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The Complete Art of War
The Art of War by Sun Tzu (illustrated version) translated by Lionel Giles
With three great additional books on war and statecraft including:
The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli (translated by W. K. Marriott)
On War (vol. 1) by Carl von Clausewitz (translated by colonel JJ Graham 1874)
Arthashastra by Kautilya (translated by R. Shamasastry 1915)
Plus a second version of the The Art of War by Sun Tzu - an unabridged version with additional notes by Lionel Giles going into much more detail about the characters and function of the times.
There are even downloadable free audio links for The Art of War by Sun Tzu, On War (vol. 1) by Carl von Clausewitz and The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The classic treatise on war by the 6th century BC Chinese general Sun Tzu. Still as relevant today as it was when written and used throughout the world to help those in wars in the boardroom or the playing fields.
The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli
Nicolo (or Niccolo) Machiavelli was the multi-skilled Italian writer and politician from Florence who wrote his masterpiece on statecraft after his role in government was ended by the return to power of the Medici family - arguably one of the most powerful and Machivellian families in history.
On War (vol. 1) by Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars for Prussia and Russia. His book looks at the real world methods of winning wars and pays great attention to Napoleon and Frederick the Great in particular. It is in this book that the term the 'Fog of War' is first used.
Arthashastra by Kautilya
Kautilya's Arthashastra is a work looking at the military, economic and general governing roles of the state in India in the 4th Century BC. It was widely used and referred to up until the 12th century when it disappeared from regular use. It has been referred to as Machivellian in its outlook with Max Weber saying, "compared to it, Machiavelli’s The Prince is harmless."
Scroll up to Buy this Incredible Collection of Books Now.
With three great additional books on war and statecraft including:
The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli (translated by W. K. Marriott)
On War (vol. 1) by Carl von Clausewitz (translated by colonel JJ Graham 1874)
Arthashastra by Kautilya (translated by R. Shamasastry 1915)
Plus a second version of the The Art of War by Sun Tzu - an unabridged version with additional notes by Lionel Giles going into much more detail about the characters and function of the times.
There are even downloadable free audio links for The Art of War by Sun Tzu, On War (vol. 1) by Carl von Clausewitz and The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The classic treatise on war by the 6th century BC Chinese general Sun Tzu. Still as relevant today as it was when written and used throughout the world to help those in wars in the boardroom or the playing fields.
The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli
Nicolo (or Niccolo) Machiavelli was the multi-skilled Italian writer and politician from Florence who wrote his masterpiece on statecraft after his role in government was ended by the return to power of the Medici family - arguably one of the most powerful and Machivellian families in history.
On War (vol. 1) by Carl von Clausewitz
Carl von Clausewitz was a Prussian soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars for Prussia and Russia. His book looks at the real world methods of winning wars and pays great attention to Napoleon and Frederick the Great in particular. It is in this book that the term the 'Fog of War' is first used.
Arthashastra by Kautilya
Kautilya's Arthashastra is a work looking at the military, economic and general governing roles of the state in India in the 4th Century BC. It was widely used and referred to up until the 12th century when it disappeared from regular use. It has been referred to as Machivellian in its outlook with Max Weber saying, "compared to it, Machiavelli’s The Prince is harmless."
Scroll up to Buy this Incredible Collection of Books Now.
744 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2015
76 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Sun Tzu
1,313 books3,563 followersSun Tzu (traditional Chinese: 孫子; simplified Chinese: 孙子; pinyin: Sūnzǐ) was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer who lived during the Eastern Zhou period (771–256 BC). Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thought. Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure. His birth name was Sun Wu (traditional Chinese: 孫武; simplified Chinese: 孙武) and he was known outside of his family by his courtesy name Changqing (Chinese: 長卿). The name Sun Tzu—by which he is more popularly known—is an honorific which means "Master Sun".
Sun Tzu mastered the military science of ancient China and created the military doctrine of asymmetrical warfare. According to it, an attack on the enemy should begin only after the enemy has no opportunity to either defend or counterattack. It was used in the wars in the era of the Warring States in ancient China (about 475–221 BC). It differs from the modern interpretation of asymmetric military strategy. The ancient warriors used to call it the Victorious Methods of Warfare (sheng er zhan zhi), but it has the same meaning as the modern asymmetrical military strategy. The ancient professional warriors used it in individual combats against the enemies in the wars. As a result, a variety of armed and unarmed combat combinations have been created for various combat situations as the individual battle plans. Those combat combinations had specific names, descriptions and classifications.
