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The Ultimate Art of War: A Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide to Sun Tzu's Teachings
The most accessible edition of Sun Tzu’s military strategy treatise, The Art of War —perfect for martial arts enthusiasts and anyone looking to enhance their leadership and strategic thinking skills.
This step-by-step guide breaks down the original Art of War into 200 digestible lessons that will help you get a competitive edge in all your endeavors.
Composed in the 5th century BC, Sun Tzu's Art of War is the earliest-known treatise on military strategy, and is still hugely popular around the world for its perceptive tactical advice to commanders on how to win at war with minimal bloodshed.
Aimed at all those who want to study the text in depth, this is the first step-by-step guide to the famous treatise. It breaks down the 13 chapters of the original into 200 easily digested lessons,
• Do not press a desperate enemy
• Control your troops through bond of loyalty
• When you are weak, beware attack
Each lesson is accompanied by comprehensive commentary and clarified with around 250 illustrations.
This ultimate guide to Art of War includes the classic 1910 translation by Lionel Giles and commentary that takes into account all academic interpretations of the text, highlighting differences between modern translations as well as the perspectives of historical Chinese commentators. No other edition compares and contrasts the viewpoints of different contemporary translators, or explains exactly what each section of this often enigmatic text actually means.
This step-by-step guide breaks down the original Art of War into 200 digestible lessons that will help you get a competitive edge in all your endeavors.
Composed in the 5th century BC, Sun Tzu's Art of War is the earliest-known treatise on military strategy, and is still hugely popular around the world for its perceptive tactical advice to commanders on how to win at war with minimal bloodshed.
Aimed at all those who want to study the text in depth, this is the first step-by-step guide to the famous treatise. It breaks down the 13 chapters of the original into 200 easily digested lessons,
• Do not press a desperate enemy
• Control your troops through bond of loyalty
• When you are weak, beware attack
Each lesson is accompanied by comprehensive commentary and clarified with around 250 illustrations.
This ultimate guide to Art of War includes the classic 1910 translation by Lionel Giles and commentary that takes into account all academic interpretations of the text, highlighting differences between modern translations as well as the perspectives of historical Chinese commentators. No other edition compares and contrasts the viewpoints of different contemporary translators, or explains exactly what each section of this often enigmatic text actually means.
328 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2019
182 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 3, 2020
I am so ready to beat my friends at Risk now.
April 5, 2025
this made me feel as if i were a general in ancient china, as well as fully skilled to face and win a war tomorrow (or win my friends in a board game).
in all seriousness, this adaptation and its schemes gave the original work a fresher and more accessible reading, which i really appreciated. the author also made a great research job through the different translations, giving all the different viewpoints.
it’s a very complete book that i enjoyed reading and appreciated the work. i can’t give it a higher rating than this because i enjoy narrative much more (:
in all seriousness, this adaptation and its schemes gave the original work a fresher and more accessible reading, which i really appreciated. the author also made a great research job through the different translations, giving all the different viewpoints.
it’s a very complete book that i enjoyed reading and appreciated the work. i can’t give it a higher rating than this because i enjoy narrative much more (:
December 29, 2019
Most of the translations of The Art of War are dated. In this book, the author offers to revisit the teachings of Sun Tzu in a different order.
He has organized, grouped the original sayings in 13 different chapters. Each chapter is built in the same way :
- first, it starts with one of Sun Tzu's teachings ;
- then Anthony Cummins explains or interprets in modern English this teaching. In some cases he reports the different interpretation when the existing translations differ.
- finally, each teaching is summarized in a "war tip".
I strongly recommned this book to anyone interested in The Art of War as not only it offers a modern translation but it also provides the different interpretations when they exist.
A note for the readers who only want to read all of Sun Tzu's teachings : they are grouped by categories at the end of the book after the 13 chapters.
Personnally, I found the advices given by Sun Tzu are sometimes outdated and in a few cases irrelevant for modern warfare. Nevertheless, most of them are common sense and should still be applicable in contemporary conflicts.
He has organized, grouped the original sayings in 13 different chapters. Each chapter is built in the same way :
- first, it starts with one of Sun Tzu's teachings ;
- then Anthony Cummins explains or interprets in modern English this teaching. In some cases he reports the different interpretation when the existing translations differ.
- finally, each teaching is summarized in a "war tip".
I strongly recommned this book to anyone interested in The Art of War as not only it offers a modern translation but it also provides the different interpretations when they exist.
A note for the readers who only want to read all of Sun Tzu's teachings : they are grouped by categories at the end of the book after the 13 chapters.
Personnally, I found the advices given by Sun Tzu are sometimes outdated and in a few cases irrelevant for modern warfare. Nevertheless, most of them are common sense and should still be applicable in contemporary conflicts.
January 7, 2025
#NonfictionGeek
#BookReview
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫 by 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬.(A Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide to Sun Tzu's Teachings)
"𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" - 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗧𝘇𝘂
An Ancient text by Sun Tzu ( Master Sun) around 5th BC in China. Various translations of this ancient text on Warfare exist in Contemporary circles. Cummins amalgamated and analyzed those translations and gave an excellent and refined version. The book is filled with a graphical interpretation of each scroll of Sun Tzu. Hence, it is easy for layman to understand the intricacies of Warfare.
