For more than 2;000 years; Sun Tzu's The Art of War has provided leaders with essential advice on battlefield tactics; managing troops and terrain; and employing cunning and deception. An elemental part of Chinese culture; it has also become a touchstone for the Western struggle for survival and success; whether in battle; in business or in relationships. Now; in this crisp; accessible new translation; John Minford brings this seminal work to life for today's readers. A lively; learned introduction; chronologies and suggested further reading are among the valuable apparatus included in this authoritative volume. Even those readers familiar with The Art of War will experience it anew; finding it more fascinating - and more chilling - than ever. Little is known about Sun Tzu (544-496 B.C.) and his life during the Warring States period after the decline of the Zhou dysnasty; but his classic; The Art of War; has been one of the central works of Chinese literature for 2500 years. John Minford studied Chinese at Oxford and at the Australian National University and has taught in China; Hong Kong; and New Zealand. He edited (with Geremie Barme) Seeds of Fire: Chinese Voices of Conscience and (with Joseph S. M. Lau) Chinese Classical Literature: An Anthology of Translations. He has translated numerous works from the Chinese; including the last two volumes of the Penguin Classics edition of Cao Xueqin's eighteenth-century novel The Story of the Stone and the martial-arts fiction of the contemporary Hong Kong novelist Louis Cha.
#319519 in Books imusti 2009-09-22 2009-09-22Format: International EditionOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.70 x .98 x 5.15l; .85 #File Name: 0141042842576 pagesPENGUIN GROUP
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Good Adventure!By Michael W EmeryExcellent story. Well written giving one a real grasp for the times Mr. MacLean lived in. He was a well traveled man in historic times. His description of his time in North Africa in WWII was outstanding.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Still one of my all time favorite books (others are THE LAST GRAIN RACEBy GinnyStill one of my all time favorite books (others are THE LAST GRAIN RACE; LOVE AND WAR IN THE APPENINES and A SHORT WALK IN THE HINDU KUSH by Eric Newby; and ON ALMOST ANY WIND by Susan Schlee; as well as various mysteries and PENNY PLAIN and PRIORSFORD by Anna Buchan; as well as her brother John's Richard Hannay series [think THE 39 STEPS]) and time to reread it again. Yes; I have eclectic tastes. EASTERN APPROACHES is both informative and fascinating.I just met a young man in his twenties from Yugoslavia and we discussed the book -- it is still read as a source of information as well as being a really interesting and enjoyable book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Timeless story of military and political adventureBy Old country doctorEastern Approaches is a wonderful book. It reads like a historical travelog. The author; a British diplomat in 1937; embarks on numerous travel adventures. From 1937-39; he is stationed at the British embassy in Moscow. For three years; he sits in on Stalin's political trials and purges in addition to traveling throughout Russia by train and boat. Next; he joins the British army and fights the Italians and Germans in the deserts of Libya. Finally; the author travels to Yugoslavia where he serves as the link between Winston Churchill and Marshall Tito to help the partisans drive the Germans out of that country.The author; Fitzroy Maclean; did not need to check library sources for primary information. He was there. And; he reveals his exploits with great humor and crisp British wit. A timeless and enlightening read.
