SUMMARY OF THE ART OF WAR (BY CHAPTERS) - ARTE - 2025

Today I come with a summary of The Art of War, a book by the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu who can have a great influence in your life because of his great teachings. If you have not informed yourself before this book, you may think that it focuses only on military life, however, it actually focuses more on a philosophy to follow to solve problems and avoid confrontations.

Although 2,500 years have passed since it was written, its principles can be applied to the military, political (although in this case it seems that they apply it very badly), business and individual.

In fact, apart from the high military commanders, it is usually read by company managers, as it helps to understand the principles of human action, to better lead them and to establish business strategies and tactics.

In my opinion, not all the advice can be applied to every field (except the military one) and it will also depend on the interpretation of the teaching that you decide to give.

It is true that some expressions are difficult to understand and interpret, although many are perfectly applicable.

How to apply it today?

Now, you may be wondering, how can I interpret a military book for my life or company? For me, it would simply be necessary to change some terms for others:

-General / leader: yourself or a boss.

-War: life or business competition.

-Military strategy: business strategy.

-Men / army / soldiers: your followers / collaborators / employees.

-State resources: personal resources (economic, social, personal, business resources.

-Enemy: other people who follow your same goals, a competitor company.

-Cities / Countries: the company.

And please don't take the advice to kill the enemy or defeat the army seriously. This can be translated in our time to "win, take the prize, get ahead of the competition…"

Without a doubt, it is one of the most widely read books in all of history, from ordinary people to the most powerful and historically influential like Napoleon, Churchill, Bill Gates or Machiavelli.

As for the chapters, there are 13 and in each version they give different names to the titles, although the content is the same. For example, in the version that I read, they are different from the ones named in wikipedia.

I start with the summary, it will be broad, although my intention is that you can stay with the fundamental ideas that the author transmits.

And what do you think of the book? What teachings has he given to you?

Summary by chapters

1. Preparation plans

The art of war, then, is governed by five immutable factors… These are: Moral principles; Heaven; The earth; Commander; The method and discipline. These five guidelines should be familiar to every general: He who knows them will be victorious; he who does not know them will fail.

While managing the benefit of my advice, also take advantage of any useful circumstances beyond the ordinary rules. Depending on how favorable the circumstances, one must modify his plans. All the art of war is based on deception.

When it is possible to attack, we have to appear incapable; when we use our strength, we have to appear inactive; when we are close, we have to make the enemy believe that we are far away; when apart, we have to make him believe that we are next.

The general who wins a battle does many calculations in his temple before the heat of battle. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.

2. Making war

There is no reference to any country that has benefited from protracted wars. Only someone who gets to know the evils of war in depth can fully understand the profitable way to continue it.

Using the conquered adversary to increase one's own strength. In war, then, let your great goal be victory, not long campaigns.

Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy troops without any fight; seize their cities without besieging them; overthrow his kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.

So it must be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of the destiny of the people, the man on whom it depends whether the nation is in peace or in danger.

3. Attack by ruse

Fighting and conquering in all your battles is not the supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.

The rule is, do not besiege walled cities if you can avoid it.

The general is the bulwark of the state; if the bulwark is complete in all its points, the state will be strong; if the bulwark is defective, the state will be weak.

There are five essential points for victory: He who knows when to fight and when not to fight will win. The one who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces will win. The winner is the one whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all ranks.

The one who, having prepared himself, waits to take the indisposed enemy, will win. The one who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign will win.

If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you don't have to fear the outcome of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for each victory achieved you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

4. Tactical precepts

Insuring against defeat is in our hands, but the opportunity to defeat the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

What the ancients called an intelligent fighter is the one who not only wins, but stands out for winning with ease. He wins his battles thanks to not making mistakes. Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory, as it means conquering an enemy who is already defeated.

So in war the victorious strategist only pursues the battle after achieving victory, while the one who is destined to lose fights first and then seeks victory.

5. Power

Control of a huge force has the same principle as control of a few men: it is merely a matter of dividing them into groups.

In all fighting, the direct method can be used to take part in the battle, but indirect methods will be necessary to ensure victory.

The good fighter will be fearsome in his set-up, and quick in his decision.

The intelligent combatant uses the effect of combined powers, and does not require much of the individual ones. Hence his ability to pick the right men and use combined powers.

