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The Art of War Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Thomas Cleary - translator (Author), Lloyd James (Narrator), Sun Tzu (Author),
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 544 ratings
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Compiled more than 2,000 years ago by a mysterious warrior-philosopher, The Art of War is still perhaps the most prestigious and influential book of strategy in the world. As a study of the anatomy of organizations in conflict, The Art of War applies to competition and conflict in general, on every level from the interpersonal to the international. Its aim is invincibility, victory without battle, and unassailable strength through understanding the physics, politics, and psychology of conflict. This translation features Sun Tzu's original text along with commentary from classical Chinese military thinkers.

Cover image: Portrait of A-yu-hsi, China, Ch'ing dynasty (1644-1912), by Lang Shining (Giuseppe Castiglione; 1688-1768), collection of National Palace Museum.

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  1. Listening Length
    1 hour and 54 minutes
  2. Author
    Thomas Cleary - translator, see all
  3. Narrator
    Lloyd James
  4. Audible release date
    April 3, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07BB5XSL9
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 1 hour and 54 minutes
Author Thomas Cleary - translator, Sun Tzu
Narrator Lloyd James
Audible.com Release Date April 03, 2018
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07BB5XSL9
Best Sellers Rank #142,235 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#85 in Military Science
#212 in Eastern Philosophy (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,279 in Military Strategy History (Books)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
544 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They praise the translation as clear and well-written. The book provides valuable insights and is considered an important work in military strategy and philosophy. Readers appreciate the visual art and accompanying CD presentation.

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ReadabilityTranslation qualityTeaching valueArt of warVisual quality
27 customers mention "Readability"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and entertaining. They enjoy listening to the CD that comes with it. Many consider it one of the best strategy books ever written, simple, and to the point. The book is considered a good buy and can be used today.

"...With captivating, historical and relevant artwork at the beginning of each section this book was a true pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Cleary." Read more

"...quick read with excellent insights and it's one of the most famous books in the world...." Read more

"The Art of War is a 5 star piece of literature. I would recommend one perform an internet search for what are the best recommended translations...." Read more

"...Paper quality is first class and enjoyable to read. The CD is an added bonus. Guess what folks, this CD is tagged!..." Read more

26 customers mention "Translation quality"19 positive7 negative

Customers find the translation clear and easy to understand. They appreciate the concise format and pleasant reading voice of the reader. The information is presented accurately and in a straightforward manner.

"...Lacking the fluff and loquaciousness of most translations this work is concise, clear and direct...." Read more

"Ok the book is in small readable format and print size. Paper quality is first class and enjoyable to read...." Read more

"...What I liked about the book was the story line and skill set and method how to defeat your enemy or gain control over most if not all situations...." Read more

"...my favorite translation (I prefer the one by Ralph Sawyer), but it is readable and this edition includes a couple of CD's so if you are interested..." Read more

18 customers mention "Teaching value"15 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's teaching value. They find it a quick, accessible read with excellent insights into ancient wisdom that are applicable to all situations. The introduction nicely summarizes some excellent points. Readers also mention it's great for historical study and entertaining.

"...With captivating, historical and relevant artwork at the beginning of each section this book was a true pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Cleary." Read more

"I choose this rating because, this book shared great ideas...." Read more

"...However, again the introduction nicely sums up some excellent points and I enjoyed that part a great deal...." Read more

"...It also has some pretty neat quotes for every day life." Read more

11 customers mention "Art of war"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book accessible and comprehensible. They say it's an important work in the history of military strategy and philosophy. The book gives them ideas on characters, battles, skill sets, and the method how to defeat their enemies.

"...have told him that this is the most accessible, comprehensible version of The Art of War that they had read...." Read more

"...liked about the book was the story line and skill set and method how to defeat your enemy or gain control over most if not all situations...." Read more

"...The insight I got from this book gave me ideas on characters, battles, etc. It also has some pretty neat quotes for every day life." Read more

"This version of the Art of War is simple and to the point. Sun Tzu has great advice for business and war strategy...." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book and accompanying CD. They say the artwork is nice and the presentation is compelling.

