The Art of War – Book Review (Part-1)
The book was originally written about the strategy of defeating the enemy in battle. However, the book is full of some great lessons for staying ahead of the competition in many important fields, including business, sports, not just war.
Detailed book review of The Art of War:
The Art of War is divided into 13 chapters. Each chapter talks about different strategies of warfare. Some of this involves managing your troops, while others involve defeating your opponents in various ways. Prepare yourself to compete in areas other than warfare, train your team for proper teamwork, and strategies in this book to defeat your opponents in real competition. It will be very useful.
We will share the main points of these strategies in 13 points.
1. Management: Care for team members, but be strict when needed
According to Sun-Xu, five mistakes of a team leader can lead to terrible results.
- Working without thinking destroys any organization
- Lack of courage loses people before it loses
- Getting angry even in light insults without keeping a cool head. It gives the opponent a lot of advantages.
2. Management: The best people have to be in the team; Because weak and frustrated workers will cripple you too
When soldiers are stronger as human beings than their officers, orders begin to be disobeyed. And when the officers are more powerful than the soldiers, the soldiers become immobile.
When the officers dare to disobey the Commander-in-Chief orders, they will go into battle with the opponent at will. Will not wait for the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief. And the result will be certain destruction.
- Expect respect from everyone. It prevents us from making tough decisions in times of need.
- Worrying too much for one’s people. It prevents you from accepting sacrifices if necessary.
3. Strategy: You need to know the enemy well
“If we know our troops are ready to attack, but we don’t know if our enemy is ready or not, then we are not completely on the road to victory,” said Sun-Xu in the Art of War.
Before dealing directly with the enemy, there are a few things to consider:
- Which of the two teams has the most experienced and skilled team leader?
- Which side do people follow more discipline?
- Which force is more potent in terms of weapons and human resources?
- Which party’s officers are more highly trained?
- Which force rewards good deeds and punishes bad deeds more?
4. Strategy: All good fighting tactics depend on deception
At this stage of the Art of War, like the Sun-Ju, the bait in front of the enemy is like a fishing rod for a fish. Let him know that you are weak now – it will be easier to lose you now. If necessary, give fake news to the ears of the enemy. Act. If he swallows the bait and comes to attack you, you can surprise him. There is no greater weapon in war than to surprise the enemy. In many cases, the opponent gives up and accepts defeat only to give a good surprise. Such tactics have worked in many wars throughout history.
5. Strategy: Sure decisions have to be made, and the pace of this work has to be fast
According to Sun-Xu, clever people are never too late to do the right thing. Signs of stupidity are wasting time unnecessarily.
No country has ever benefited from a protracted war. Quick decision-making and implementation are like catching prey with the help of a hawk, which ends his victim before he realizes anything.
Therefore, a good fighter must have the ability to make decisions very quickly. If you waste time thinking about what will happen next with one blow, you will see that the enemy has hit.
Another lesson of the Art of War is that the forces that appear earlier on the battlefield will remain ahead. You will be able to plan according to the environment of the battlefield – and you will have a lot of peace of mind. On the other hand, those who come later will be left behind.
Speed is a fundamental element of war victory. The faster you can prepare, the more impact your attack will have.
6. Tactics: Take advantage of the enemy’s weakness; The places of his power must be avoided
“If your opponent gets angry easily, try to annoy him by annoying and insulting him,” said Sun-Xu. Boost his confidence by pretending to be weak. Hit him where he is not ready. Meet him where he is not expecting you. ”
He added, “If we want, it is possible to bring the enemy to the open field even though he takes refuge in high forts or deep holes. “All we have to do is hit where he will be forced to resist.”
The right way to fight is to eliminate the enemy where he is strong and hit where he is weak.
In ancient times, enemy forces did not destroy the resources of just one country. The main reason for this is to prevent the enemy from coming out of their stronghold.
7. Strategy: Don’t just do something; make sure it works for you first
Do not do anything just out of desire or emotion. Before you do anything, judge the pros and cons. If there is no real benefit in doing something – don’t do it. To act on the battlefield without feeling the outcome means defeat and death.
8. Strategy: Plan; Do not work and plan together
Make specific plans long before you go to war or work. Consider all aspects over time.
Observe the condition of your teammates well. Don’t force them to work beyond their means. In addition to this, focus on your strength, try to increase your physical and mental energy. And most importantly, make plans with your peers that are difficult for outsiders to guess.
(Part-2 https://joinmyworld.us/the-art-of-war-book-review-part-2/ )