6. Strong and weak points

Whoever arrives first on the battlefield and awaits the arrival of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; Whoever arrives second on the battlefield and has to rush to battle will arrive exhausted.

The intelligent combatant imposes his will on the enemy, but does not allow the will of the enemy to be imposed on him.

Skilled in attack is the general whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilled in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.

You can advance and be absolutely impenetrable, if you go towards the weak points of the enemy; you can retreat and be safe from pursuit if your movements are faster than the enemy's.

Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you can know where there is a surplus of force and where it is lacking.

Every man can see the tactics by which he conquered, but what no one can see is the strategy from which victory unfolds.

Just as water has no definite shape, in war there are no permanent circumstances. The one who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thus be successful in winning, can be called a captain born of heaven.

7. Maneuvering

We are not qualified to lead a marching army unless we are familiar with the terrain of the region, its mountains and forests, its rocks and cliffs, its marshes and swamps.

In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.

The multitude thus forms a single united body, it is impossible even for the brave to advance alone, or for the coward to retreat alone. This is the art of handling huge masses of men.

Do not take the hook offered by the enemy. Do not interfere with an army returning home.

8. Tactical variants

There are roads that must not be followed, armies that must not be attacked, cities that must be besieged, positions that must not be disputed, orders from the sovereign that must not be obeyed.

There are five dangerous fouls that can affect a general: Reckless recklessness, which leads to destruction; cowardice, leading to capture; a hasty temper, which can be provoked with insults; questionable honor that is sensitive to shame; Being overly solicitous with your men, exposing you to worry and haste.

9. The army on the march

Humble words and greater preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and momentum as if to attack are signs that he will retreat.

Therefore soldiers have to be treated humanely in the first instance, but kept in check by iron discipline. This is a sure path to victory.

10. Land

An army is exposed to six different calamities, which do not arise from natural causes, but from faults for which the general is responsible. These are: escape; insubordination; collapse; ruin; disorganization; annihilation.

When rank and file soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is insubordination. When the officers are too strong and the enlisted men too weak, the result is collapse.

The ability to evaluate the adversary, control the forces of victory, and astutely calculate difficulties, dangers and distances, is the test of a great general.

Consider your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you through the deepest valleys; take care of them as your own beloved children, and they will go with you even to death.

However, if you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt; good-hearted, but unable to impose your commands; and incapable, moreover, of quelling disorder: then your soldiers are comparable to hopeless children; they are useless for any practical purpose.

If you know the enemy and you know yourself, your victory will not be in doubt; if you know heaven and earth, you can make your ultimate victory.

11. The nine situations

If you ask me how to deal with a large crowd of enemies in orderly formation and about to attack, I must say: Start by taking advantage of something that your opponent places great importance on; then he will be susceptible to your will.

Speed ​​is the essence of war: take advantage of the enemy's indisposition, blast your way through unexpected routes and attack unprotected sites.

When soldiers are in great distress they lose their sense of fear. If there is no place for shelter, they will stand firm. If they are in a hostile country, they will present a determined front. If there is no help for him, they will fight hard.

The principle with which an army is managed is to have a standard of value that everyone has to achieve.

We cannot establish alliances with neighboring princes until we are aware of their designs. We are not fit to lead a marching army unless we are familiar with the terrain of the region: its mountains and forests, its rocks and cliffs, its marshes and swamps.

For it is precisely when a force has fallen on the path of pain that it is capable of striking a blow for victory.

Display the shyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you a chance; then emulate the speed of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.

12. Attack by fire

Sad is the future of one who tries to win his battles and prosper in his attacks, without cultivating the spirit of the campaign; as the result is waste of time and general stagnation.

The enlightened leader makes his plans with the future in mind; the good general cultivates his resources.

Don't move unless you see an advantage; don't use your troops unless there is something to gain; don't fight unless the position is critical.

No leader should put troops in the field simply to unleash his own anger; no general should fight a battle for mere revenge.

If it's to get ahead, make a move forward; if not, stay where you are.

13. The use of spies

What incapacitates the wisdom of the sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is prediction.

Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.

There is no one in the entire army with whom you should have more intimate relationships than with spies. None should be rewarded more freely. In no other matter should greater secrecy be preserved.

Enemy spies who have come to spy on us have to be sought out, tempted with bribes, taken aside, and comfortably housed. In this way they will become spies converted and available for our service.