"...With captivating, historical and relevant artwork at the beginning of each section this book was a true pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Cleary." Read more

"Great book and the visual art is nice...." Read more

"With its clear graphics and its wonderful illustrations, this version of the Art of War adds the element of the various interpretations of the text,..." Read more

"...The book and now accompanying CD make for a compelling presentation. Sale was seamless and timely." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Trasnlastion I've Read Yet
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I own and have read numerous translations of this Chinese classic, most with more author/translator commentary than actual translation and thicker than a brick, this one by Thomas Cleary is by far the best. Lacking the fluff and loquaciousness of most translations this work is concise, clear and direct. With captivating, historical and relevant artwork at the beginning of each section this book was a true pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Cleary.
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  • B. Tweed DeLions
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Cleary Does It Again!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    It's to bad President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld didn't read this book. As I was reading it I noticed that frequently (*very* frequently, unfortunately) they did the exact opposite of what Sun Tzu would have advised.

    For one thing, Sun Tzu advised against fighting large-scale and protracted wars a long way from home, because the costs of *everything* increase. One's opponent can then use this against you by finding ways to drag out the war, ruin your economy, and by ruining your economy ruin your war effort.

    Jiu Jitsu is the Japanese art of using an attacker's energy against him rather than directly opposing it. A comparison could be made between bin Laden having to spend only a million or so dollars to blow up the World Trade Center, when estimates of the cost of the Iraq war are about 9 billion per month.

    That's almost a million times more costly, EACH AND EVERY MONTH! That means that for every dollar bin Laden spent, we spend a million just in one month. The war will be seven years long in March. Multiply that by 12 and you get 84 months; then, let's say the war lasts another 16 months beyond that; it will mean that bin Laden spent about a penny for each million dollars we spent.

    That's the very essence of Sun Tzu. Even Sun Tzu probably couldn't have imagined odds like that. If there was a Sun Tzu award, bin Laden would certainly be a good candidate for it.

    Don't get me wrong. He's one of the most heartless bastards who has ever walked the earth, but he's a smart, heartless bastard, at least when it comes to waging war on the cheap. I doubt even in his wildest dreams he ever imagined he could have exhausted the American war machine so effectively. And like the Energizer Bunny, the costs and the war keep going and going and going . . . with no end in sight.

    An equally good metaphor for how bin Laden tricked us is found in the story of the Tar Baby. Brer Rabbit tricks Brer Fox into punching and kicking the Tar Baby until his arms and legs are buried deep in tar and he's stuck. Now we're stuck in Iraq.

    Bin Laden tempted the U.S. to come after him with overwhelming force, and we took the bait. Sun Tzu would have probably advised retaliation that was lower key and sneaky but which would have the desired effect, not involving the high risk of betting our entire economy on the outcome---especially since the war front was so far from the U.S. He would have advised patience and cunning over an impulsively and hastily conceived large-scale counterattack.

    Either way, if the U.S. hadn't started the second war in Iraq, we would have probably fared much better in the long run. Iraq was a bridge too far. And now the expense is killing us. I know The Art of War is read by Western military strategists. I'd think it would be required reading at Westpoint. Nowman Schwatrzkopf certainly seems to have read it.

    After reading the Art of War, it's clear to me that the second Iraq War was a train wreck waiting to happen. Our country is collapsing under the weight of the astronomical costs of supporting such an enormous military undertaking so far from home, with no end in sight.

    The insurgents also act in ways that Sun Tzu would have recommended: harrying the opponent and keeping massive numbers of troops committed over a long period of time, wearing them and U.S. down gradually. Of course, the consequences destroyed their own country in the process. Sun Tzu wouldn't have recommended that. It has backfired on the insurgents. But it had pretty mush the desired effect against the American military, at least temporarily.

