The Art and Principles of War

The classic works of military strategy The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, and On War, by Carl von Clausewitz, have long since ceased to be merely that. Today, they are universal readings on leadership and planning in the widest variety of contexts, from business management to sports, as well as personal development strategies. In this jointly published edition, they are genuine references for conflict management.

The Art of War, written around 500 BC by the Chinese thinker Sun Tzu, is one of the most essential works on military theory and strategy ever written. The book is structured in chapters that address, with direct and logical messages, the offensive and defensive aspects of war, as well as the actions and reactions that must be planned for various scenarios. Centered on secrecy, surprise, and deception, it is a masterpiece, a superior example of tactics referenced by scholars and generals from around the world.

On War, by Carl von Clausewitz, written in 1812, is an essay prepared for the then Crown Prince of Prussia, Frederick William, of whom General Clausewitz was the military tutor. This version of the author's thought, in which the central ideas about action on the field are found, should not be confused with the later On War — published posthumously in eight volumes —, or understood as a mere collection of abbreviated notions. Framed by the resistance to the Napoleonic invasions, it is, rather, the basis of highly celebrated military concepts, based on a solid moral plan and detailed in an admirably clear way.