Master Sun said: "Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting."
For more than two thousand years, The Art of War has stood as a cornerstone of Chinese culture, a lucid text that reveals as much about psychology, politics, and economics as it does about battlefield strategy. For those seeking a deeper understanding of this seminal work, scholar John Minford brings the words of Sun-tzu to life for modern listeners, presenting the core text in two formats:
Part I: The original text by Sun-tzu, translated by John Minford, read by Ray Porter
The unadorned thirteen chapters allow listeners to form their own first impressions of the ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu.
Part II: Introduction to the text by John Minford, read by Lorna Raver
In a lively, learned introduction, Minford explores the life and times of Sun-tzu and considers how best to read and understand the work today.
Part IIa: Original text with running commentary by traditional Chinese scholars and translator, read by Ray Porter and Lorna Raver
The original text is presented again, this time with extensive running commentary by traditional Chinese scholars and others, providing context and subtext for the work.
Even those readers familiar with The Art of War will experience it anew, finding it more fascinating and more relevant than ever.
The most often quoted idea from this textbook on war is that the battle is often won before it is fought. Modern warriors, warrior-wannabes, and world leaders would be advised to heed Sun-Tzu's wisdom. Reader Lorna Raver's skill with voices adds to the inscrutable nature of the text and increases the listener's attention. There are times during this new translation of the ancient texts when fantasies of world domination may creep into the listener's mind. If your goal is smaller, this version of THE ART OF WAR may still be helpful. R.O. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
“Modern warriors, warrior-wannabes, and world leaders would be advised to heed Sun-tzu's wisdom. Reader Lorna Raver's skill with voices adds to the inscrutable nature of the text and increases the listener's attention.”
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