Sun Tzu at Gettysburg

Ancient Military Wisdom in the Modern World

By: Bevin Alexander

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Ten major battles or campaigns that could have been won by using the principles of The Art of War.

Imagine the impact on world history if Robert E. Lee had listened to General Longstreet at Gettysburg and withdrawn to higher ground instead of sending Pickett uphill against the entrenched Union line. Or if Napolon, at Waterloo, had avoided mistakes he'd never made before. The advice that would have changed the outcome of these crucial battles is found in a book on strategy written centuries before Christ was born.

Lee, Napoleon, and Adolf Hitler never read Sun Tzu's The Art of War; the book only became widely available in the West in the mid-20th century. But as Bevin Alexander shows, Sun Tzu's maxims often boil down to common sense, in a particularly pure and clear form. The lessons of contemporary military practice, or their own experience, might have guided these commanders to success. It is stunning to see, however, the degree to which the precepts laid down 2,400 years ago apply to warfare of the modern era.

Download the accompanying reference maps.

©2011 Bevin Alexander (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Professional development

This is an excellent book. Anyone interested in military history should read this. It makes the art of war very easy to understand.

Its a wonder the North won...

Its a testament to numbers and resources. Otherwise we'd be using confederate dollars and all eating grits for breakfast... maybe even a better government, who knows.

The performance is stellar but the story is incorrect

I disliked that many of the assumptions are blatantly untrue: Sun Tzu’s work is not the only approach to war. Not in classical Chinese litrrature and certainly not in world literature.

I love assertive and confident writing but this lacks substantive research to back brave claims.

Very difficult to listen for intelligent, well-educated people.

One of the best books I've ever owned!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! The book is not only well written, it is well narrated, too!

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of the chapters were interesting, but perhaps Stonewall Jackson was the most exciting of the characters.

Have you listened to any of Edoardo Ballerini’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I never have -- but his voice and inflection was perfect for the task.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes -- and will do so again!

Any additional comments?

My title says it all: it's one of the best books I've ever owned, and the fact that it is in audible form is perhaps the icing on the cake!

How Different History Could Be

Bevin Alexander concentrates on eight battles where better strategies or reactions by the men guiding their armies could have changed history. Warning for those of you have idolized Robert E Lee, he doesn't fare very well in this work; nor does George Washington for that matter. Using the works of Sun Tzu the author points out mistakes made by military leaders that cost battles, and or wars.
It's an interesting take on historical events; particularly the battle of Gettysburg, the turning point of the American Civil War. I visited the sight and took the tour of the battlefield, and what Lee tried to accomplish there always confused me.
There are times when the audio version bogs down in detail that probably worked better in print. Still for those of you fascinated by military history this is a definite add to your collection.

Simply Excellent

I've been an Audible member for many years, but this is the first review I've taken the time to write. This book explores how the principles of Sun Tzu were or were not followed in ten battles or campaigns in the last 200 years. It is fairly easy to follow, even without the maps in front of you which is not true for many narrated military histories

The narration is excellent, I highly recommend the narrator.

Superb. Highly recommended What a fantastic book,

I am a businessman, and the lessons in this book are highly valuable for any strategic thinker.