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|  | Authors: Sun-tzu, Gerald A. Michaelson
Publisher: Adams Media
List Price: $12.95
Buy Used: $2.22
as of 3/22/2010 10:44 CDT details
You Save: $10.73 (83%)
New (40) Used (53) from $2.22
Seller: smokymtnbooks
Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 9607
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 1580624596
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.4
UPC: 045079204591
EAN: 9781580624596
ASIN: 1580624596
Publication Date: January 1, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Over 800,000 Feedbacks Posted. Great Buy. Never Used. May Have a Publisher's Mark. We have over 4,500,000 Books Sold.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 11-15 of 36
 Managers Cookbook October 1, 2007
W. Reece
This is a helpful book for helping me deal with staff. I have learned good skills that has helped me with being with a supervisor. It is easy to read and understand.
Comprehensive translation and interpretation!!! February 20, 2007
H. Ong (Singapore)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
For a first time reader, this book provides a good introduction to the concepts in the Art of War by Sun Tzu.
This book briefly mentions the differences between western and eastern strategy. The book "On War" by Carl von Clausewitz is believed to be the foundation of much of the Western strategy. Clausewitzian theory concentrates on the big battle as the way to win. His work expresses so many ideas that it can be used to justify any positions and in addition, it is filled with convoluted sentences and difficult to read. On the other hand, the eastern strategist Sun Tzu's the Art of War is a masterpiece of simplicity.
The fundamental principles of strategy are the same for all managers at all times and situations. Only the tactics are likely to change. Strategy is best defined as "doing the right thing" while tactics is "doing things right". The dividing line between tactics and strategy is indicated by the point of contact. Therefore, strategy stops at the border in war and at the HQ door in business, whereas tactics begins with contact with the enemies in war and customers in business.
The book is divided into 2 parts.
Part 1 is divided into 13 chapters like the original work, sharing the same title as the original translation. Each chapter provides the correlation of the teachings to the present business world, ending with examples on actual business scenarios.
Part 2 provides a useful guide to practical applications. The practical applications are cited by real persons working in various industries, giving examples of key Sun Tzu concepts in which they have applied in their line of work.
Finally the book ends with an outline of Sun Tzu's key concepts to aid in applications and which also serves to provide a good summary of the entire book Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
Even More Relevant and Valuable Today February 6, 2006
Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
The review which follows is of a book which I read when it was first published in 1999. I recently re-read it. Here are my reactions to it seven years later.
Many of those who read my reviews are owners/CEOs of small businesses. Whenever I receive an e-mail from one of them asking me to recommend books which will be of greatest practical value, I always include a choice of R.L. Wing's or Samuel B. Griffith's translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War on the list. Occasionally, someone who has read The Art of War asks for a recommendation of related sources. There are several to select from, notably The Art of Business: In the Footsteps of Giants written by Raymond T. Yeh and Stephanie H. Yeh; two books by Mark R. McNeilly, Sun Tzu and the Art of Business and Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare; and this one, which I read when it was first published and only now am I reviewing. Here are a few of the reasons for my rating of Michaelson's book.
First, Michaelson has selected and then discusses 50 "strategic rules" suggested by Sun Tzu's classic. To facilitate and support periodic review, the key concepts are summarized on pages 169-190 and range from" Thoroughly Assess Conditions" to "Practice Counterintelligence." Don't expect any head-snappers. The greatest value of The Art of War is that it helps, indeed insists that its reader think strategically. (Please keep in mind that it was written 2,500 years ago.) Michaelson fully understands that. His purpose is to apply ancient concepts to major perils and opportunities in the contemporary.
I also appreciate Michaelson's provision of several reader-friendly sections such as those in which he quotes a passage from The Art of War and then offers a "translation" of its relevance, followed by a "Manager's Commentary" in which he recommends appropriate application of Sun Tzu's insight. Throughout his rigorous and eloquent narrative, Michaelson also includes checklists such as the one found on page 114 when he identifies "key ingredients" which are common to all growing organizations: customer focus by creating systems that deliver perceived value; selection (i.e. hiring) of decent as well as competent people; and then training them with highly-interactive learning sessions which are both formal and on-the-job.
Finally, I hold this book in high regard because Michaelson also includes 13 brief but insightful commentaries by senior-level executives who share their own real-world experiences. Fort example, Domminick Attanosio (senior advisor, Young and Partners, LLC) explains how a public pharmaceutical company developed a new delivery system to adjustable dosing of oral medications by following each of several of Sun Tzu's basic principles:
"Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight 100 battles with no danger of defeat."
"Travel where there is no enemy."
"Pursue one's strategic designs to overawe the enemy."
"An army can be raised only when there is money at hand."
"The general whose only interest is to protect his people and promote the best interests of his sovereign is the precious jewel of the state."
"The enlightened rulers must deliberate upon the plans to go to battle, and good generals generally execute them,."
"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence."
Obviously, it would be a fool's errand to manage by slogans but even more foolish to ignore what can be learned from sources such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The knowledge these sources provide can -- and should -- guide and inform the careful selection and then effective execution of appropriate strategies and tactics. Credit Michaelson with a thorough understanding and brilliant interpretation of what can be learned from arguably the world's first management consultant.
Bravo!
Sun Tzu for today July 29, 2005
CouchWarrior (Omaha)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
If you liked the Art of War you will like this. I really liked the summary of all the rules at the end of the book.
Very relevant modern adaptation May 13, 2005
Hoke (USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I will try to to keep this short. All the other 5 stars point out the merits for this book. In short it gives modern insights to a very important book on strategy. Shows that true wisdom rings true for thousands of years.
The criticisms that I have read on this book are true but are not really fair. This book is not designed to be a play by play guide for managers that have no insights of their own. If this book doesn't generate ideas for you without spoon-feeding examples and how to's then you will never lead a winning organization. You are a sheep not a shepherd.
If one understands Sun Tzu, if not a master as no one really is, they would realize that any example given automatically is rendered useless. A widely publicized tactic lacks the element of surprise, rule #19.
My criticism of it is that he doesn't understand history that well, at least the Revolutionary War. He cites things that are common misperceptions about that war to support his arguments. The rebels always employed unconventional tactics not just towards the end. Also almost all of the battles were fought conventionally and on open fields. This is contrary to what the author writes. Stick to business examples.
Also citing Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski does little to advance his point. Who could have known and I'm sure any future editions will strike this reference.
This book isn't perfect but if you are a shepherd and can generate ideas on your own then this book is for you. It will help give fire to the sparks you already have. Quit wasting time and order it. Assume your competitor has already read it and is using its insights against you.
Showing reviews 11-15 of 36
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