Art of War is a classic, always enjoy reading new editions. This one was serviceable. Not noticeable better than others but still brought something to it.

A classic work deserves a classic edition. This is a beautifully laid out book with both the Chinese text and English translation on the same double page spread.

Having also read Thomas Cleary's translation, this one is a more literal translation of the Chinese which therefore brings out the rhetorical flourishes in the original text; Cleary's is more idiomatic plus the inclusion of additional material expands on some of the points. Both translations therefore have their merit.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Art of War is a beautifully curated translation of the philosophical classic attributed to Sun Tzu (ca. 5th century BCE), translated by James Trapp and published as part of a series of specially bound works. Due out 14th Aug 2025 from Amber Books, it's 96 pages and will be available in hardcover with a traditional sewn binding and uncut papers as well as ebook formats..

Each two page spread has the original Chinese characters with translation on the facing page. The English translation work is seamless and subtly/pleasingly wrought; understandable and accessible, but also nuanced.

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home reference, and gift purposes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I chose this book because it speaks to our imagination, being one of the most renowned books in modern history.
It’s quotes and knowledge gets featured in movies, books, business world, and every day life.
I’m a modern day philosopher myself, and I was intrigued by the book’s reflections and how they still apply to modern
aspects as competition, negotiations and even some relationships.

The book was therefore recognizable, yet I was a bit disappointed because there was nothing new.
It’s more me, than the book itself I just had high expectations because I always want to learn new things.

I still would recommend this book, because it’s like a must read at least once in a lifetime.
Thank you for the opportunity.

The Art of War is such a classic that it’s hard for any new translations to do it justice. As someone intimately familiar with the language, I found myself at times a bit skeptical on some of the translations. While this new translation is mostly solid, it’s hard to give it a higher rating as it does nothing new for the work.

Enjoyable from a historical perspective but I just don't think this was my cup of tea. I liked the author's translation notes at the bottom. I think this book probably inspired me to interact with Chinese history more than it inspired me to interact with more philosophy.

A classic, always reread able. Enjoyed this translation but not my favorite. A clear recommend though.

I've only read one other translation of the book, and since I don't read Mandarin, it's challenging for me to comment on the accuracy of this translation.
It's a short book. It takes 1-2 hours to read.
However, it's packed with military wisdom; hence, its enduring quality.

The layout is attractive, showing Chinese script and English outtakes.

I'm unsure if this is the best translation out there, but it's certainly worth a read to see what the fuss is about.