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The Art of War  By  cover art

The Art of War

By: Andrew R. Wilson, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Andrew R. Wilson
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Publisher's summary

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a landmark achievement in the evolution of strategic thought. So universal and timeless are its tactics for pursuing a competitive advantage that some of the most notable people in government, sports, and the entertainment world have all quoted from its nearly 2500-year-old pages. These six expertly crafted lectures explore this classic's wisdom for staying nimble in an ever-changing environment and for maximizing reward while minimizing risk remains eternally fresh. As war and business become more mental and less physical, human intellect plays an ever greater role in competition-making Sun Tzu's strategies highly relevant to the information age.

Through a precise explanation of the original text and case studies, Professor Wilson examines how the seminal work's model of leadership has been applied-and misapplied-throughout the realms of war, politics, business, and beyond. You'll study the text's historical framework and then delve into the critical calculations that must be made prior to war-what Sun Tzu refers to as knowing the enemy, knowing ourselves.

By studying real-world examples, you'll come away understanding the qualities effective commanders must possess and the work's practical implications for outmaneuvering competitors in daily life. By taking this course, you will appreciate Sun Tzu's content on a far deeper level.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this course are those of the professor and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Disclaimer: Please note that this recording may include references to supplemental texts or print references that are not essential to the program and not supplied with your purchase.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

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Great, But One Catch

Would you consider the audio edition of The Art of War to be better than the print version?

This is great. The narrator is good. He lectures in a way that reminds me of Christopher Walken, pausing and adding emphasis at unexpected places. It's not a bad thing, though.

The one catch is that these lectures are part of the course Masters of War: Histories Greatest Strategic Thinkers. If you already bought that course, do not buy this one.

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26 people found this helpful

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Art of War Boot Camp

Don't let the fact that this is the shortest one of the Great Courses discourage you from picking it up. It's worth listening to more than once, and its length encourages it.

This is a concise, educational and interesting buy. I was familiar with the Art of War, but the Professor, who has plenty of experience in the US military and a passion for the Art of War, quickly delivers the facts with efficient, no-nonsense lectures that keep you interested.

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23 people found this helpful

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A great course

The art of War was written in the 6th century BCE by Chinese General Sun Tzu. It is the oldest military treatise in the world. The book covers military strategy. This is a Great Course book by Professor Andrew R. Wilson. He explains the book and adds Chinese History at the time the book was written. The book is concise and as valid today as the day it was written. They are many quotes from this book. But mainly has five essentials for victory. Then General Tzu breaks these down in the section such as nine varieties of ground which are listed with explanation of each. Interesting to see how the book can be applied to business, government as well as the military. Wilson enhances the book with his insights and helping to place the book in history. It is a course that needs to be listened to many times. Well worth the read.

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16 people found this helpful

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The gist of The Art of War, accurate explanation and vivid cases.

As a native Chinese, I have always been sorry for seeing so many misinterpretations when《孙子兵法》is translated into English and the other languages. After listening to the whole lecture, I'm happy to tell that the translation and the explanation are all accurate and loyal to the original edition.

The lecture is not conducted by the original order of The Art of War, professor Andrew R. Wilson picked up the main opinions of the book, explained them by combining several related chapters of the original book together, and added some vivid examples to help comprehend and apply. Really learned a lot!

Only one suggestion: It may be better if there are less political cases of China in the last class.
And also, if you want to learn more about The Art of War, read the original book and seek for more detailed explanation may help a bit.

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9 people found this helpful

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Listen to this before you read the Art of War.

This course helps to keep the Art of War in context. You won't regret listening to this.

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Great lecture. And a companion to study sun tzu

This is not exactly a translation of art of war by sun tzu.
It's more of a companion for the study of sun tzu. Great context setting and amazing story telling. The authors Voice and intonation exhibits his passion for the subject and paints a memorable picture for a greater understanding of master Sun.

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not what i believe in

What disappointed you about The Art of War?

actually I was expecting something more business oriented.
I believe in Win Win situation. the book in - business - is talking about WIN- LOSE situation.
he gives an example with " a platoon takes the food from the Army in the beginning . after that they have to rely on food from the occupied land and people. this is Win - Lose.

i don't like this method. it is against my Ethics and Beliefs.

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great breakdown of The Art of War

I really appreciated this lecture series. It was great knowing some background that this lecture was able to provide in addition to some information on translation. however the real awesome sauce of this lecture was the author's knowledge and breakdown of the material in The Art of War. Definitely worth the price.

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Speedy Delivery

Wilson clearly understands the completeness of the Art of War. He emphasizes context when interpreting the work. Not chapter or proverb should be taken solely by itself. All the ideas are connected. His weakness is almost too much enthusiasm; his delivery is far too rapid. Rarely will he leave time for the listener to absorb and process what he says within a lecture; Wilson hasn't learned the art of the rhetorical pause. Clearly an expert who understands the intricacies of his subject, as the learner, I always felt a paragraph or point behind.

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Well Done

What made the experience of listening to The Art of War the most enjoyable?

The speaker is a master of understanding Sun Tzu. Highly recommend this to anyone trying to understand the Art of War. It is a great listen and great for all levels of understanding.

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