THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU #BOOKSUMMARY

 

THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU

BOOK SUMMARY

Chapter 1. 

Outsmarting the brutal onslaught and understanding the key elements of victory.

War is ugly, brutal, and pointless. It brings destruction, bloodshed, and death, yet it has been a constant companion of the human race for decades. Just when we think we have eradicated old mistakes, another battle breaks out. War does not equal art. However, efficient ways of dealing with this bloodshed do require artistry.

War strategy consists of many elements: planning, waging, dealing with energy, and identifying weak and strong points. All these principles are not exclusive to fighting; they are universal and can apply to many modes of life, such as business matters, legal strategy, politics, and sports. Good war tactics are all about wit and deceit. Outsmarting the enemy has to be your number one priority. Predicting their moves and counteracting them with the best efficiency possible is the sure way to win any battle. 

To do this, you must understand the critical elements of victory. Among them is good planning, which consists of assessing the fundamental factors that define the outcome of military engagement. Another element to understand is the economy of war. War requires tremendous resources, and knowing where to find them and how to use them efficiently is vital. You also need to learn to use many skills, such as creativity and a good sense of timing. Sun Tzu introduced these principles more than 2500 years ago. However, you’ll see that they are still very much applicable to modern life in warfare and other aspects of our lives.

 

Chapter 2.

Compiling plans and initiating a battle.

War is no joke; you can neglect nothing that influences the battle’s outcome. While planning, you have to consider five essential factors: 

1. Moral law 

2. Heaven 

3. Earth 

4. The commander 

5. Method and discipline 

Moral law determines the warriors’ devotion to their ruler. It signifies their alignment with beliefs that lead them into battle. Moral law makes the warrior jump into any danger, regardless of their safety, because they believe in what they’re fighting for. Heaven deals with external conditions humans can’t control and modify, such as weather conditions and seasons. Earth signifies distances of all kinds. It’s also concerned with potential danger and security, including the chances of death. The commander symbolizes strength and wisdom. This element brings courage and sincerity. Method and discipline define various logistical matters, such as the supply of weapons and other resources. It also deals with ranks and subdivisions.

These factors are vital for winning any battle. Deception is one of the most crucial ingredients for victory. To win a war, you must convince your opponent that the opposite will be the case. When you are ready for battle, your enemy should think you are hopelessly unprepared. Your activity should seem as if you’re busy with inaction. An abundance of resources should appear completely absent. There is no such thing as too much planning; you must foresee any possible outcome.

Keep in mind the resources that are at your disposal. They aren’t limitless; the longer the war lasts, the scarcer resources become. Also, use your enemy’s resources, loot, and forage, to add to the supplies you already have. Remember that no one benefits from a prolonged battle. Strategize to achieve the maximum level of efficiency in the shortest time. Your people need the motivation to fight, so reward your warriors for their achievements and give recognition to those who perform well. They must know their fighting won’t be in vain, and their gains will be worth all the bloodshed and danger.

 

Chapter 3.

Strategy, tactics, and military positions.

War inevitably brings destruction, but a wise commander will do their best to minimize it. Capturing the country is much more preferable than leaving it in ruin. The same goes for the rivaling army and other resources. For that reason, breaking resistance without a fight has to be your primary strategy. Destroying the enemy’s spirit and willingness to go into battle is more complicated than a blatant attack. It requires thorough preparation that will discourage anyone from going against your forces.

A smaller force cannot beat a bigger one, but you can attack if your resources are superior to the enemy. If you lack the means to win, it’s wise to back up and identify with a better solution. A commander can lead his people into defeat in three ways: 

1. By ordering their army to move forth or back, knowing it can’t obey. 

2. By disregarding the conditions in which their people operate. 

3. By choosing the soldiers carelessly. 

These actions will damage the relationship between the commander and the army. Soldiers will start distrusting the person in charge and questioning their authority. A commander that doesn’t evoke respect in their army is no good. In contrast, these are the five rules that lead to victory: 

1. Correct timing. A good commander knows when to strike and when to wait. 

2. Wisdom regarding both inferior and superior forces. 

3. Showing the same energy for everyone involved in fighting, regardless of rank. 

4. Preparation to the highest degree and having enough patience to attack when the enemy is the least prepared. 

5. Excellent resources for fighting”

If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.

Victory means minimizing mistakes. A good commander knows both defense and offense. They know how to provide security for their army and lead it into battle. The military method consists of measurement, quantity evaluation, calculation, balancing chances, and victory. All of them are interconnected and vital for winning a war.

 

Chapter 4.Weak and strong points that accompany the forces.

A good commander sees no difference between ruling an army of ten and that of a million. What they focus on is energy. Your people have to feel unity and exist in harmony. You can achieve this through different maneuvers, both direct and indirect. Use a direct strategy when entering a battle. These tactics don’t guarantee the win; what ensures victory is the indirect actions taken behind the enemy’s back. When used in combination, direct and indirect maneuvers provide miraculous results. Though there are just two of them, their potential is limitless. Like the five primary colors create myriads of tones when joined, direct and indirect strategies create countless roads to victory. Deceit is at the core of indirection actions. You must know how to lure your enemy into attacking by appearing unprepared. The enemy can never know the number of people in your army or the resources you possess.

Know how to simulate chaos when everything is in perfect order. Pretend to be full of fear when you’re overwhelmed with courage. Appear weak to hide your strength. Also, you should choose your warriors wisely; you can’t ask too much of a person. Be strict, but always treat all of them with respect. Combined energy is your biggest strength, as no man is an island. Your aim is to make your army look like unmovable rocks, unable to fight. Choose the right moment and strike with the power of a thousand rolling stones.

