de Sun Tzu
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
Ray Porter reads the unadorned thirteen chapters, allowing listeners to form their own first impressions of the ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu.
Part II: The original text with running commentary
Read by Ray Porter and Lorna Raver, the original text is presented again, this time with extensive running commentary by traditional Chinese scholars and the translator, providing context and subtext for the work. Included is a lively, learned introduction, read by Lorna Raver, in which Minford explores the life and times of Sun-tzu and considers how best to read and understand the work today.
Even those readers familiar with The Art of War will experience it anew, finding it more fascinating and more relevant than ever.
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
Ray Porter reads the unadorned thirteen chapters, allowing listeners to form their own first impressions of the ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu.
Part II: The original text with running commentary
Read by Ray Porter and Lorna Raver, the original text is presented again, this time with extensive running commentary by traditional Chinese scholars and the translator, providing context and subtext for the work. Included is a lively, learned introduction, read by Lorna Raver, in which Minford explores the life and times of Sun-tzu and considers how best to read and understand the work today.
Even those readers familiar with The Art of War will experience it anew, finding it more fascinating and more relevant than ever.
Critiques-
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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
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November 1, 2002
Sun-tzu's The Art of War has led military strategists, economists, politicians and other leaders for more than 2,000 years, and has been translated numerous times. Scholar Minford takes a crack at it here, offering a new translation, introduction and commentary. This fundamental volume could be one of the best in recent years, as it features notes on pronunciation, suggestions for further reading, a chronology of Chinese dynasties and historical events, and more. After these briefings, Minford separates the book in two: first, a straightforward translation of Sun-tzu's book, and second, the translation coupled with commentary. "The Art of War is both inspirational and worrying. It is beautiful and chilling....It lends itself to infinite applications," Minford writes. Indeed, this new translation is accessible to anyone seeking guidance, whether they're learning to drive defensively, ironing out relationship kinks or conducting war. -
This ancient Chinese treatise on battle strategies and waging war, like Machiavelli's THE PRINCE, is still consulted by despots, generals, and captains of industry. Indeed, the Western world is coming to believe that its Taoist wisdom applies to all sorts of competitive situations. The reliable George Guidall narrates the extensive translator's notes. But first Joe Mantegna, star of TV's FIRST MONDAY, forays through Sun Tzu's admonitions. Mantegna has an unexpressive voice. However his timing, especially his manipulation of pauses and rhythms, is so apt that it --plus a fascinating text -- carries him victoriously through the fray. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
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Whether or not THE ART OF WAR is new to you, this successful offering from the Denma Translation Group is worth adding to your collection. (The original text is attributed to Sun Tzu, circa 300 B.C.) Briefly, the text offers strategies for dealing with conflict in life, from war itself to interpersonal relations. The result of 10 years of analysis and debate, the recording presents the best of both worlds--the pure, unadulterated translation, as well as a translation punctuated by understated commentary. Denma went to great lengths to preserve both the intent and the tone of the oldest extant version of the text. The result is an eminently listenable and informed piece that will instruct and stimulate for years to come. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
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Sun Tzu doesn't waste words--he doesn't summarize, doesn't review. He makes his point and moves on. You'll need to listen to THE ART OF WAR more than once if you want to follow--or just remember--his guidelines for success. This audiobook delivers two-plus hours of his direct orders. You may be entertained by some of what you hear, but the author's primary purpose is to whip you into shape. Scott Brick's steady, imperative tone conveys Sun Tzu's certainty. Shelly Frasier's smooth counterpoint--her reading of illustrative "commentary" from several sources--balances Brick's pronouncements. Transitions between the two are flawless, and the quick march towards success is maintained. T.J.W. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
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Sun Tzu's 2,500-year-old treatise on military strategy has received new life; martial artists, spiritual seekers, and Western business leaders alike now look to this Chinese philosopher-general for guidance. This version supplements the original's proverbial advice with commentary and quotations from recent military leaders, such as Colin Powell, to provide a contemporary context for Sun Tzu's ideas. The result is still oblique, as the multiple references to things like categories of terrain and spies are not easy to apply, but it is still far more accessible than many translations. However, the multiple narrators (Silver, Wong, Rudnicki, and an unnamed female voice) seem unnecessary and distract from the text. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
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December 4, 2000
Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way Sun Tzu's The Art of War is undisputedly one of the bestselling leadership books of all time. This new translation by the Denma Translation Group--led by Kidder Smith (Sung Dynasty Uses of the I Ching), an Asian studies expert at Bowdoin College, and James Gimian, publisher of the Shambhala Sun magazine--helps bridge the gap between the ancient Chinese oral tradition and today's modern reader. It's supplemented with essays and commentary that demonstrate just how much this message of victory without aggression still resonates with how we conduct all aspects of our lives today. -
February 14, 1994
This new translation of the ancient Chinese military treatise includes chapters of historical analysis touching on its relevance to today's corporate environment. -
March 10, 1983
The workplace is a battlefield, according to author, speaker and businesswoman Chu. In her latest, she distills The Art of War, Taoist philosopher-general Sun Tzu's international bestseller on the fundamental elements of warfare and business strategy, into a primer and call-to-arms for working women. In vivid battlefield terminology, Chu covers everything from promotions and work attire to dealing with sexual harassment and male chauvinist co-workers. Lessons tend toward a "universal nuggets of wisdom" format; one of the keys Chu advances is "Know Thyself," because "how well you know the world around you is directly proportional to how well you know yourself." Other chapters cover the disposition of winning, conflict strategy, the utility of imagination, techniques for management and "fireproofing yourself." At a time when the ideal of a full, fulfilling work and home life seems more difficult than ever to achieve, Chu's primer on becoming "an effective strategist and warrior" will give doubters cause for reconsideration. - AudioFile “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.”