Sun Tzu's historicity is uncertain. The Han dynasty historian Sima Qian and other traditional Chinese historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity place the extant text of The Art of War in the later Warring States period of 475 to 221 BC, based on its style of composition and its descriptions of warfare. Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, also titled The Art of War. Since both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as "Sun Tzu" in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed them identical, prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.
Sun Tzu's work has been praised and employed throughout the arc of East Asian military history since its composition, and eventually earned global attention. During the twentieth century, The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in the Western world as well. It remains influential in many contemporary competitive endeavors across the modern world beyond military strategy and warfare, including espionage, culture, governance, business, and sports.
Sun Tzu mastered the military science of ancient China and created the military doctrine of asymmetrical warfare. According to it, an attack on the enemy should begin only after the enemy has no opportunity to either defend or counterattack. It was used in the wars in the era of the Warring States in ancient China (about 475–221 BC). It differs from the modern interpretation of asymmetric military strategy. The ancient warriors used to call it the Victorious Methods of Warfare (sheng er zhan zhi), but it has the same meaning as the modern asymmetrical military strategy. The ancient professional warriors used it in individual combats against the enemies in the wars. As a result, a variety of armed and unarmed combat combinations have been created for various combat situations as the individual battle plans. Those combat combinations had specific names, descriptions and classifications.
Sun Tzu's historicity is uncertain. The Han dynasty historian Sima Qian and other traditional Chinese historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity place the extant text of The Art of War in the later Warring States period of 475 to 221 BC, based on its style of composition and its descriptions of warfare. Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, also titled The Art of War. Since both Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as "Sun Tzu" in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed them identical, prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.
Sun Tzu's work has been praised and employed throughout the arc of East Asian military history since its composition, and eventually earned global attention. During the twentieth century, The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in the Western world as well. It remains influential in many contemporary competitive endeavors across the modern world beyond military strategy and warfare, including espionage, culture, governance, business, and sports.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 7, 2022
"A general and soldiers who seek refuge behind lines are already half conquered..."
This single title contains a collection of three of the most influential military treatises ever written; and Machiavelli's odd dialog, which is written like a Socratic play. Sun Tsu, Clausewitz, and Jomini make excellent reading, and are intriguing. Together, they make this book a substantial choice for your money, as it is probably the best way to buy these titles. Whether you are the military type or not, you will find much here to interest you. These books, like Machiavelli's better known work, The Prince, teach principles of strategy and planning that can be seen as inspiring in all areas of life.
I already own and have read Sun Tsu's The Art of War in hardback. It was written in the Fifth Century BC in China, and is much like a collection of proverbs and pithy sayings. His work is intensely readable, and easily absorbed, like a smooth tasting Oolong Tea.
Machiavelli's book is quiet complex in format, and contains archaic spelling that makes it challenging to read. He lived at the turn of the Sixteenth Century during the Italian Renaissance. I'd read his better known book, The Prince years before and found it relevant enough. It's just that as a philosopher, he's a bit off the deep end of human relations. If one takes the American General Sherman's viewpoint that 'War is Hell!' then one could believe that Machiavelli was the devil himself. He advocates a rather cutthroat philosophy that lacks any of the wine of honor that men usually wash their war instincts down with.
Clausewitz and Jomini wrote their treatises after Napoleon's Wars. Jomini's viewpoint was that of a Staff Officer and theorist. He was born in Vaud, Switzerland in 1779, and Clausewitz the following year in Berg, Prussia. Jomini was a Swiss in the French army and later in the service of Russia, so he was something of an outsider. Clausewitz had access to officer’s status at the beginning of his career that led all the way to General. While Jomini's work is more of the 'black coffee' practical type; Clausewitz was more of an abstract thinker who provided a broad unifying vision to warfare that just keeps on giving in any age.
Jomini’s ideas were simple: put superior combat power at the decisive point. He wrote his work as a field manual intended to be taken into battle as a practical application guide. His ideas were intensely popular at first, but since warfare changed from that of cavalry and lance, to that of mortars and trenches, his hasn't aged as well as Clausewitz's principles of 'Das ding an sich' or 'the thing in itself' of the phenomenon of war. Clausewitz's ideas seem more relevant today, for those reasons.
