WRITING SKILLS

Book Review: Art of War

Name : Rohail Mir
Reg Id : 3871
 Book Review

The Art of War is a classic book of military philosophy. The Art of War was written in around about 500

B.C. at the end of the spring autumn period. Despite its ancient origins it is surprisingly relevant today.

Sun Tzu wrote the book in order to instruct the ancient rulers of China in the methods of warfare. The

book covers all aspects of warfare from spying to terrain, from organization to tactics.

The book is a guide to how you should lead your life. It constantly contrasts situations and actions. For

example: If you are angry then you should remain calm. The Taoist philosophy is best described by

water. If you are like water you may be moved or you maybe attacked but you cannot be damaged are

you are in harmony with nature. Taoist philosophy demands inaction and avoidance of confrontation

wherever possible. It is basically a philosophy for the lazy.

Sun Tzu incorporates this philosophy in a subtle way. Where the enemy is vulnerable, retreat, when you

are weak attack. Sun Tzu is not simply being dense. His philosophy of war demands that his army is

mobile and that it can react to any threat. He emphasizes surprise over strength and subtlety over

power.

Although the face of war has changed dramatically over the last 2500 years many of the military

doctrines expounded in the book are still extremely relevant. Sun Tzu emphasizes that you must know

your enemy. The current importance that modern armies attach to intelligence gathering is testament to

the importance of this doctrine. Political intervention in wars was to be avoided. You only have to look
at some of the mistakes that Hitler made during the war to understand the importance of this.

The book also deals with the role of spies in conflict. Sun Tzu offers not only offers an extensive

classification of different types of spies he also offer methods for recruiting them. If a public servant is

disgruntled in an enemy state then a bribe should be offered. You could imagine that his methods could

be adapted for use in the CIA, MI6 or Mossad.

The Art of War offers striking and profound observations on not only war itself but also how you can

approach any situation in which you confront an enemy. These strict military doctrines are couched in

the language and contrasts of Taoist philosophy.

Most of Sun-Tzu's advice is quite simple, but clearly we need to be reminded of the basics from time to

time. The book is more a philosophy on life than a guide to war