Attack the point with the least defense and lure the enemy into striking what is under your highest supervision. Remain invisible and split your enemy’s forces. Remember that unity is one of your greatest strengths, so remove this advantage from the enemy. Hide your goals for attack with the highest care. The enemy should never expect you. Apply the opposite to your rival: do your best to expose their plans and use them to your advantage.

 

Chapter 5.

Engaging the force and traits that lead to ruin.

Before starting any battle, a commander has to harmonize all elements at their disposition. The most important aspects are their people and a variety of resources. This task is followed by tactical maneuvering, where the commander learns how to turn the disadvantages into advantages. War is unpredictable, and many things can veer off plan. A good commander must know how to turn any loss into a gain. It’s essential to know the land where the battle will take place. Learn about its terrain, the weather conditions, possible advantages it offers, and the pitfalls it might create. Plan your moves accordingly and consider potential failures to commit to the initial ideas. A good commander has to be a master of deviation. It’s also vital to understand the moods of your army — practice discipline for yourself and among your people. Deceit works both ways: 

• Prepare your bait but don’t allow your enemy to fool you with theirs. 

• If your rival seems to be preparing to flee, your first urge might be to attack immediately.

 • Always consider that your enemy’s weakness might be a trap. 

• Don’t allow yourself to be fooled.

Keep the hostile army on its toes at all times, make them lose their temper, and fuel their anger. Lashing out will probably lead to making mistakes, so strive to achieve this exact reaction from the enemy. Don’t expect your enemy to retreat; focus on being ready for their attack at any time. 

Five negative traits may lead a commander to failure: 

1. Recklessness: Impulsive decisions bring ruin. A good commander takes every decision with care and consideration. 

2. Cowardice: War is gruesome, and a general must deal with all the horrors it brings. Victory is their key priority; cowardice can lead to surrender. Controlling emotions is a critical skill in this situation. 

3. A bad temper: This trait also leads to hasty and damaging decisions. Taking everything close to heart makes the commander easily disturbed. Offenses feel especially hurtful in this situation, which might create tension between a leader and their army. 

4. Heightened honor sensitivity: Placing your honor above everything else is detrimental to your military strategy. 

5. Excessive concern: Intense emotions can damage your plans. This rule applies to over-solicitude as well. Care for others is vital, but this should never cloud your judgment.

 

Chapter 6.

Maneuvering the army and configurations of terrain.

Pay close attention to the behavior of your enemies. Consider their mood in terms of their positioning. They likely feel good about their location when they remain quiet and expect your attack. They probably want to change their position if they feel restless and try to provoke you. Your enemy being calm and prepared is not a great sign: this means that they will attack you. However, violent words and fast movements hide chaos and fright. It is good for you because it indicates a likely retreat. 

When it comes to suggestions for peace treaties, consider possible traps. No one wants to surrender just out of kindness. A good commander diligently searches for all signs of trickery if offered an arrangement. Don’t treat your opponents lightly. Never underestimate their power, intelligence, and resources. It’s easy to disregard something you hate; hate is a natural feeling during a war. A healthy amount of dismissal of your rivals is good for keeping up your people’s spirits. Too much of it may damage their determination and take value away from their actions. Fighting with a fool is easy until the fool destroys everything you love.

There are six different types of crises a commander can cause:

 1. Flight. If the commander realizes that their army is much smaller than the opposing one and still forces them to fight, the result will be an escape. 

2. Insubordination. If a commander is too weak, their army won’t obey. 

3. Collapse. When the opposite is the case, and the army is too frail compared to the commander, it’ll collapse. 

4. Ruin. When the officers refuse to obey the commander’s orders and make decisions out of spite, it’ll result in ruin. 

5. Disorganization. The ranks are haphazard when the commander’s orders are sloppy and unclear, and the duties are all mixed.

 6. Rout. If the commander cannot objectively assess the forces, it will result in a rout. Value your relationship with your army. Listen to their ideas, respect their actions and words, and note their proposed changes. Don’t treat them as your tools. Punishing is only beneficial if it’s fair and if your relationship with your people stands on firm ground.

Remember about praise and acknowledgment. You are leading people into the horrors of battle, so you must recognize their sacrifice and great abilities. Good submission comes out of respect, not out of fear. Did you know? Sun Tzu’s existence is contested. There are no records of him in major historical materials from the period he supposedly lived in. Because of this, some consider him a fictional character.

 

Conclusion 

No matter how horrible war is, humans still can’t eliminate it. It’s been our companion for centuries and brings destruction and unimaginable suffering. That’s why we should know how to deal with war if it arrives at our door. War is a metaphor we frequently apply to many aspects of our lives. We want field experience from candidates when conducting a job interview. The competitors are enemies, and the exceptional achievers are warriors. Just like we apply war vocabulary to everyday situations, we can draw parallels between the war tactics and strategies used in legal matters, for example. 

The goal of any war is winning. Millions of factors can influence victory, and only a good commander can achieve it. War tactics are based on many rules. For example, brutal attacks are not nearly as effective as breaking the enemy’s spirit and forcing them to surrender. Deceit is a key strategy during a war. If you are not fooling, you are being fooled. Confidentiality must be of the highest level. Your rival should never know your true intentions and goals. You must appear weak, exhausted, and resourceless when, in reality, you are ready to strike and win at any moment. 

Cherish your people, and create a good relationship with them. Acknowledge their achievements, encourage them to strive for more, and don’t demand too much of them. Remember that respect is the foundation of a good relationship. Try this Is there an issue you’re currently struggling with? Maybe you’re a lawyer and need to win a complicated case. Try applying some of the war tactics discussed above and see if your efforts succeed.