Master Sun said: "Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting."

For more than two thousand years, The Art of War has stood as a cornerstone of Chinese culture, a lucid text that reveals as much about psychology, politics, and economics as it does about battlefield strategy. For those seeking a deeper understanding of this seminal work, scholar John Minford brings the words of Sun-tzu to life for modern listeners, presenting the core text in two formats:

Part I: The original text by Sun-tzu, translated by John Minford, read by Ray Porter

The unadorned thirteen chapters allow listeners to form their own first impressions of the ancient words of wisdom ascribed to Sun-tzu.

Part II: Introduction to the text by John Minford, read by Lorna Raver

In a lively, learned introduction, Minford explores the life and times of Sun-tzu and considers how best to read and understand the work today.

Part IIa: Original text with running commentary by traditional Chinese scholars and translator, read by Ray Porter and Lorna Raver

The original text is presented again, this time with extensive running commentary by traditional Chinese scholars and others, providing context and subtext for the work.

Even those readers familiar with The Art of War will experience it anew, finding it more fascinating and more relevant than ever.