Althea Eunice R.

Bermudez 10 March 2023

3ALM

The Art of War Book Review

I. SUMMARY

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is an ancient book consisting of thirteen chapters that lay out
strategies to perfect a war. It is depicted in the piece that warfare encompasses a series of events,
and with these key components, victory will be like child’s play.

The first on the list is making a calculated, well-organized plan. According to the author,
success and failure are already determined. However, the more calculations there are, the easier it
is to win the battle. You should know your battles and from then on, choose them wisely.
Common to people’s understanding is that a hard-working person, no matter how hard the trials
could go in between, will pursue and not give up when he wants something. I believe this is not a
general contemplation because it cannot be applied all the time. I genuinely assent to what Sun
Tzu has mentioned about this concept — that we should not involve ourselves in everything that
comes ahead of us. We should not be at the forefront if we are uncertain about things because it
could ruin our vision and our mission. Be that as it may, taking a risk should only be regarded
when there is a greater chance of succeeding. Otherwise, personally, I would rethink my views
and restructure my plan.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a
thunderbolt.”

Secondly, self-awareness is as indispensable as planning. You have to ask yourself

questions like, “Is the enemy stronger than me/us?” “What resources do I/we need to supply
myself/ourselves adequately?” “Is this the right time to fight?,” and lastly, “Would this plan
result in the least possible losses?.” You have to determine not only the strengths and weaknesses
of the enemy, but you should also reckon your standing. By the time you are cognizant of your
capabilities and the cause and effects of your actions, it is paramount that you become honest
with yourself. Admit if you are behind. Be better, if that’s the case. Well, scratch that. Win the
war no matter what it takes.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you
know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”
 Lastly, apply tactics, which include espionage, the art of deception, and intended futile
commands. Distract your enemies and once you find their weak spot, seize and take advantage of
it. Use spies that would share information and be the big brain of the team. Violence and physical
acts are not the only ways insinuated in war. Wisdom and the ability to incorporate strategies on
the battlefield will unquestionably help you take home the bread. A commander must not be
benevolent and forward-looking alone, but he must be wise above all. Moreover, mastering the
art of deception gives you an edge — when your enemies think you are far, be near; when they
think you are near, be far. Feign strength with weakness, and be weak when they think you are
strong. If your enemies are larger in number, hide and find a place that would be an advantage.
Advanced preparation will help the soldiers be more confident in themselves in the commander.
This notion is debatable when we consider customs and morals. Our society today, even though
progressing, still leans backward when it involves negatively-perceived acts, i.e., deceiving as an
immoral act. However, war is not a battle of the holiest or the kindest. War is a battle of
strategies, strengths, and harmony. There are inevitable stunts that will be used and even if moral
law prohibits them, they would indubitably form part in the accomplishment of an undertaking.

As it goes, “Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without

fighting.”

Concludingly, The Art of War elucidates that in war, the greatest triumph would be not
fighting at all. You will know that you have won if you have little to no losses and that you have
subdued your enemy without fighting. As I read the entirety of the book, I couldn’t stop thinking
of Stoicism, an ancient school of thought with the goal of providing a mode of conduct
characterized by the tranquility of mind and certainty of moral worth. Rationality is the hallmark
of Stoic belief. For Stoics, there are few things you can control, which is being criticized as
passivity since it gives no effort into matters that are beyond control. However, the similarity
when it comes to being radical and critical in things that can be controlled between The Art of
War and Stoicism is apparent. Although not entirely identical, their benchmark is about
identifying the things one can manage and manipulate.

II. REFLECTION

The moment I finished reading the first two chapters, I knew I was hooked when I could
not put down my paperback. Sun Tzu’s aim to demonstrate how a person can win a battle, even
though written a long time ago, is still relevant in the present time. His conviction when it comes
to his words is powerful and influential as if you can find yourself nodding nonstop in your seat.
However, that is not the case for me.
 There were some things that I did not like. The first one would be the dichotomy in his
philosophy. Most of the lines were simple and self-explanatory, but I think a lot of people raved
about them too much, putting a lot of thought into a plain, bland quotation.

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first
and then seek to win.”

This is one of those not-so-wise lines in the book. Sun Tzu tries to make victory a
stagnant and constant effect and that maneuvering is no less than a mere afterthought. He
implies, at least based on my interpretation, that defeated warriors seek to win, which made me
ask myself, “So the premeditated winners do not?.”

Even though I am still confused about some of the things he stated, I would not agree
with him on this one. I think hunger is inherent in the parties to war. Both of them seek to win
despite careful preparation. The use of preachy undertones is not necessary for some of the
chapters.

On a side note, I liked the way he enumerated his thoughts as if they were listed to
remind the readers. I think it would be tedious if it were to be read in paragraph form, especially
since it has a serious tone and figures of speech would be inappropriate in striving to make it
stimulating, which, for a fact, I doubt its purpose is to entertain people. I would like to believe
that the book is designed to share wisdom and a plan of action. Hence, the writing style is fit for
its cause.

If I would rate the book, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5. Although it was gripping enough
for someone like me who loves reading non-fiction, historical and historical fiction, i.e., the
“boring genres,” it did not maintain its impact on me. It felt like I was holding on too much in the
middle so that I won’t drop the book. I wouldn’t say it seemed like a neophyte in its artistry, but
the more I analyze the context of Sun Tzu’s words, the more I become open to interpretations,
therefore leading to some criticisms in my head. Overall, it is a decent classic and something new
to me. I would not say I regret reading it, but it was an average experience on my part.