reading at least some of the classics is definitely part of being well-read, in my opinion. and what could be more of a classic than ‘the art of war’, written by a military general named sun tzu over 2,500 years ago?
add to that the fact that ‘the art of war’ is also one of the more hyped books in the business world today, and you’ll see why it’s been on my reading list for quite some time.
before i get into my review though, let me give you one hot tip: choose an annotated version. there’s only so much value you can get from reading about terrain, chariots, and silver ounces without some context.
which brings me to the book itself.
turns out, if you want people to die for you in battle, they have to like you. and in order for them to like you, you have to treat them well. now, who would have thought? (yes, that’s me being sarcastic.)
so yeah, i was somewhat pleasantly surprised to learn just how much of the book is about leadership—and more specifically, the well-being of soldiers. the text includes plenty of references to paying them fairly, making sure they have enough food, and planning moves and attacks based on their morale. it stresses the importance of communication and making sure everyone is on the same page, without necessarily micromanaging. it covers why loyalty matters, and how a leader has the responsibility to be a model of integrity.
apply that to today’s business context, and it feels like sun tzu may have been ahead of his time by a millennium. or three.
the other thing that struck me was the thoughtfulness of it all. the emphasis on preparation, knowledge, and understanding. learning everything there is to know about a situation before making decisions. knowing yourself and what’s going on inside you—and others. thinking things through instead of acting impulsively. and ultimately, avoiding war unless absolutely necessary.
this was the part i related to the most.
as for the rest, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a book about war: troop movements, positions, spies, and the whole shebang.
would i recommend it? sure.
is it life-changing? maybe not so much.
