Learn to make better strategic decisions through the wisdom of Sun Tzu as applied to historical case studies. 

Sun Tzu's the Art of War is the oldest military treaties in the world. Its applicability to sports, business and personal strategy are very well known. Many life lessons can be derived from this intriguing book since it is not only a book about military strategy, but also a book which helps a person understand human nature in conflict. 

This class is planned so that a student can take all of the classes, or even can drop in for an enlightened and meaningful discussion about strategic principles and how to apply them for better decision-making. We will be discussing only the listed chapter. Therefore, we will not be building on topics from previous classes.  I would encourage the students to have their own copy of the books to follow along - I have included a pdf of the book from Project Gutenberg. 

This class is designed to provide the student with the tools for better decision-making through the reading and analysis of this ancient military text. As Napoleon said, “Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.”

It would be advantageous if students read either chapters or sections of Sun Tzu's The Art of War AFTER classes - after we have discussed a relevant historical example in class. It is recommended that they select quotes which they would like to comment upon or select quotes for which they want clarification. Certain Sun Tzu quotes will be presented each class with the instructor's interpretation followed by a historical example of the strategic principles applied, either correctly or incorrectly. This method will be used to demonstrate how Sun Tzu's strategic principles can be used as a historical tool of evaluation to assess leaders and historical events. Students will be encouraged to discuss how these ancient strategic principles might be applied to history, current events or even their own lives. 

This is a suggested (basic) progression through the Art of War. Certain principles, maxims, or stratagems will be the focus of each lesson and will follow this basic outline. At times we may consider other principles in other chapters to accentuate certain concepts.

Thus, a student should feel comfortable "dropping in" at any time for strategic discussion and not feel encumbered by having had to read a specific chapter prior to class - we will be using different historical examples each week to apply Sun Tzu's wisdom - all are welcome. 

First Class: selections from Book I - Laying Plans
Second Class: selections from Book II - Waging War
Third Class: selections from Book III - Attack by Stratagem
Fourth Class: selections from: Book IV - Tactical Disposition
Fifth Class: selections from Book V - Energy
Sixth Class: selections from Book VI - Weak Points and Strong
Seventh Class: selections from Book VII - Maneuvering 
Eighth Class: selections from Book VIII - Variation in Tactics
Ninth Class: selections from Book IX - The Army on the March
Tenth Class: selections from Book X - Terrain
Eleventh Class: selections from Book XI - The Nine Situations
Twelfth Class: selections from Book XII - Attack by Fire
Thirteenth Class: selections from Book XIII - The Use of Spies

Fourteenth Class: selections from and Beyond: Class thematically address a number of more sophisticated topics (i.e., Military command, historical events, business, sports, etc.)


FIVE LESSONS from Sun Tzu's The Art of War:

Lesson 1: Choose Your Battles: "He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight." 
Lesson 2: Timing Is Essential: "The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim." 
Lesson 3: Know Yourself, Know the Enemy: "It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies abut do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."
Lesson 4: Have A Unique Plan: "All warfare is based on deception. "
Lesson 5: The Best Way to Win Is Not to Fight At All: "To win 100 battles is not the height of skill, to subdue the enemy without fighting is."

...and many, many more lessons can be learned from Sun Tzu in the class!

FOUR THEMES in Sun Tzu's The Art of War: 

1. Yin and Yang
The traditional Chinese concepts of Yin and Yang were central to Sun-Tzu’s perception of the world, As such,  Yin and Yang also characterize the approach in his famed guidebook to waging war, written roughly around 500 B.C.E. Yin and Yang represent the natural balance that can be found in all things—for example, dark and light, weak and strong, or uphill and downhill. There are infinite potential variations within each of these paired polarities.

2. Taking the Path of Least Resistance
In Chinese sage Sun-Tzu’s ancient treatise on warfare, the surest way to victory is a strategy based on taking advantage of the dynamic of the battlefield—for example, the lay of the land or the temperament of the enemy’s general. Taking the path of least resistance across terrain or to overcome an enemy ensures a holistic victory—that is, victory in which the enemy is defeated (by targeting their weakest points), the homeland is protected.

3. War as a Means to Protect Peace
Sun-Tzu is commonly believed to have lived either during China’s Spring and Autumn (722-481 BCE) or Warring States (403-221 CE) period, in which numerous smaller states battled for ultimate control of the empire. Yet Master Sun does not describe war as a way of life, but rather the last resort when it comes to defeating one’s enemies and protecting the home nation and its people. A general’s ultimate aim should be to secure peace and prosperity for the people. 

4. The Responsibility of Authority
In Sun’s treatise on war, the general has total authority and responsibility for the army’s strategy and the outcome of battle. Because the general is fully autonomous, he bears the whole weight of victory or defeat. A wise and skilled general earns his authority by his moral rectitude—that is, by focusing on his responsibilities, not personal glory. By invoking what he terms “the Way,” Sun shows that true and honorable leadership arises from humility, not arrogance. 

Few ancient texts are known today -- and even fewer are still in print. Chinese General Sun Tzu's The Art of War is one of the few ancient texts still known, published, and widely read across the world. To that end, The Art of War has been translated into countless languages. Lionel Giles is responsible for the most popular English translation of the book, but readers have stated that they enjoyed English translations by people like military historian Ralph D. Sawyers and Thomas Cleary.

The Art of War was originally published in the 5th century BC as a military treatise, which promulgated things like military strategy and tactics and warfare. There are 13 chapters in the book, each of which is made up of a different aspect of warfare and how it relates to military strategies and tactics (one chapter is called "Waging War" for example; another is called "Classification of Terrain"). Secondarily, the book covers things like the history of Chinese military, weapons, and spies. The Art of War is also responsible for a considerable number of quotes which have endured in the cultural pantheon to this day. Perhaps the most famous line from The Art of War is the following: "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

To this day Generals have drawn inspiration from The Art of War when formulating strategy for their own troops. In fact, U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., who led all Coalition forces during the Gulf War, drew a tremendous amount of inspiration from the book when planning strategy and tactics for the war. The book is also extremely applicable to areas of life outside of the military such as decision-making in the business world, legal strategy, sports, life in general -- and even video games.