Note About the Book +15 Years
About the Book
Track Record
Sun Tzu Bing Fa
Understanding Sun Tzu on the Art of War was peer reviewed by three instructors at the National Defense University, one a three-tour Vietnam special forces veteran who fought an enemy that studied Sun Tzu. The book has sold over 7,000 copies.
Understanding Sun Tzu on the Art of War was predictive of the outcome of American military adventures after its publication date, March 24, 2003. The book teaches universal principles of strategy thousands of years old, rules that applied when the military adventures began, such as that if you cannot kill your enemy, and you cannot make him your friend, you teach him how better to fight you. Readers should understand that this book was written with foresight, not hindsight, and that when this book was peer reviewed in 2002, a lot of people in the military understood the risks behind the choices made at the top. The National Defense University instructors I worked with advised against the direct approach taken in the Middle-east in favor of a more indirect strategy that better leveraged special forces.
Understanding Sun Tzu on the Art of War is a book written by Robert Cantrell over the period 1999 to 2002 and published on March 24, 2003. The book illustrates the ancient Chinese general's philosophies using mostly American and British battles well-known in popular culture.
Heartland Reviews
As a retired military intelligence professional and conflict theorist, I must say this is the best interpretation of Sun Tzu’s classic work I have read. The author focuses on the meanings behind this ancient Chinese war philosopher’s writings. He puts them into a modern context, making them easy to understand. Apparently the Department of Defense agrees with me on this, since they have selected Mr. Cantrell’s book as a text for the National War College in Washington DC. This is a must read for all military officers and business leaders. It rated a perfect five hearts.