    The Iraqi insurgents have us stuck in a war of attrition a long way from home, where their costs are low and ours are astronomical. Not an enviable position for a commander to be in.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Caroline L.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Concise and accessible - teaches strategy and leadership - insights into Eastern Asian culture
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I've read several different versions of The Art of War, including but not limited to the free one from Project Gutenberg and a free one from Amazon. It's a snappy, quick read with excellent insights and it's one of the most famous books in the world. However, I never really connected to it because the commentary was always in the way and it was always really confusing, because there were many references to Chinese history which I did not understand. This version of The Art of War I bought for my negotiation class with Dr. Stephen Hayford. He uses The Art of War when teaching negotiation to MBA students in South Korea and his Korean students have told him that this is the most accessible, comprehensible version of The Art of War that they had read. Hayford says that the Koreans have to read this book from a young age - in some sort of father-to-son exchange of knowledge - but that his negotiation classes on The Art of War were the first time that they could see actionable insights.

    Hayford uses this book not only to teach strategy but also to teach leadership. It's very, very difficult to teach people how to be leaders, and Sun Tzu and Cleary do a really excellent job of showing which qualities are the most important.

    I wrote my thesis on the burgeoning China-America conflict, and I think that anybody who wants to understand the basis of Chinese strategy should read this book. I was talking to a guy from West Point last December about how you need to understand the Chinese way of looking at things.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Jacob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Research and choose the translation that is best for you
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The Art of War is a 5 star piece of literature. I would recommend one perform an internet search for what are the best recommended translations. Not just the best translation but the type of translation. This one may or may not be the translation type that suits you. This translation was not at the top of the recommendations (but it was up there). That it comes with audio CDs of it is a plus. I've given each of my children The Art of War when they graduated from college. This one seems like the appropriate translation for my #2 son.(my 3rd and last).
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Chinookman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice product
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Ok the book is in small readable format and print size. Paper quality is first class and enjoyable to read.

    The CD is an added bonus.

    Guess what folks, this CD is tagged! 5 STARS for tagging the CD. NOW, I can listen to it on my phone and know where I left off and not open up another book that has generic tagging. Great touch.

    To bad those that specialize in audio books do such a poor job and don't come up to speed with today's tech. This book and CD will get lots of use. A hit for me.......
    One person found this helpful
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  • Damonn
    3.0 out of 5 stars This book has great realistic methods to today's war of life.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I choose this rating because, this book shared great ideas. What I liked about the book was the story line and skill set and method how to defeat your enemy or gain control over most if not all situations. I would recommend this book to anyone who does not understand the strength of the mind and patients.
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  • MJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I started and was victorious in 3 seperate wars in the 3 years after reading this book. I only lost 301 men in total and 67 horses.

    Definately recommend reading this book if you feel like you might lose your kingdom to invaders. Just be aware that you might have to initiate several wars without being attacked first, not everybody in the Senate will support this strategy.

    The peace that came after the wars ended was well worth the hassle. We have a concert every Sunday in the square to celebrate our greatness.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Placeholder
    5.0 out of 5 stars MUSTREAD
    Reviewed in India on August 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A very good and most useful book for all walks of life.
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  • Samantha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bought it as a gift
    Reviewed in Canada on December 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Bought it for my brother as a birthday present. He says he absolutely loves it!
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  • Richard Ossei-Berkoh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truth
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2018
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    Knowledge is power
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  • 藤　　究
    4.0 out of 5 stars 商品評価
    Reviewed in Japan on February 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    発送状態、商品そのものの問題はない。
    英語をゆっくりとしか読めないので、中身について今、評価はできない。
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  • Siddharth Arora
    4.0 out of 5 stars Was a good read will recommend
    Reviewed in India on January 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The product i recived was a little damanged but it was dilvered 2 days earlier
    Quality and size is according to prize and the book is really good not world changing but really helpful in building a character
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    Siddharth Arora
    4.0 out of 5 stars Was a good read will recommend
    Reviewed in India on January 18, 2021
    The product i recived was a little damanged but it was dilvered 2 days earlier
    Quality and size is according to prize and the book is really good not world changing but really helpful in building a character
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