Rating: 
Summary: The best version available.
Review: As far as I can tell, this is the best and most accurate translation of Sun-tzu's brilliant writings. Sawyer does a great job providing you with a great deal of background information and a ton of footnotes for clarity. While Sawyer admits to some conjecture (even on Sun-tzu's very existance), he provides thought provoking evidence for his positions. Sun-tzu was a military genius and his lessons can be applied in the modern world without question. Get it and live it, 'cause it's a war out there.
Rating:
Summary: Deep explanation of the history surounding his teachings.
Review: Deep explanation of the history surounding his teachings
Rating:
Summary: Great research version
Review: I have long owned a small paperback version of The Art of War. It's nice, but lacking in supporting information. This edition fills a chasmic void left by other editions. It has a tremendous amount of in-depth contextual information, footnotes, and other supporting material. As for Sun Tzu's text, it's very worth studying. It's short and couched in somewhat philosophical languague, which hinders its usefulness on the subject of warfare. However, when comparing the principles it lays out with other texts, such as Maurice's Strategikon (written 600 A.D.), it is very enlightening. By itself, I believe the Art of War's popularity outstrips its actual greatness, but this edition's supplimentary information makes it stand out above academically leaner versions.
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Summary: One of the most accurate translated Sun Tzu
Review: Ralph Sawyer's rendering published in 1994 is incredibly accurate. High on readability as well. However, typographical errors are present. Though they are not damaging to the understanding of Sun Tzu, one has to wonder how much effort the author put into his work. This is apparent after numerous re-prints and all without corrections. Didn't use much of the newly discovered text in 1972, stating that the previous original was tested throughout history. Fair enough. Excellent section on Chinese weaponry. Overall, this book is to be on any serious strategist's bookshelf. Sonshi.com
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Summary: THE text on Relational-Maneuver Warfare
Review: There are two basic types of warfare: attrition and relational-maneuver. This ancient text is the ultimate text on the latter. The US Army has mostly used attrition warfare. That means you throw more soldiers and weapons at the enemy than the enemy can handle. General Grant and WW II are cases in point. On the other hand the US Marine Corps is well-known for it use of relational-maneuver warfare such as Inchon in the Korean War. In relational-maneuver warfare, one can have lesser forces and still heavily damage the enemy or even win. As Clauswitz called it--one attacks the enemy's center of gravity or attacks the enemy with more/better forces at isolated points (e.g. the Finns vs. the Germans in WWII). One of the beauties of this approach is that there are far less casualties. In Desert Storm, the Iraqi communications were taken out early--an attack on a center of gravity for command and control. The principles in Sun Tzu's "Art of War" are transferable to any conflict situation as a general case because they are so high level in nature. They can be applied to football, business negotiations, etc. Unlike some, Sun Tzu recognized that winning a war is not a matter of killing all the enemy; it's a matter of imposing a nation's political will upon another. From a certain perspective, he appears to be a realist, militarist, and humanist (he tries to minimize casualties) combined.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, Good Translation
Review: There are two critical things to consider when deciding to purchase a book such as the Art of War: the first being the content / author of the book and the second being the translator. This book deserves 5 stars for both. Sun Tzu's Art of War is the de facto standard on military strategy, and Sawyers translation and reference material take the work to new heights. Sawyer has a strong grasp of the material -- and discusses (through the introduction and footnotes) the times and military methods that brought about this brilliant work. The book has a number of minor typographical errors (such as lines of text that appear as the last line of one page, and the first line of the next) but overall these errors are minor annoyances at worst.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book, Good Translation
Review: There are two critical things to consider when deciding to purchase a book such as the Art of War: the first being the content / author of the book and the second being the translator. This book deserves 5 stars for both. Sun Tzu's Art of War is the de facto standard on military strategy, and Sawyers translation and reference material take the work to new heights. Sawyer has a strong grasp of the material -- and discusses (through the introduction and footnotes) the times and military methods that brought about this brilliant work. The book has a number of minor typographical errors (such as lines of text that appear as the last line of one page, and the first line of the next) but overall these errors are minor annoyances at worst.
Rating:
Summary: Great research version
Review: This book is available from just about every book club out there, so I thought there must be something to it, but no. It's interesting to read, and you gain an appreciation for warfare of that era, but there's nothing you can take from it an apply your life (beyond some common sense you should already have). This version is nice in that it gives you historical information too. If you're just curious about SunTzu's words - that section actually isn't very big at all, and you could probably get through it quickly in a bookstore/library.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh.
Review: This book is available from just about every book club out there, so I thought there must be something to it, but no. It's interesting to read, and you gain an appreciation for warfare of that era, but there's nothing you can take from it an apply your life (beyond some common sense you should already have). This version is nice in that it gives you historical information too. If you're just curious about SunTzu's words - that section actually isn't very big at all, and you could probably get through it quickly in a bookstore/library.
Rating:
Summary: Currently The Best Version Available
Review: This is the best translation of Sun Tzu's work on the market. Sawyer is a deft scholar with the ability to approach the meaning most carefully in his text. Moreover the lenghty introduction to the text (three-quarters of the book) gives one a good description of the evolution of warfare in the the major dynasties of Classical China. Descriptions of everything from the development of the sword, chariot, and military organisation is included, all aspects of the the major military engagements described. The text should therefore appeal to both those who wish to get a general outline of Chinese military history and the context that Sun Tzu (and other writers described in the book) defines his concepts of strategy. This is a serious scholarship and there is numerous references to non-translated Chinese and Japanese first sources on the subject. Sawyer knows his stuff! There is also a full index with Chinese character translations of key concepts, events, people and places (since as any reader of Chinese script knows, there is no way the phonetic romanised spelling can convey adequate meaning). It is always good to have reference to the Chinese characters. ..... This is the translation for those who hope to take a whack at Chinese classical scholarship and military history.
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