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The Modern Art of War: Sun Tzu's Hidden Path to Peace and Wholeness
Aimed at a self-development market, this timely and fresh take on that perennial bestseller the Art of War challenges us to see the text not as a tool for warfare but as a guide to inner harmony and personal fulfilment.
Sun Tzu’s Art of War has been read mostly as a book of war strategies that teaches us how to beat our opponents on the battlefield. The Modern Art of War presents a new it isn't about conquering your enemies, devising strategies to overtake armies, or getting ahead against your competitors. Instead, the real art of war is the fight to control your mind and the thoughts that rule it. What if Sun Tzu wasn’t a general at all, but a spiritual advisor, and that the Art of War was written not for a king, but for the people?
Each chapter begins with the original text from the Art of War followed by an overview, applied practice, thought-provoking prompts, and a chance for your own reflection.
This book will teach readers how to "conquer" or still the mind in order to reveal their own hidden teacher and recognize that the root of conflict (or war) begins within. By creating harmony within one’s self, readers can then carry it forward to help bring more peace into the world.
Sun Tzu’s Art of War has been read mostly as a book of war strategies that teaches us how to beat our opponents on the battlefield. The Modern Art of War presents a new it isn't about conquering your enemies, devising strategies to overtake armies, or getting ahead against your competitors. Instead, the real art of war is the fight to control your mind and the thoughts that rule it. What if Sun Tzu wasn’t a general at all, but a spiritual advisor, and that the Art of War was written not for a king, but for the people?
Each chapter begins with the original text from the Art of War followed by an overview, applied practice, thought-provoking prompts, and a chance for your own reflection.
This book will teach readers how to "conquer" or still the mind in order to reveal their own hidden teacher and recognize that the root of conflict (or war) begins within. By creating harmony within one’s self, readers can then carry it forward to help bring more peace into the world.
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2024
6 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Hunter Liguore
43 books6 followersHunter Liguore is a gentle advocate for living in harmony with the natural world and with one another. An award-winning author, professor, and historian, when you support her work, you're martaking in an equal exchange that supports compassion and peace in the world. When not making soup, she is often roaming old ruins, hillsides, and cemeteries.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 30, 2024
smart and full of interesting pieces of sun tzu's work, moderning it for today's world. can apply to art and mastering craft, which why read
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February 4, 2024It's been a long time since I read The Art of War and I was excited to see what this book had to offer. This is a very modern take, and the focus is on mastering yourself, with exercises to help you achieve the level of self-awareness to make that possible. In modern times, it's much more likely that the battles we face are more likely to be in our everyday life instead of on a battlefield.
This book is fantastic because it introduces you to the original Chinese classic and gives you the tools you can use to become mentally and psychologically stronger. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this!
This book is fantastic because it introduces you to the original Chinese classic and gives you the tools you can use to become mentally and psychologically stronger. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this!
May 31, 2024
A book for self-empowerment readers looking to improve their practice of managing thoughts through a compelling look at the mind as if it was a battlefield. Comparative authors: Dawson Church, Joe Dispenza, Bruce Lipton, Lao Tzu.
Fitting for readers of Buddhism, Shinto, Mindfulness, or those looking for an unreligious or philosophical practice, similar to those you find in New Neuroscience and Quantum Physics, or similar Mind over Matter techniques that offer a realistic approach for taming the mind. It’s comparative to What the Bleep, Mind Over Matter, The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu's Ultimate Guide, or countless other books on the subject of changing the thought to change the world, though this one reinterprets Sun Tzu’s timeless words to a more fitting
In the age of rapid technological advancement and global interconnectedness, the principles of warfare have transcended traditional battlegrounds to encompass a broader spectrum of conflict: that of the mind. In "Modern Art of War" the author carries readers on a visionary exploration of strategic thinking in the 21st century, where traditional warfare meets the complexities of being mindful, through the ancient practice of direct awareness, attributed to the “sun school” or Master Sun, whom we know as Sun Tzu.
Reading 13 chapters, I found myself awed by the obvious connection the war on a battlefield would be to the war on the mind, since all reality is made from thought. Liguore then offers something new to a cluttered market of self-help books. In this take, “Sun Tzu” goes from blood-crazed general to peaceful warrior, who like Lao Tzu taught “allowing.”
The book mitigates lessons on how to address the unruly mind and in doing so, has a clear practice, lessons, questions, and principles that are modern and accessible.
In just a short few weeks of reading and applying the strategy with my Tai Chi and then a sewing practice, I can recognize more wholeness, more awareness to be the master over my mind, rather than being swept up by it.
Moreover, the book's emphasis on practicality sets it apart from its predecessors.
This is a mind/body, self-help book, as opposed to one on military strategy about senseless war or ancient history. I found it through comparative titles in psychology and holistic books through Hay House and other self-empowerment lists.
