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Has anyone read this, and if so, what did you think?
I'm kinda dipping in and out of it at the moment and finding it rather interesting.
:)

sholden's picture
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It is one of my favorite books. I've re-read it at least a dozen times. I wrote an essay once about my thoughts related to IT. I'll have to see if I can dig it up. - Steve

cwatine's picture
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I have read an adaptation of this book, for companies strategy, by a Sun Tzu French specialist.

I found it fascinating. I realized than "latin" (meaning France, Italy and Spain) business culture and stratégies look often more like Asian's than like German's or American's.

It is often subtle strategy against pure power demontration. It takes into consideration that you never completely kill competition, so it is better to let it live under your "control". Also, the role of information manipulation is very important when it comes to economic war.

Maybe, I would go for an "adaptation" rather than for the "original" text ?

storm's picture

the version I am reading is "The Art of War for Executives" by Donald G Krause.
It's pretty good!
:)

Mark's picture
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Naaah. Mike and I, being Academy graduates, and being required to read hundreds of military history books, and strategy books by Mahan and Klausewitz and Napoleon and Lee and Patton and MacArthur and Eisenhower and Bradley and Rommel (and Shaara)... we never had to read Sun Tzu.

Are you kidding me?!?!?! Of course we have.

And it's a classic and a keeper.

I wouldn't recommend reading an adaptation..read a translation. It's vague at times...but it's good.

And please remember - business is NOT war.

Mark

sfsales's picture

I read the translated version while in the Army and found that there is also a version designed for sales people by Gary Gagliardi. You can find it on Amazon. The Art of War is an all time classic and can be used in all industries and should be required reading for anyone in management.

cwatine's picture
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1How is the book about sales ?

Thanks

Ced

sfsales's picture

I liked the sales version. The book is written with the original version of Sun Tzu and then the author breaks it down to sales terms and management lessons. If you don't have it, I'd say check it out.