Long considered the most essential treatise on military strategy and tactics, The Art of War comprises thirteen chapters, each dedicated to a different aspect of warfare. Reaching far beyond the battlefield, it is a manifesto for success in every kind of conflict or competition, having had a notable influence on various subjects such as law, sports, and interpersonal relationships.

In this definitive 1910 Lionel Giles translation, the celebrated sinologist’s interpretive notes and valuable commentary make clear the nuances of Sun Tzu’s language. Most critical, Giles provides the context and culture from which the general’s theories emerged.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Art of War, this edition of The Art of War (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

"The definitive version of The Art of War for those English speakers who truly want to understand it..." Wisconsin Bookwatch

"The Best...internally consistent between the translated concepts and so shows a level of knowledge and detail that is not present in some other translations. As a translator, the author obviously sees the big picture...Gary Gagliardi is considered by many to be a leading expert in understanding and using the competitive methods embodied in Sun Tzu’s treatise on the art of war." Midwest Book Review

The only translation that shows the original Chinese with a transliteration of each character side-by-side with the English sentence translation. Includes a glossary explaining Sun Tzu's definitions of the key Chinese concepts. There are many translations of The Art of War, but this is only truly accurate version written by America's leading expert on Sun Tzu's system. Winner of the Independent Publishers Book Award for the best Multicultural Nonfiction book of the year!

Seven Ways Better Than All Other Translations!

1. More complete: Based on the complete compilation of all historical sources and academic research rather than on traditional fragmentary sources.


2. More accurate: Shows the original Chinese phrases (thousands of characters), individually translates each character (a transliteration), translates each phrase into an English sentence, and provides details of the key concepts that cannot be translated.


3. More concise: Its side-by-side format makes it impossible to add or subtract from the Chinese source or secretly add the translator’s editorial opinions. All commentaries are clearly separated from the translation and text.


4. More authoritative: Translated by America’s leading expert on Sun Tzu, who has written over two dozen books explaining the strategic concepts in the text.


5. More consistent: Eliminates the imprecise word choices that create the obvious internal contradictions so common in most other translations.


6. More balanced: Offers one English sentence for each Chinese phrase to preserve the balance of ideas in the original work.


7. More organized: Retains and numbers the original phrase groups to preserve the contextual relationships for easy study.

You can compare this version to other translations and immediately see where other English translation depart from the original Chinese into the translators' own opinions and commentaries. This version won the award not just for being the best translation or the best book about Asian philosophy, but the best of all books in 2003 explaining another culture anywhere in the world.Reviews"Supremely Accurate bilingual edition...Each two-page spread features the translated lines into English on one side and the Chinese ideograms with their meanings on the other so that dedicated readers can readily understand the range of meaning in the original text.

For the first time in any modern language, a female scholar and translator reimagines The Art of War.

Sun Tzu’s ancient book of strategy and psychology has as much to tell us today as when it was first written 2,500 years ago. In a world forever at odds, his rules for anticipating the motivations and strategies of our competitors never cease to inspire leaders of all kinds.

Michael Nylan, in her provocative introduction, sees new and unexpected lessons to be learned from The Art of War—in business ventures, relationships, games of skill, academic careers, and medical practices. Strategy, like conflict, is woven into society’s very roots.

Nylan’s crisp translation “offers a masterly new evaluation of this classic work, which balances the overtly military content with a profound and thought-provoking analysis” (Olivia Milburn). Readers newly engaging with ancient Chinese culture will be inspired by Nylan’s authoritative voice. Informed by years of scholarly study, Nylan is uniquely placed to introduce readers to Sun Tzu’s classic work through her detailed annotations on culture and the intricacies of translating ancient Chinese into modern English. She proves that Sun Tzu is more relevant than ever, helping us navigate the conflicts we know and those we have yet to endure.

Discover the spiritually incisive strategies for peacefully resolving conflict
in this masterpiece of military strategy.

Written 2,500 years ago by Chinese general Sun Tzu, The Art of War is a poetic and potent treatise on military strategy still in use in war colleges around the world. Yet its principles transcend warfare and have practical applications to all the conflicts and crises we face in our lives—in our workplaces, our families, even within ourselves.

Thomas Huynh guides you through Sun Tzu's masterwork, highlighting principles that encourage a perceptive and spiritual approach to conflict, enabling you to:
• Prevent conflicts before they arise
• Peacefully and quickly resolve conflicts when they do arise
• Act with courage, intelligence and benevolence in adversarial situations
• Convert potential enemies into friends
• Control your emotions before they control you

Now you can experience the effectiveness of Sun Tzu's teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of The Art of War. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary explains the subtleties of the text, allowing you to unlock the power of its teachings and help prevent and resolve the conflicts in your own life.