What truly distinguishes "Modern Art of War," however, is its forward-thinking outlook. With it, I’m able to navigate my mind and anticipate future challenges and opportunities, which puts me in charge, like a military general.
Last tip: So simple and obvious, it’s no wonder it wasn’t seen decades prior, but that’s the human addiction to war for you…
Fitting for readers of Buddhism, Shinto, Mindfulness, or those looking for an unreligious or philosophical practice, similar to those you find in New Neuroscience and Quantum Physics, or similar Mind over Matter techniques that offer a realistic approach for taming the mind. It’s comparative to What the Bleep, Mind Over Matter, The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu's Ultimate Guide, or countless other books on the subject of changing the thought to change the world, though this one reinterprets Sun Tzu’s timeless words to a more fitting
In the age of rapid technological advancement and global interconnectedness, the principles of warfare have transcended traditional battlegrounds to encompass a broader spectrum of conflict: that of the mind. In "Modern Art of War" the author carries readers on a visionary exploration of strategic thinking in the 21st century, where traditional warfare meets the complexities of being mindful, through the ancient practice of direct awareness, attributed to the “sun school” or Master Sun, whom we know as Sun Tzu.
Reading 13 chapters, I found myself awed by the obvious connection the war on a battlefield would be to the war on the mind, since all reality is made from thought. Liguore then offers something new to a cluttered market of self-help books. In this take, “Sun Tzu” goes from blood-crazed general to peaceful warrior, who like Lao Tzu taught “allowing.”
The book mitigates lessons on how to address the unruly mind and in doing so, has a clear practice, lessons, questions, and principles that are modern and accessible.
In just a short few weeks of reading and applying the strategy with my Tai Chi and then a sewing practice, I can recognize more wholeness, more awareness to be the master over my mind, rather than being swept up by it.
Moreover, the book's emphasis on practicality sets it apart from its predecessors.
This is a mind/body, self-help book, as opposed to one on military strategy about senseless war or ancient history. I found it through comparative titles in psychology and holistic books through Hay House and other self-empowerment lists.
What truly distinguishes "Modern Art of War," however, is its forward-thinking outlook. With it, I’m able to navigate my mind and anticipate future challenges and opportunities, which puts me in charge, like a military general.
Last tip: So simple and obvious, it’s no wonder it wasn’t seen decades prior, but that’s the human addiction to war for you…
March 18, 2024
I read Sun Tzu’s "Art of War" in college and was always intrigued by that text and had it could be applied in so many avenues in life and not just in war. In Liguore's "The Modern Art of War", this notion is applied oneself in a great self help way. This is great, because in actually are we all our own worst enemies sometimes.
***I received a free ARC of this e-book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
***I received a free ARC of this e-book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
June 6, 2024
Pairs well with my love of old myths like Kalevala (Tolkien) and modernizing the meaning for today's world. This one engages Sun Tzu's text in a meaningful and engaging way that evokes peace, not war, and drops us in to the possibility of the ancient teacher.
June 4, 2024
A book about finding inner peace and our essential roll of creating a peaceful world through the examples and lives of others.
May 2, 2024
The book, while attempting to guide readers towards personal and societal transformation through inner peace, may be fundamentally flawed not only in its overly simplistic and idealistic philosophy but also in its potentially baseless historical assertions, notably the assumption that Sun Tzu is a myth. This claim, if not substantiated by rigorous historical analysis and evidence, undermines the credibility of the book. It risks presenting a revisionist view of history that distracts from its intended philosophical teachings and could mislead readers about historical facts, which is particularly egregious in a work that purports to draw lessons from historical texts.
By suggesting that Sun Tzu, a figure widely regarded in both historical and military academic circles as real, is merely a mythical creation, the author ventures into speculative history without clear justification. This not only challenges the integrity of the historical narrative but also could be seen as a gimmick to attract attention or controversy, which detracts from the serious philosophical and practical applications intended by the original teachings of "The Art of War."
Moreover, the book’s emphasis on internal peace as a panacea for external challenges becomes even more questionable if its historical foundations are built on unproven or controversial premises. The combination of questionable historical accuracy and an oversimplified approach to complex personal and social issues might render the book not just unhelpful but potentially misleading, encouraging a dismissive attitude towards real-world problems and their solutions. I could not, for example, dismiss global warming as a part of my "disquieted mind".
Overall, the book lacks both historical credibility and practical relevance, rendering its philosophical propositions less compelling and absurd at best.
The author aims to align herself with the modern society's "love and light" bandwagon. It may sell, but it only perpetuates ignorance. How I would sum up the author's train of thought: "Keep calm and take a sip from your stanley cup."
This over-reaching reinterpretation is nothing short of a disrespect to Suntzu's brilliance.
