The Art of War by Sun Tzu (translated by Thomas Cleary)

The Art of War presents the classical Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu in Thomas Cleary’s English translation. It examines the assessment of conflict, the use of resources and the importance of understanding both one’s own position and an opponent’s.

Cleary interweaves the text with short commentaries by earlier Chinese strategists and philosophers. The book belongs to military strategy and strategic thinking; its discussions of conflict should not be mistaken for a physical martial-arts training manual.