More than two millennia ago the famous Chinese general Sun Tzu wrote the classic work on military strategy, The Art of War. Now, in Sun Tzu and the Art of Business, Mark R. McNeilly shows how Sun Tzu's strategic principles can be successfully applied to modern business situations. Here are really two books in one: McNeilly's synthesis of Sun Tzu's ideas into six strategic principles for the business executive, plus the entire text of Samuel B. Griffith's popular translation of The Art of War. Within, McNeilly explains how to gain market share without inciting competitive retaliation, how to attack a competitor's weak points, and how to maximize the power of market information for competitive advantage. He also demonstrates the value of speed, preparation, and secrecy in throwing the competition off-balance, employing strategy to beat the competition, and the need for character in successful leaders. In his final chapter, McNeilly presents a practical method to put Sun Tzu and The Art of Business into practice. By using modern examples throughout the book from GE, Microsoft, AT&T, BMW, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, and many others, he illustrates how, by following the wisdom of history's most respected strategist, executives can avoid the pitfalls of management fads and achieve lasting competitive advantage.

Reader Reviews

Erwin

(5/5)

Oct 18, 2025

At least he didn't name this "The Art of War for Business"...It's a very thoughtful book though. I have read a few versions of the Art of War, and have been doing business in Asia for 10 years now, but this helped me make some connections between Sun Tzu's battle field and the market that I didn't make earlier.The goal is to win without fighting.We must attack where the enemy is not.Seriously, if your responsible for business strategy, you should read this. In spite of the cheesy title and cover...

Tihomir

(2/5)

The book contains analytics based on Sun Tzu war principles adapted for business needs. I expected more from that book.

Moh. Nasiri

(4/5)

The world of business is like a battleground. There’s a war going on – for customers, visibility, and market supremacy. So how do you come out on top? How can you force your competitors into a retreat, capture their territory, and emerge victorious?کاربرد هنر جنگ تسو در استراتژی کسب و کارThat’s where these blinks come in. Based on the philosophy of ancient Chinese military general Sun Tzu, they explain how you can use classic strategies of warfare to prosper in business.Sun Tzu wrote The Art of

Sam

That Sun Tzu's "Art of War" has spawned an industry of snake oil vendors rife with meta-analyses, meta-application and meta-commentaries informed my initial reluctance and resistance to this book. I'm however exceedingly relieved that McNeilly's work disappointed my scepticism: it proved a far departure from others. Glad that I overcame the inertia I initially had for reading this book. Unlike other run-of-the-mill metas on Sun Tzu. Mark McNeilly's effort is worth more than its weight in gold. W...

Zhivko Kabaivanov

Sun Tzu and the Art of Business (1996) explains how ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu’s classic text The Art of War applies to the hyper-competitive environment of modern business. This reading explores how business leaders can integrate Sun Tzu’s battle strategies into their own plans for market domination.

Brendan

Michael Fleegler's review made me laugh aloud but I will give it a read anyway. Funny, Michael!Quick read. Worth picking up if you are in Managment or Busines Development. 101 level but is good for a refresher which we all need but are afraid to admit.

Ethan Smith

(3/5)

Not bad, but really so similar to the source material that you could just read one of the two and be good. I honestly would recommend this one. Having concrete examples makes it easier to understand and apply to life, even if some of the examples are quite a stretch.

Ven

Find some interesting ideas, but looking at the bigger picture, book seemed already out of date. Times have changed, so have the world. Peoples will find some really interesting points, but don`t take everything for granted.

Levi

It was an interesting read. Applying Sun Tzu to the business world. I think there is a lot to learn in this book.

Lori Grant

A should-read book on office politics which will happen to you and around you whether you participate in politics or not.

Serge Autrique

Good airplane & waiting lounge material

Serge Beauchemin

Great book for business strategist or any entrepreneur wanting to better adapt his strategies to conquer more market shares.

Joshua Seale

I really enjoyed this book. It provided a very different approach to business strategy than most other books I have read on the topic. I would definitely recommend this book.

Karina Díaz Pérez

me gustó mucho la forma en la que el autor define ejemplos sencillos, prácticos y aplicables en cualquier modelo de negocio. Excelente recomendaciones prácticas.

Elizabeth

I want to read this book.

Gabriel Castellanos

How to conquer using Sun Tzu techniques on business

Petr1108

The book is well written, but it's not entirely what I expected.It's has more emphasis on war examples and less how to use this in business environment.

Phương V

Though business is not really my favorite topic, broadly speaking, the book contains several interesting facts and sayings. Just wondering how I'm supposed to apply those in my life.

Thor

Great application of Sun Tzu in a modern setting.

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Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers

Sun Tzu and the Art of Business: Six Strategic Principles for Managers

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