To comment on Sun Zu’s “The Art of War” would be a gross lack of common sense.
 

Everything has already been said about this work written supposedly over 2500 years ago in an inaccessible and impenetrable language – ancient Chinese – and of which there are countless translations and interpretations.

Some scholars and translators even claim that it was written many years later, that the originals are incomplete and even that Sun Zu never existed.
 

But it is almost impossible to bypass or ignore reading a work of supreme practical intelligence, exquisite political sense, which does not lose relevance despite its age. Human nature has not changed over time and its understanding goes back to time immemorial.
 

For this reason, I must wisely not include “The Art of War” in the list of my commented books.

But “The Art of War (illustrated)” translated by James Trapp is worthy of taking the risk. Not because the translation has anything very different from other translations. This version, however, adds to each chapter an example of battles fought over the centuries, which illustrate the relevance of Sun- Zu’s advice. 

From the Battle of Granicus (334 BC) fought by Alexander the Great, to the First Gulf War (1990-1991), great battles of history are described, exemplifying the application of Sun-Zu’s ideas to concrete cases.
 

It is no accident that the term strategy was for many years limited to the military world, only more recently entering the colloquiality of society in general.

As James Trapp says, it is no accident that “The Art of War” was the favourite book of Mao-Tse-Tung and General Douglas MacArthur.
 

“The Art of War” is also one of my favourite works, for its strategic teachings, but particularly for its sensitivity in presenting war as something to be avoided at all costs. Spoken by a general like Sun-Zu, his wise words should not be overlooked.