Monday 9 April 2007

Art of War

There are some books which you can finish within a few days..some you keep by your bedside and keep reading a page or two just before dozing off.
The present one in the second category for me is Art of War by Sun Tzu .
Some parts are beyond my comprehension but some are very interesting.
I found some good advice in these points .

" If not in the interests of the state, do not act. If you cannot succeed, do not use troops. If you are not in danger, do not fight "

" A sovereign cannot raise an army because he is enraged , nor can a general fight because he is resentful.For while an angered man may again be happy , and a resentful man again be pleased , a state that has perished cannot be restored , nor can the dead be brought back to life ."

" Therefore , the enlightened ruler is prudent and the good general is warned against rash action. Thus the state is kept secure and the army preserved. "

like it ?
Have a happy week !

28 comments:

Just Words said...

I have to admit this is kind of a surprise, some one as non violent as you reading Art of War . :-) .. jokes apart that’s one book which has been read by all leaders and generals … people who matter ,as far as i know its a must read for people who aspire to be leaders in any walk of life not just war...so good going . I always wanted to read this book but somehow never got a chance, .

Bharani said...

//There are some books which you can finish within a few days..some you keep by your bedside and keep reading a page or two just before dozing off//...idhu very true......naan vaangina niraya books appadiye en kooda serndhu thoongudhu :(

quotes ellam nalla iruku...appadiye US, UK pakka anupi vainga :)

U too have a gr8 week :)

unfuel the planet said...

the best part is his emphasis on preparedness: Hell he had one whole chapter on how to select a good camping site.

efficient use of logistics, use of retreat as a tactical move...
and the fact that effectiveness of your campaign is not the number of enemy soldiers killed divided by number lost... but number of soldiers killed divided by the number you employed.

unfuel the planet said...

btw promote Indian culture.. write on arthashastra... but kautalya

balar said...

Indha mathiri books ellam padichathu illai...(
/*There are some books which you can finish within a few days/unmai than but finish pannitae adhai thirumbi padikkira palakkam kidaiyathu.. :)

thanks for the info abt "Art of War"...Neengae chinese books than padipeengalo??.

Sree's Views said...

Hi Carlos...
?
Have a great day :)

Sree's Views said...

Hey J..
Thanks for saying I am non-violent..u cant be closer to the truth :P
Oh...The book is quite interesting :) but somehow I am not able to read it at a stretch and its not something that has one single message . Each point is a set of golden words that can be applied to all situations .
// I always wanted to read this book but somehow never got a chance, //
The makings of a leader ;-)

Sree's Views said...

Hello Bharani...
Welcome here :)
//naan vaangina niraya books appadiye en kooda serndhu thoongudhu //

Enga veetla periya complaint ennanaa..naan at a time oru book padikka maaten..ellathaiyum pakkathula
scattered aa vechipen. Appo appo edhu pudikudho adha padippen.

//appadiye US, UK pakka anupi vainga :)//
Edhukunga ?

Sree's Views said...

Hello Pegasus...
You are very right...the best part is his emphasis on preparedness !
One from "Now there are five circumstances in which victory may be predicted :"
"He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not , will be victorious"
I like the chapters 'Offensive strategy' and 'Weaknesses and Strengths' .

//btw promote Indian culture.. write on arthashastra... but kautalya //

Yeah..let me get some good book on Arthashastra and I will do a write up.
Btw , Pegasus , is today 'Indian Culture Day' for you ? :P
I remember reading a comment by you about the same in your blog ;-)
Anyways , I appreciate it :)
Thanks Pegasus !

Sree's Views said...

Hey Bala...
// unmai than but finish pannitae adhai thirumbi padikkira palakkam kidaiyathu.. :)//
Actualla there is no need to read books again..but some books make you do that :) I have read 'If tommorrow comes ' ,'Prodigal daughter' and 'Rage of Angels ' many times...and I'd gladly read them again :)
Also Archie comics...u can read them again after some time :)

//Neengae chinese books than padipeengalo??. //
lol...the only Chinese literature I have read is menu cards in Chinese rest.s :))
Thanks Bala :)

Adiya said...

super bookinga.. nice one.. if u like similar shades then try out

Madhans - Vandhargal vendragal ** Super book. ( Tamil )
Appuram i guess
Chankaya Nithi.. ** Ok book ( English ).

ARt of War oru time padichu erukan.. but onnum puriyala. its in the queune for next turn.. :)

ippo bill gates oda Road ahead vandhu eruku.. but when ever i touch that book i am getting sleep :)

tulipspeaks said...

If you are not in danger, do not fight


this is v true.


ammu.

Sree's Views said...

Hello Adiya..
Ya..actually as u keep reading it , it gets interesting :)
Thanks for the suggesstions :)
Ippodhaikku thaalattu paada indha book irukku....so idhu aanadhukku appuram....Bill Gates oda Road ahead kku poren :)
U have a great day !