Now, coming over to the book, which is divided into thirteen Chapters. Each Scroll has a dedicated Chapter. Scrolls include Preparation and Plans, Battle Preparations, Stratagem of Attacks, Scroll on Observing Patterns, Scroll of Power, On Deception, Military Combat, Changing Situations, Military Movement, Scroll on Landscape, Scroll on Nine Terrains, Scroll on Attacking with Fire, and Scroll on Use of Spies.
#Recommended!
#Thanks
#BookReview
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫 by 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬.(A Step-by-Step Illustrated Guide to Sun Tzu's Teachings)
"𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" - 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗧𝘇𝘂
An Ancient text by Sun Tzu ( Master Sun) around 5th BC in China. Various translations of this ancient text on Warfare exist in Contemporary circles. Cummins amalgamated and analyzed those translations and gave an excellent and refined version. The book is filled with a graphical interpretation of each scroll of Sun Tzu. Hence, it is easy for layman to understand the intricacies of Warfare.
Now, coming over to the book, which is divided into thirteen Chapters. Each Scroll has a dedicated Chapter. Scrolls include Preparation and Plans, Battle Preparations, Stratagem of Attacks, Scroll on Observing Patterns, Scroll of Power, On Deception, Military Combat, Changing Situations, Military Movement, Scroll on Landscape, Scroll on Nine Terrains, Scroll on Attacking with Fire, and Scroll on Use of Spies.
#Recommended!
#Thanks
October 15, 2021
4 stars for the translation, format and illustrations - but 2 stars for the actual book
I did a bit of research and this seemed to be reviewed well, so went for this edition of The Art of War.
The Illustrations look really nice and break up the text.
Comparing different translations on some subtle teachings of Sun Tzu works well.
Overall (although this is the only edition I have read), this achieved what I hoped.
The problem for me is that the teachings seem obvious (easy to say two thousand years after it was written), but there is no point giving an inflated rating if it was overall just an okay read, even if it is considered a classic of historic importance.
I did a bit of research and this seemed to be reviewed well, so went for this edition of The Art of War.
The Illustrations look really nice and break up the text.
Comparing different translations on some subtle teachings of Sun Tzu works well.
Overall (although this is the only edition I have read), this achieved what I hoped.
The problem for me is that the teachings seem obvious (easy to say two thousand years after it was written), but there is no point giving an inflated rating if it was overall just an okay read, even if it is considered a classic of historic importance.
June 5, 2025
A tactical reading without the Taoist base.
I read this translation along with the Giles translation that I read under the excellent guidance of Norma Wong, who first led us through the Tao Te Ching. It's important to read them together for a full understanding.
Cummins's version is very clear & helped me understand the tactics in a literal sense. I felt it lacked the Taoist soul of what Norma called the art of navigating conflict which makes The Art of War such a useful tool for all aspects of human life. Reading it alongside my study was very helpful.
I read this translation along with the Giles translation that I read under the excellent guidance of Norma Wong, who first led us through the Tao Te Ching. It's important to read them together for a full understanding.
Cummins's version is very clear & helped me understand the tactics in a literal sense. I felt it lacked the Taoist soul of what Norma called the art of navigating conflict which makes The Art of War such a useful tool for all aspects of human life. Reading it alongside my study was very helpful.
February 27, 2021
THE ULTIMATE ART OF WAR:
Based on the famous The Art of War, this book explorers the deeper meaning behind Sun Tzu’s teachings. With a full translation of the original book, in-depth commentary and strategic diagrams to aid the lessons taught by Sun Tzu. This is worth checking out if you want more clarity after reading The Art of War or want to learn the valuable lessons taught by Sun Tzu in an easier way.
Based on the famous The Art of War, this book explorers the deeper meaning behind Sun Tzu’s teachings. With a full translation of the original book, in-depth commentary and strategic diagrams to aid the lessons taught by Sun Tzu. This is worth checking out if you want more clarity after reading The Art of War or want to learn the valuable lessons taught by Sun Tzu in an easier way.
July 13, 2024
Beautifully illustrated and well set out edition of Sun Tzu's teachings on the Art of War. Very interesting to read about the tactics in war from 2,000+ years ago, many of which still hold good today and can also be applied to corporate life, negotiation tactics and management skills. It was also interesting to read the commentary on how certain sections could be translated or interpreted in different ways, even highlighting passages where the intention was not clear. Very accessible edition.
May 5, 2021
The best Art of War version I have read until now! The author breaks up Sun Tzu's original text into bitesize sections, explains these and then derives about 230 "Lessons" from them. He stays in the fealm of warfare, but he is after all a martial arts specialist. Added are great illustrations and awesome calligraphy. An absolute winner.
August 24, 2021
Sun Tzu's Art of War is the ultimate military classic and an advanced leadership course rolled into one. The catch is that it is a slog to read and sort out. Anthony Cummings has done the sorting for you, and repackaged Sun Tzu into a very readable and easy-to-follow progression. If you are in the military, this is a must-read. If you are in a leadership position, this is a must-read.
September 1, 2021
I can see why people like this and why it has survived through the centuries. The principles are general enough to apply even to today's world yet specific enough to give insight into Sun Tzu's teachings and way of life. Truly a fascinating read!
September 27, 2024
This book makes ‘The Art of War’ accessible. That’s probably quite a tough thing to do, at least I think it is. The ideas were written with conflict in mind; but the casual reader can find a few quotes and ideas that might apply to their own lives.
January 29, 2020
The most readable and graphically well illustrated version of the Art of War, Ive read up until now.
January 15, 2021
Solid foundation in preparing for war
November 11, 2024
The best addition of Art of war I have ever read very good pictures easy to digest.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews