Collins Classics: The Art of War

HarperCollins is proud to present our range of timeless literary classics.

Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.Focusing on the principle of outsmarting a foe before resorting to battle this treatise by Chinese general, strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu is a masterpiece of military strategy. His timeless advice to know yourself, your enemy, your sparring ground and to prioritise diplomatic solutions has been influential since its creation.Written during the sixth century BCE, to this day The Art of War has guided leaders for thousands of years and remains to this day a touchstone not only for generals, but for CEOs, athletes and anyone facing their own battles of cunning and tact.

About the author

Thomas Cleary earned his Ph.D. in East Asian studies at Harvard University and is renowned for his translations of classic Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit, Pali and Arabic religious texts. His translations include the bestselling The Art of War, The Essential Tao, The Essential Confucius, The Essential Koran, and The Secret of the Golden Flower. He lives in Cambridge, MA.