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Reviews and Comments
“This luminous translation gave me a much clearer understanding of Sun
Tzu’s deeper purpose – to make war unnecessary. The Denma Group’s insights into ‘taking whole’ and
recognizing and using what is, in the present moment, show us how to apply Sun
Tzu’s wisdom in everyday situations, fraught as they so often are with the
potential for conflict. This is
wisdom we need now more than ever.”
— James A. Autry, co-author of Real Power: Business Lessons from the
Tao Te Ching.
“An exhilarating experience. The principles of translation adhered to
by the Denma group are among the best I have ever encountered for ancient
Chinese texts. They have a collective genius in presenting difficult ideas and
unfamiliar concepts in an amazingly straightforward way."
—Victor H. Mair, Professor, Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of
Pennsylvania, translator of the Tao Te Ching, editor of The Columbia
Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature.
“In
my seminars I have found that the Denma group’s Art of War is the one
version of the text that most closely resonates with the professional experience
of senior military officers regarding tactics and doctrine. It’s the most
sophisticated and accessible I’ve seen.”
—Andrew R. Wilson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Strategy and Policy, United
States Naval War College.
“This
is the best Sun Tzu translation yet! A really significant contribution.”
—
David Graff, Professor of Asian Studies, Kansas State University
"The book arrived in my hands just as I began the final stages of negotiations on some
tough but exciting new businesses I've begun. I've been in politics and public life for 25
years, and these are the most challenging circumstances I have yet been involved in. The translation and commentary resonate like a bell, and the ringing accompanies every
minute of my days. There's a sense of wonder to the Denma Group's attention to Sun Tzu. Their work is beautiful."
— Glenn W. Smith,
Austin, Texas, from the Amazon.com web site.
Publishers Weekly praises our edition of The
Art of War in the Forecast section (Religion Notes) of the December 11
issue, saying:
"When Hollywood movies show their heroes
reading The Art of War during quiet moments between action
sequences, as Wesley Snipes did recently, it's clear that Sun Tzu's
ancient Chinese treatise has found new cultural cachet. Among the numerous
recent translations available, the Denma Translation Group's The Art of
War: A New Translation is memorable for its psychological, almost
pacifistic perspective on the text. War is interpreted as any situation of
conflict, and victory becomes the triumph of persuading others without ever
having to battle in the first place. This is an intriguing new angle on an
age-old text."
And here is what Publishers Weekly said in the
Notes section of the Non-Fiction Forecasts in their very next issue, December
18, 2000, a rare second mention for the same book:
"Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way.
Sun Tzu's The Art of War is undisputedly one of the best-selling
leadership books of all time. This new translation by the Denma Translation
Group - led by Kidder Smith (Sung Dynasty Uses of the I-Ching), an Asian
studies expert at Bowdoin College, and James Gimian, publisher of the Shambhala
Sun magazine - helps bridge the gap between the ancient Chinese oral
tradition and today's modern reader. It's supplemented with essays and
commentary that demonstrate just how much this message of victory without
aggression still resonates with how we conduct all aspects our lives
today."
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