Product Description

Strategies for winning the subtle social game of everyday life—from the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction

Robert Greene’s first two groundbreaking guides, The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction, espouse profound, timeless lessons from events in history to help readers vanquish an enemy or ensnare an unsuspecting victim. Now, with The 33 Strategies of War, Greene has crafted an important new addition to this ruthlessly unique series. Structured in Greene’s trademark style, The 33 Strategies of War is a brilliant distillation of the strategies of battle that can help us gain mastery in the modern world. It is the I Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun-tzu’s Art of War.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2632 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-14
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

From Publishers Weekly
As in his bestselling The 48 Laws of Power, Greene puts a modern spin on wisdom that has stood the test of history, only this time his role model is Sun Tzu rather than Machiavelli. The argument is fairly standard: despite our most noble intentions, "aggressive impulses that are impossible to ignore or repress" make military combat a fitting metaphor for getting ahead in life. Greene's advice covers everything from steeling one's mind for battle to specific defensive and offensive tactics—notably, the final section on "dirty" warfare is one of the book's longest. Historical lessons are outlined and interpreted, with amplifying quotations crammed into the margins. Not all of the examples are drawn from the battlefield; in one section, Greene skips nimbly from Lyndon Johnson's tenacity to Julius Caesar's decisiveness, from Joan Crawford's refusal to compromise to Ted Williams's competitive drive. Alfred Hitchcock, he says, embodies "the detached-Buddha tactic" of appearing uninvolved while remaining in total control. The diversity of subject matter compensates for occasional lapses into stilted warriorese ("arm yourself with prudence, and never completely lay down your arms, not even for friends"). For those willing to embrace its martial conceit, Greene's compendium offers inspiration and entertainment in equal measure. (Jan. 23)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
The classical scholar and author says that war occurs in five contexts--when we execute it individually, with an army of some kind, from an offensive position, from a defensive position, and through unconventional, or dirty, means. The suggestions and ideas behind this lesson are thoroughly illustrated with concise historical vignettes. Deftly balancing theory and practice, the author asks listeners to examine their options for handling conflict, understand the meaning of their past experiences, and commit themselves fully to a mature and appropriate response to conflict. He has an impressive understanding of the psychological and organizational challenges in warfare. Don Leslie gives a softly intimate reading that sounds aptly erudite but not overly intense. Pacing himself steadily, he organizes the thick sentences and dense ideas with finesse. T.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
Greene and "producer" Joost Elffers are the Machiavellians who brought us The 48 Laws of Power (1998) and The Art of Seduction (2001), and their latest book similarly purports to distill the profundities of history for personal gain. Unapologetically premised on Hobbesian "all that is social is war" bromides, this account collects parables of strategic success and error from a diverse cast of military and nonmilitary historical figures. Its lessons are presented self-help-book style in chapters titled "Maneuver Them into Weakness" and "Seem to Work for the Interests of Others While Furthering Your Own" and flanked by a withering barrage of reiterative marginalia. Most books this cynical (and this repetitive) need a sense of humor to be readable, something this book apparently lacks. Its quasi-spiritual tone, though perhaps increasing its attractiveness to the impressionable, is also trying at times. But those readers who push through to the end (or flip ahead) will find a curiously contemporary section on modern terrorism cloaking a surprisingly specific commentary on al-Qaeda and antiterrorism strategy. Politics by other means? Brendan Driscoll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Primer for Daily Warfare

Robert Greene writes in a powerful and concise manner with a focused topic. Previously, he wrote the "48 Laws of Power", an amazing book which took forms of power and breaks down the use and methodology of power with historical cases. He does the same here but with Warfare. The topic is not limited for use by real warriors. Indeed, if Clausewitz said that "War is diplomacy by another means," then one would have to ask if "Diplomacy is War by another means." If so, then the diplomatic exchanges that we all have every day in business, politics, personal relations (not all are positive!) are indeed a form of warfare with the stakes being our present and future circumstances.

For the individual who wants to become a stronger `warrior' in today's world, this book is essential. One can become a warrior in a number of important causes: Freedom, Democracy, the Environment, Education, etc., It depends on one's interests, but the labrynthine corridors of power and strategy still apply. With this diverse perspective, Greene deftly uses strategists from various disciplines: Lyndon Johnson, Julius Caesar, Joan Crawford, Ted Williams, and more. These historical cases provide excellent studies for the student warrior. His story about Alfred Hitchcock (whom my aunt worked with in the film industry) was very telling in terms of his perceived detachment but total control.

"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparat bellum." An old Roman generals advice: "Whosoever desires peace, prepares for war." This is not an urge toward conflict but one of defense against complacency. I enjoyed Green's use of military terminology throughout, especially the use of grammar that suggests a timeless quality to his observations and truths. The format of the book is excellent. People from many backgrounds will appreciate its knowledge.

Michael Mandaville, Author "Stealing Thunder"

Excellent Strategy Book
I truly enjoyed this book. There are very few strategy books that are as detailed, yet readable. As part of my kendo training, I've read a number of Japanese strategy books such as Book of 5 Rings, which are essentially incomprehensible unless you have training. The best strategy book I've read prior to this was The Way and the Power by Lovrett, which is also readable and excellent.

Excellent Book, Author!
This is my third Joost Elffers book and along with the others, it is a great example of using historical references for learning how to become better. This can be a pleasure read, a historical text, or a self-help book. The quotes are very relevant and bias breaking, and the stories are taken from all types of civilizations and cultures. I am a big fan of this book as well as other Joost Elferrs books