Free classics · c. 5th century BC
The Art of War
Sun Tzu · translated by Lionel Giles
Thirteen short chapters on strategy, read today as much by founders and coaches as by generals.
- to read
- 4 h
- to read
- at 20 min a day
- 12 days
- at 20 min a day
- public domain
- Free
- public domain
What it’s about
Sun Tzu's text is short and made of compact sayings: on planning, on knowing yourself and your opponent, on when to fight and when not to.
The free Giles edition surrounds each line with commentary from Chinese scholars, which is why it is much longer than the text itself.
- Strategy
- Knowing yourself
- Winning without fighting
Why people stop, and how to finish
The commentary interrupts every few lines, and readers lose the thread of Sun Tzu's own words.
What helps: Read only Sun Tzu's numbered lines on a first pass. Come back for the commentary on the ideas that stay with you.
At 20 minutes a day you’ll reach the last page in about 12 days.
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