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. The influence of Sun-tzu’s text has grown tremendously in the West in recent years, with military leaders, politicians, and corporate executives alike finding valuable insight in these ancient words.

In this new translation, scholar John Minford brings this seminal work to life for modern listeners, presenting the core text in two formats. First are the thirteen chapters of the original work by Sun-tzu, followed by the same text with extensive running commentary by classical Chinese scholars as well as by Minford himself. The result is an opportunity for Western readers to apply Sun-tzu’s work to the many aspects of our lives.