive advantage that applies not only to actual war but such things as getting a job, marketing, and any other competitive situation that you might come across. A deep understanding of competitive advantage, it is still the definitive text for understanding the concepts of how to come out on top in such situations. An easy book to read and understand on a basic level, it can take a lifetime to truly appreciate in on all levels and apply it to the various areas of your life. This translation still seems to be one of the best that I have seen. It is internally consistent between the translated concepts and so shows a level of knowledge and detail that is not present in some other translations. As a translator the author obviously sees the big picture.

Rating:
Summary: Not Recommended
Review: Having read a number of translations of Sun Tzu, I have to say that this translation by Gary Gagliardi is the one of most practical use.
Every page provides a clear business translation of the Sun Tzu principal . The Art of Management translation will provide any business person with a full range of practical strategies that can be put to use immediately.

Rating:
Summary: Word Up!
Review: How can you possibly improve upon this timeless piece of literature? Well, Gagliardi seems to have done it! His translation is concise and to the point; none of the usual vague references found in much of the translations.This book is hot!

Rating:
Summary: the insightful version of sun tzu
Review: i have purcahsed several different verisons of this work and by far this version is the best, they offer comprehensive explanations and make it easy to understand and apply it to your every day life. by reading this book you can get a real feel of what the great sun tzu was trying to teach.

Rating:
Summary: The Art of War: In Sun Tzu's Own Words
Review: Magnificent translation! I was thrilled with the quality and ease of reading of this helpful and informative text. The accompanying access to business realted material via the internet is invaluable.

Rating:
Summary: Not Recommended
Review: This is an interpretive book, written and presented by Gary Gagliardi, loosely based on Sun Tzu's classic material.

Mr. Gagliardi attempts to apply the lessons of Sun Tzu's The Art of War to business practice and corporate thought, based on his understanding of the work, as well as his background in sales, marketing and management theory.

One of the marketing angles used in this book is a "two for one" aspect. In addition to the "hidden secrets" of Sun Tzu, the book contains what the author asserts is the most accurate translation of Sun Tzu's work ever attempted. This description of the text is highly debateable, based on the merits of the text itself. Mr. Gagliardi achieved his translation using an internet encarta program, in which you can do a simplified character search in Chinese, and see some of the interpretive meanings of each pictogram. A close review of this internet text that served as the basis for the authors translation shows that it contains some character errors. Based on Mr. Gagliardi's word choices, the author appears to have selectively chosen what he believes to be the correct English terms, and these results are often wrong. This is certainly not a definitive work.

Rating:
Summary: Victory belongs to those who understand the situation.
Review: What is war? Is it waged on battlefields with strafing air strikes, or is it personal and economical achievements?

On the opening page Gary Gagliardi reveals a provocative view of war: "Whether you are a new graduate looking for a job or a business owner building a company, *The Art of War* will give you greater insight into achieving success in a competitive world. For over 2500 years, winners have profited from the ideas of Sun Tsu on how to avoid defeat and embrace victory." Gagliardi used these principles to build his own software organization that became a Fortune 500 private company and a very successful business that he sold. He knows what he is talking about.

Sun Tsu's Chinese symbols have been translated many times over the centuries. Each document is slightly different and may actually disagree with other version. I own two translations and have discovered the bane of all scholars -- the more you learn the more you realize you do not know.

The power of this adaptation is due to the meticulous work of Gagliardi's research. The translation for each character is printed on the left page, the English construction of the sentences are on the right. The delicate Chinese symbols are works of art that show nuances of each character are altered even by the slight difference in the angle of a line.

I will show the comparison of Chinese to English words and phrases from the section on Planning. I am not able to show the Chinese characters, but the punctuation between the thoughts is due to the grouping of the characters. Gagliardi provides a guide to increased understanding of the Chinese phraseology.

Chinese:

Make experience by five skills,

Learn it by planning, And yet demand this situation,

* Say philosophy,

* Say heaven,

* Say ground,

* Say general,

* Say methods.

English:

Your skill comes from the five factors. Study these factors when you plan war. You may insist on knowing the nature of:

1. Military philosophy,

2. The Weather,

3. The ground,

4. The commander,

5. And the military methods,

Sun Tsu addressed each of the following topics, which are separated by chapters for easy study: Planning, Going to War, Planning an Attack, Positioning, Momentum, Weakness and Strength, Armed Conflict, Adaptability, Armed March, Field Position, Types of Terrain, Attacking with Fire, and Using Spies. A Glossary of Chinese Characters is also included.

Why is this book beneficial? By applying these ancient principles, the awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the workplace and of the competitors is understood. Understanding brings victory.

For me, the philosophies are applicable to writing and editing, financial and budget management, and time management (which I am completely unsuccessful at achieving due to my eclectic Gemini "fingers in every pie" life style).

Sun Tsu's philosophy is a code by which to live that brings personal power and success:

* Planning gives the advantage because it makes you think.

* Warfare is the philosophy of deception.

* Before you go to war, you must believe that you can count on victory.

* Unity works because it enables you to win every battle you fight.

Remembering that war is not limited to battlefields, it is easy to see: if one plans strategy, basis it on knowledge of the competitors, and believes they are capable to do whatever they set their mind to -- they will succeed.

2500 hundred years after Sun Tsu wrote *The Art of War* it is still a best seller. This version contains the full script of his words set up in an easy to read and understand format. The philosophy may seem simple, but the more you read the deeper your understanding will be.

This is, without doubt, five stars.

Victoria Tarrani