The major difference was that Jomini focused far more on the art and mechanics of battle tactics. He offered a formulaic approach, through the use of geometric terminology, for example. While Jomini himself claimed that military strategy is an art rather than an exact science, he uses many scientific and mathematical principles to illustrate his points.
Clausewitz focuses more on universal elements of human psychology, Clausewitz's work is timeless. His was much more focused on the psychological dynamics of war. He was a much more abstract thinker than Jomini, and subordinated specific techniques and tactical approaches to an understanding of the forces that a general had to deal with both internally and externally in battle.
I first became aware of some of Clausewitz and Jomini's ideas several years back through some of the strategy video games I play. I think that most players of the Civilization series, for example, are familiar with these ideas in practice. I read a bit more about them in Olan Thorensen's Destiny's Crucible series, where he mentions them a few times. But, I'd read neither book. I was glad to find this Kindle collection in order to compare the writings in one big read.
This single title contains a collection of three of the most influential military treatises ever written; and Machiavelli's odd dialog, which is written like a Socratic play. Sun Tsu, Clausewitz, and Jomini make excellent reading, and are intriguing. Together, they make this book a substantial choice for your money, as it is probably the best way to buy these titles. Whether you are the military type or not, you will find much here to interest you. These books, like Machiavelli's better known work, The Prince, teach principles of strategy and planning that can be seen as inspiring in all areas of life.
I already own and have read Sun Tsu's The Art of War in hardback. It was written in the Fifth Century BC in China, and is much like a collection of proverbs and pithy sayings. His work is intensely readable, and easily absorbed, like a smooth tasting Oolong Tea.
Machiavelli's book is quiet complex in format, and contains archaic spelling that makes it challenging to read. He lived at the turn of the Sixteenth Century during the Italian Renaissance. I'd read his better known book, The Prince years before and found it relevant enough. It's just that as a philosopher, he's a bit off the deep end of human relations. If one takes the American General Sherman's viewpoint that 'War is Hell!' then one could believe that Machiavelli was the devil himself. He advocates a rather cutthroat philosophy that lacks any of the wine of honor that men usually wash their war instincts down with.
Clausewitz and Jomini wrote their treatises after Napoleon's Wars. Jomini's viewpoint was that of a Staff Officer and theorist. He was born in Vaud, Switzerland in 1779, and Clausewitz the following year in Berg, Prussia. Jomini was a Swiss in the French army and later in the service of Russia, so he was something of an outsider. Clausewitz had access to officer’s status at the beginning of his career that led all the way to General. While Jomini's work is more of the 'black coffee' practical type; Clausewitz was more of an abstract thinker who provided a broad unifying vision to warfare that just keeps on giving in any age.
Jomini’s ideas were simple: put superior combat power at the decisive point. He wrote his work as a field manual intended to be taken into battle as a practical application guide. His ideas were intensely popular at first, but since warfare changed from that of cavalry and lance, to that of mortars and trenches, his hasn't aged as well as Clausewitz's principles of 'Das ding an sich' or 'the thing in itself' of the phenomenon of war. Clausewitz's ideas seem more relevant today, for those reasons.
The major difference was that Jomini focused far more on the art and mechanics of battle tactics. He offered a formulaic approach, through the use of geometric terminology, for example. While Jomini himself claimed that military strategy is an art rather than an exact science, he uses many scientific and mathematical principles to illustrate his points.
Clausewitz focuses more on universal elements of human psychology, Clausewitz's work is timeless. His was much more focused on the psychological dynamics of war. He was a much more abstract thinker than Jomini, and subordinated specific techniques and tactical approaches to an understanding of the forces that a general had to deal with both internally and externally in battle.
I first became aware of some of Clausewitz and Jomini's ideas several years back through some of the strategy video games I play. I think that most players of the Civilization series, for example, are familiar with these ideas in practice. I read a bit more about them in Olan Thorensen's Destiny's Crucible series, where he mentions them a few times. But, I'd read neither book. I was glad to find this Kindle collection in order to compare the writings in one big read.
March 31, 2021
Lectia de invatat din aceste 4 carti este importanta privirii de ansamblu formata din suprapunerea mai multor filosofii si doctrine de razboi. Restul e detaliu. Si e mult detaliu in aceasta carte, de la vestimentatia soldatilor la folosirea diplomatiei pentru prevenirea conflictelor.
January 19, 2025
Comment on “Machiavelli; The Art of War by Baron de Jomini”
This collection brings together four of the most influential works on the philosophy and strategy of war, offering a comprehensive exploration of military thought from both Eastern and Western perspectives. Each text presents unique insights into the art of strategy, leadership, and the principles of warfare that remain relevant far beyond the battlefield.
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War provides timeless wisdom on the strategic use of deception, discipline, and adaptability—qualities essential not only in military engagements but also in the broader context of leadership and power dynamics. His approach emphasizes the significance of psychological warfare and calculated action, making it an indispensable guide for those who seek to master the art of control.
Clausewitz’s On War, in contrast, takes a more analytical and philosophical stance, addressing the complex interplay of politics, economics, and military force. His assertion that “war is merely the continuation of politics by other means” underscores the inseparable link between leadership and strategic decision-making. Clausewitz offers a deep understanding of the principles that govern conflict, making this work essential for anyone who desires to grasp the true nature of power and influence.
Machiavelli’s The Art of War reflects his political pragmatism, focusing on the recruitment, training, and discipline of armies while drawing parallels to governance and statecraft. His perspective highlights the necessity of maintaining control over one’s forces, ensuring loyalty and efficiency through structured leadership.
Finally, Baron de Jomini’s contribution brings a practical, experience-based approach to strategy, logistics, and tactics, offering insights grounded in the realities of the Napoleonic wars. His systematic breakdown of military operations makes his work a valuable complement to the more philosophical approaches of Sun Tzu and Clausewitz.
Key Takeaways:
• Sun Tzu’s emphasis on psychological warfare and strategic positioning.
• Clausewitz’s exploration of the intersection between politics and war.
• Machiavelli’s focus on discipline and military structure as a reflection of governance.
• Jomini’s practical application of grand tactics and logistics in warfare.
Overall, this collection is essential for anyone seeking to understand the deeper mechanics of war, strategy, and leadership—whether in military, business, or personal endeavors. Each work offers invaluable lessons in discipline, control, and the calculated pursuit of dominance.
This collection brings together four of the most influential works on the philosophy and strategy of war, offering a comprehensive exploration of military thought from both Eastern and Western perspectives. Each text presents unique insights into the art of strategy, leadership, and the principles of warfare that remain relevant far beyond the battlefield.
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War provides timeless wisdom on the strategic use of deception, discipline, and adaptability—qualities essential not only in military engagements but also in the broader context of leadership and power dynamics. His approach emphasizes the significance of psychological warfare and calculated action, making it an indispensable guide for those who seek to master the art of control.
Clausewitz’s On War, in contrast, takes a more analytical and philosophical stance, addressing the complex interplay of politics, economics, and military force. His assertion that “war is merely the continuation of politics by other means” underscores the inseparable link between leadership and strategic decision-making. Clausewitz offers a deep understanding of the principles that govern conflict, making this work essential for anyone who desires to grasp the true nature of power and influence.
Machiavelli’s The Art of War reflects his political pragmatism, focusing on the recruitment, training, and discipline of armies while drawing parallels to governance and statecraft. His perspective highlights the necessity of maintaining control over one’s forces, ensuring loyalty and efficiency through structured leadership.
Finally, Baron de Jomini’s contribution brings a practical, experience-based approach to strategy, logistics, and tactics, offering insights grounded in the realities of the Napoleonic wars. His systematic breakdown of military operations makes his work a valuable complement to the more philosophical approaches of Sun Tzu and Clausewitz.
Key Takeaways:
• Sun Tzu’s emphasis on psychological warfare and strategic positioning.
• Clausewitz’s exploration of the intersection between politics and war.
• Machiavelli’s focus on discipline and military structure as a reflection of governance.
• Jomini’s practical application of grand tactics and logistics in warfare.
Overall, this collection is essential for anyone seeking to understand the deeper mechanics of war, strategy, and leadership—whether in military, business, or personal endeavors. Each work offers invaluable lessons in discipline, control, and the calculated pursuit of dominance.
September 17, 2019
One of those ancient texts that you need to read at some time in your life, or if you have the audiobook, listen for an hour and three quarters while walking the dogs.
May 18, 2021
good book
August 1, 2021
Deep...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews