{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Book","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/","name":"The Art of War","shortTitle":"The Art of War","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Sun Tzu"},"isbn":"9780140439199","numberOfPages":13,"wordCount":6276,"timeRequired":"PT25M","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","publisher":{"@id":"https://readstacks.com/#organization","@type":"Organization","name":"Read Stacks"},"workExample":[{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-1-laying-plans/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-1-laying-plans/","name":"Laying Plans","position":1,"wordCount":440,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"Sun Tzu opens with the claim that frames the entire book: war is a matter of vital importance to the state, the province of life or death, the road to safety or ruin — and therefore the object of study no ruler can neglect.","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-2-waging-war/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-2-waging-war/","name":"Waging War","position":2,"wordCount":412,"timeRequired":"PT1.5M","abstract":"If the first chapter is about assessment, the second is about cost. Sun Tzu turns immediately to economics: a campaign of a thousand chariots, the same number of heavy wagons, a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, and provisions enough to reach the front consumes a vast…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-3-attack-by-stratagem/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-3-attack-by-stratagem/","name":"Attack by Stratagem","position":3,"wordCount":434,"timeRequired":"PT1.5M","abstract":"This is the chapter of the book's most famous idea: the highest skill is not winning battles but winning without them. \"In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-4-tactical-dispositions/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-4-tactical-dispositions/","name":"Tactical Dispositions","position":4,"wordCount":447,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"Sun Tzu draws a sharp line between what is in your control and what is not. \"The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.\" Securing yourself against defeat lies in…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-5-energy/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-5-energy/","name":"Energy","position":5,"wordCount":478,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"This chapter answers a question of scale: how can a commander control an enormous force as if it were a few men? Sun Tzu's answer is organization. \"The control of a large force is the same in principle as the control of a few men:…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-6-weak-points-and-strong/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-6-weak-points-and-strong/","name":"Weak Points and Strong","position":6,"wordCount":496,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"The governing idea here is initiative: \"Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh for the fight; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.\" The clever combatant therefore imposes…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-7-maneuvering/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-7-maneuvering/","name":"Maneuvering","position":7,"wordCount":473,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"Maneuvering, for Sun Tzu, is the most difficult thing in war, because it demands \"turning the devious into the direct, and misfortune into gain.\" You take a circuitous route, distract the enemy with a bait so that he sets out later than you yet arrives…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-8-variation-in-tactics/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-8-variation-in-tactics/","name":"Variation in Tactics","position":8,"wordCount":449,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"This short chapter is about adaptability — the refusal to apply fixed rules to fluid situations. The general who has thoroughly grasped the advantages that accompany \"variation of tactics\" knows how to handle his troops; the one who does not, even if he knows the…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-9-the-army-on-the-march/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-9-the-army-on-the-march/","name":"The Army on the March","position":9,"wordCount":491,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"This chapter is a field manual in two halves: where to place an army in different country, and how to read the enemy from the signs he gives off. On crossing mountains, keep to the valleys and camp on high ground facing the sun —…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-10-terrain/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-10-terrain/","name":"Terrain","position":10,"wordCount":589,"timeRequired":"PT2.5M","abstract":"Sun Tzu classifies the ground itself into six types, each with its own rule. Accessible ground can be freely traversed by both sides — occupy the high, sunny spots first and guard your supply lines, and you will fight to advantage.","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-11-the-nine-situations/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-11-the-nine-situations/","name":"The Nine Situations","position":11,"wordCount":518,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"The longest chapter of the book maps nine kinds of ground a campaign moves through and prescribes conduct for each. Dispersive ground is your own territory, where men think of home — do not fight there.","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-12-the-attack-by-fire/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-12-the-attack-by-fire/","name":"The Attack by Fire","position":12,"wordCount":547,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"Sun Tzu names five distinct ways to use fire as a weapon: to burn soldiers in their camp; to burn stores; to burn baggage-trains; to burn arsenals and magazines; and to hurl dropping fire among the enemy.","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"},{"@type":"Chapter","@id":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies/","url":"https://readstacks.com/books/the-art-of-war-sun-tzu/chapter-13-the-use-of-spies/","name":"The Use of Spies","position":13,"wordCount":502,"timeRequired":"PT2M","abstract":"The book ends not with battle but with intelligence, and Sun Tzu frames it as the logical conclusion of everything before. A great campaign costs the state and the people enormously — \"a thousand ounces of silver a day\" — and may drag on for…","datePublished":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z","dateModified":"2026-05-16T01:30:00Z"}]}