By suggesting that Sun Tzu, a figure widely regarded in both historical and military academic circles as real, is merely a mythical creation, the author ventures into speculative history without clear justification. This not only challenges the integrity of the historical narrative but also could be seen as a gimmick to attract attention or controversy, which detracts from the serious philosophical and practical applications intended by the original teachings of "The Art of War."
Moreover, the book’s emphasis on internal peace as a panacea for external challenges becomes even more questionable if its historical foundations are built on unproven or controversial premises. The combination of questionable historical accuracy and an oversimplified approach to complex personal and social issues might render the book not just unhelpful but potentially misleading, encouraging a dismissive attitude towards real-world problems and their solutions. I could not, for example, dismiss global warming as a part of my "disquieted mind".
Overall, the book lacks both historical credibility and practical relevance, rendering its philosophical propositions less compelling and absurd at best.
The author aims to align herself with the modern society's "love and light" bandwagon. It may sell, but it only perpetuates ignorance. How I would sum up the author's train of thought: "Keep calm and take a sip from your stanley cup."
This over-reaching reinterpretation is nothing short of a disrespect to Suntzu's brilliance.
June 26, 2024
I started 2024 acquring four new books on well-being, and this was one of them. I was not familiar with Sun Tzu's art of war before this, and only ever knew it as a book that had to do with war. This one flips the idea and offers a path of peace, one anyone can follow. It is a complete and compelling practice that does more than say to you, Go Meditate! In fact, it is immediate and encourages "direct-awareness," as a form of practice that can be done now or wherever you are, with any hobby or thing you do, like washing dishes, to working on a motorcycle, to running, and walking. Each chapter relates Sun Tzu's peaceful message on conquering the unruly mind, and is followed by crucial commentary which does help to distill the ideas offered, which progress and develops into a single practice over the 13 chapters. It engaged me and I enjoyed the questions that are at the end of the chapters to reflect on--esp. done honestly, these helped open up my resistance to what I did and did not want to do--so it's helping me grow. It is a useful book that I can return to again. I did not realize until reading it, applying some of the wisdom it contains, how MUCH my mind is controlling my day and how much control I ACTUALLY have in allowing thoughts to pass and regaining the "general" seat over my army of senses. I am a master sun too!
June 3, 2024
This book helped me in a way I wasnt expecting - Ive struggled all my life w addictions. Ive tried everything under the sun to get my life in order. a friend suggested this book & some others to. it was this one that made me feel like I could really make a change. it was baed on SUn Tzu - I remember reading the book as a kid and it made feel powerful then and now here it was showing up. the book was different b'c it showed that the war is going on in me. this made sense. I say it all the time. Ive got a war going on!!! no one can help me. I know that. sun txu new this! he made a stratgy book about it!!! holding it made me feel poweful like it was in me to make a change. every chapter comes with questions and exercises to put sun tzy's teachings into play. I went slow and did it like homework and brought the book everywhere, so if I got low or fighting myself, i just opened the book and got reading and felt better. it is been a miracle in my life. and no, Im not cured but Im trying and I have a guide. Im a MASTER SUN and so can anyone be it. hard work. practice. and believing in myself to make a change and fight my war. yeah man, i am fighting my internal war - if i can so can any body. thank you for this book!!!!!!!
June 21, 2024
Soon to be a classic... this Sun Tzu revision focuses on self empowerment. Just like Thomas Cleary's version, it puts you in control of your reality and not powerless. Pairs well with the I-Ching for self-mastery.
October 16, 2024
horrible. do not read this book, it was the biggest waste of time ever
December 1, 2025
Peace in every step. I valued this interpretation that encourages self responsibility over the warring mind as a way forward to live among others peacefully.
August 25, 2024
I had high hopes for this book, but upon reading the introduction, my hope dove headfirst into a pile of horse dung. The 1-star reviews were not exagerrating the mess that is this book. The book is riddled with historical inaccuracies and misinterpretations of key events and figures. This undermines the credibility of the content, making it hard to trust any of the author's assertions or recommendations. The supposed modern take on classic military strategies feels forced and out of touch with contemporary realities.
Why would anyone want to follow the author's suggestions when the book itself reads like a non-binary teenager facing existential crisis?
Could I magically "think positive" my problems away? ...Maybe if I'm stoned.
Update (8/25):
It seems Goodreads are removing the negative reviews as I have seen plenty of them just a month ago. Either the author has reached out to Goodreads throwing tantrums or Goodreads is another one of those platforms that do not encourage honest feedbacks.
Why would anyone want to follow the author's suggestions when the book itself reads like a non-binary teenager facing existential crisis?
Could I magically "think positive" my problems away? ...Maybe if I'm stoned.
Update (8/25):
It seems Goodreads are removing the negative reviews as I have seen plenty of them just a month ago. Either the author has reached out to Goodreads throwing tantrums or Goodreads is another one of those platforms that do not encourage honest feedbacks.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews