From the library
The Art of War
Sun Tzu, 500
In one paragraph
An ancient Chinese military treatise on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that has influenced military thinking and business strategy for over 2,000 years.
Also tagged
Where this sits in the operating system
Focus & Essentialism
Focus & Essentialism
Mental Models & Decision Frameworks
Key insights
The supreme excellence is winning without fighting. Most of the text is about arranging conditions so the battle is unnecessary.
Know yourself and know the other. Half of that knowledge produces half the outcomes, which is the most quoted and least practised line.
Terrain, timing and deception are treated as resources. It is a book about position rather than courage.
Recognise it early
The failure and the correction sit side by side deliberately. Read the left column asking whether any of it is already true of you.
Acting without sufficient intelligence
Using force when strategy would be more effective
Poor timing due to impatience
Rigid strategy that doesn't adapt to circumstances
Revealing intentions and capabilities prematurely
The same idea, argued differently
George Stalk Jr., Rob Lachenauer
Geoffrey Moore
Frank Slootman
W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne
The full breakdown
Before you close this
Naming the specific moment you will act roughly doubles the odds you do.
Reference
- Author
- Sun Tzu
- Published
- 500
- Category
- Philosophy
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