Sree's Views said...

Hello Ammu..
Welcome here :)
Yeah...its very true..for that matter , the entire book has such wonderful messages .
I have visited ur blog and really like some of ur posts :)
Thanks !

Jeevan said...

Intersting the Art or War!!

"If not in the interests of the state, do not act." very nice one.

i am very slow reader, some of the books may take a year or more to finish. happy weekahead to u too:)

P.Rajasekhar said...

Hi Sree,
Thank u very much for ur instant response to my previous comments. I know u have very nice way of telling what u have experienced. Its very much up to ur Blog's title. But the book u have mentioned here came as a little shock to me. I thought being a girl, i expected u to talk about American stuff:) I have n't read this book yet, though i have got this book in E-book format. Chinese writers r good. Don't know about the contemporary writers, but people like Sosan's 'Hsin Hsin Ming' and Lao tzu's The Tao the ching r full of wisdom.
And the way u have stressed on certain things r good. Keep it up. waiting to read some more...:)

Ravi said...

Hello Sree, all the bits of advices are very very applicable to US of A! I don't know when they would ever learn - I even doubt if they would.

unfuel the planet said...

@just words..
This book is not about wars or tactics... buts its about how:
"Every battle is won before it is ever fought."


@sree...
//let me get some good book on Arthashastra//
mail me your postal address, i can buy this book for u.

// Pegasus , is today 'Indian Culture Day' for you//

That comment was for an American tourist who got confused by the Indian Culture.. so was helping her out.

Sree's Views said...

Hello Jeeva...
How are u? I visited ur blog in the morning to see if there was any new post :)
Oh we are all slow readers alright..it only our interest in the subject that will make us read fast :)
Thanks Jeeva...and I will look up ur blog a while later :)
see yaa Jeeva !

Sree's Views said...

Hello Rajasekhar...
Oh u r very welcome and thanks for those kind words :)
hmm well really I never gave my blog title much thgt except that it sounds rhyming to me :)
//But the book u have mentioned here came as a little shock to me. I thought being a girl, i expected u to talk about American stuff:) //
Oh this book would interest all and its got nothing to do with actual fights .The simple messages are catchy and very apt :)
Well...I am not sure I understood what u meant by American stuff...do u mean American books ?
Thanks for the info on Chinese authors.
See yaa !!

Sree's Views said...

Hello Ravi...
Enna aalu veli oorla irukeengala?
2 postukku orey vaati vandhu comment podareenga :)
// I don't know when they would ever learn - I even doubt if they would. //
hmm u have a point there :)
Unga 'elandha pazha' (adhaan summer vacation) postukku waiting :)

Sree's Views said...

Hey Pegasus...
// mail me your postal address, i can buy this book for u //
oh u took me by surprise :) It is very kind of you to say that...but really , I cant accept such generosity. Just give me the title and author . But thanks a tonne :)

//That comment was for an American tourist who got confused by the Indian Culture.. so was helping her out.//
hey..I understood that...and I said I appreciate it.. did'nt I :)

Ravi said...

Hi Sree, Yes! Inga looong weekend. 4 days leave. So adhaan reply konjam thaamadham. Elanda pazham post dhaanae... sure... oru maasathukulla pottitudren!!

Sree's Views said...

Hello Ravi...
//Elanda pazham post dhaanae... sure... oru maasathukulla pottitudren!! //
Oru maasamaa..adhukulla elandha pazha seasoney vandhu poidum :P
lol :)

Syam said...

//There are some books which you can finish within a few days//

namma history geography la indha pechukke idam kidayaathu...books eppavum namakku romba thooram...:-)

Syam said...

//naan vaangina niraya books appadiye en kooda serndhu thoongudhu //

@bharani,

ithu enna ketta palakkam...palaya paper kaaran kitta pottu perichampalam vaangi saapitu irukka vendaama :-)

Sree's Views said...

Ayyooo Naataamai.....
Ungala maari aalungalukku books avasiyamaa...neenga dhaan nadamaadum Legal Library aachey :P

Amaanchi ezhudhuna andha 'Kodali....Nameetha' kadhaila neenga sollara maari avar ezhudhina logic ketten....ahaaaaa.....neenga engeyo irukka vendiyavaru :P lol

Books ellam ungalukku venaam thala...neenga ippadiye irundhaathaan nalla theerpaa solla mudiyum thala :)

Sree's Views said...

Hello Natamai...
Paavam namba Bharani....edho aasapattu books vaangi vechirukaaru :P
Yaaraiyo impress panna ;-)
Neenga en andha aasaila dust thoovareenga :P lol
(Chumma joke dhaan Bharani :P)