The Art of War: Sun Zi's Military Methods (Translations from the Asian Classics)

Dr. Victor H. Mair's 2007 scholarly book, "The Art of War: Sun Zi's Military Methods" (published by Columbia University Press), provides not only an accurate translation of The Art of War but also the most recent research into its origin.With a knack for Sinitic etymology, Sinitic lexicography, and the origins and evolution of Chinese script, Victor Mair pushed for Chinese language reforms in exceptional efforts such as how Chinese dictionaries should be best arranged. Dr. Mair's expertise allows him to break new ground in his Art of War translation and book which contains bold and original data, analyses, and theories. Like a scientist, he methodically asserts evidences to challenge our current knowledge and leaves us with renewed scholarship and appreciation for The Art of War. You won't regret owning this refreshing, authoritative, and well-researched edition.Victor Mair is a professor of Chinese language and literature at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from Dartmouth College (where he was captain of the Dartmouth basketball team and tasked to guard Bill Bradley from Princeton), served in the Peace Corps in Nepal, and holds a master's degree from University of London and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has taught at Kyoto University in Japan and at Sichuan University in China.After much debate and discussion, we at Sonshi are ranking Victor Mair's "The Art of War: Sun Zi's Military Methods" the #1 Art of War edition; how rare a book that courageously stands up to centuries of established thought, proceeds to knock it down with sound logic and proof, and succeeds in convincing even the Old Guard to change their views.

Victor Mair is amazing! I own an older version of Sun Zi, and I have to say hands down that this is much more readable and insightful a piece of work. Mair is an excellent writer in his own right, and his expert scholarship is clear from the authoritative introduction, some 55 pages long but easy to read. I have devoured this book. It is hard to put down and it doesn't bog down. His translation is superior to the older Shambala edition. I enjoyed the discussion on putting the treatise into a historical and military context. Even the forward by another author, comparing Sun Zi with Clausewitz, is excellent, thought-provoking work. I think this moves Sun Zi scholarship forward but in a way that is also perfectly readable to the layman. Mair gives the more serious scholar ways to get more into the weeds in the notes section and in references to more academic papers he has done on the subject, which is fine by me.I highly recommend this to anyone interested the Sun Zi, tactics, and Chinese philosophy.

The book does well in its attempt to provide historical details. The footnotes are informative which are best used with the Lionel Giles translation. However, some translation which Lionel Giles has done well for e.g "have heard of stupid haste in war but cleverness has never been associated with delays" which just means to say : War should be gotten over with quickly. However. if it is conducted quickly in haste without a well though plan, then it is a stupid haste. The stupidity of fighting in a haste does not allude you to being clever if you take your time in doing so.

If you looking for this title then I'm sure you already know what the book is about. I choose this version because I wanted an accurate translation of the authors work without the translators assumptions and paraphrasing detracting from what was originally written. Very pleased with this version.

Sun Tzu's writing is notorious for its opaqueness. In this translation, Sinologist Victor Mair creates not only a readable piece of work, but one that is comprehensible (relatively speaking, of course). As a person who has read several translations of this work, including the one by Lionel Giles, I believe that it is perhaps not the best translation for a beginner, (Minton's is probably better for that), but it certainly is the best one for a continuing study of this important, enigmatic work. This translation should be in the library of anyone interested in the philosophical underpinnings of armed conflict.

Although it's not an ordinary book contentwise, it is definitely great wisdom source. Have not been throught it yet and will come back and read it over (somewhat expected and recommended) the book was definitely worth to buy; be aware though what edition and author you choose what makes quite a difference here;-)

I was told to read this for business. It is more philosophy than anything. Great quotes. Great book.

Has all the right stuff. Great for academic classes and study. Easy to get to footnotes. Really cheap to buy.

Nice book

its just awesome, i love it. came in good quality, no damage or any kind of wear.

This book is probably the best translation of Sun Zi’s. I enjoyed reading about the historical and cultural context of the original writing. Tracing historical documents to find the true Sun Zi is most interesting. The book includes a section of Chinese words in Pinyin and brief comments on the translation of these words. It would help the reader to identify where these words are if the original text in Pinyin is interleaved with the translated text.

Great copy