You heard about The Art of War, and it sounded pretty cool. So you picked up a copy to read. But you found that, beyond a few of its famous maxims, a lot of this text attributed to the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu was hard to understand, much less incorporate into your life.
My guest offers a tripartite framework that can help you get a lot more out of The Art of War. His name is Jim Gimian, and he's an editor of one of the text's translations as well as the co-author of The Rules of Victory: How to Transform Chaos and Conflict—Strategies from The Art of War. Today on the show, Jim argues that The Art of War is a holistic, interconnected text that's about how to approach conflict and obstacles in a holistic, interconnected way. Underlying this approach are three dynamics: Heaven, Earth, and General, which correspond to View, Practice, and Action. Jim and I talk about the importance of constantly orienting and reorienting yourself to an ever-changing world, working with the shih, or energy, in the landscape you're navigating, using action to further refine your perspective, and more.
Resources Related to the EpisodeAn Old-School Boxing Trainer on What It Means to Be a Man
Stress-Free Small Talk
The Cold Water Swim Cure
The 5 Allies Every Man Needs
Getting Along Is Overrated
The Harrowing Life of a World War II B-17 Pilot
Overcome the Decision Traps Around Diet and Exercise
The Life We’re Looking For
The U-Shaped Curve of Happiness
The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Johnny Cash
The New Science of Metabolism and Weight Loss
How Power Corrupts
Set Your Kids Up for a Lifetime of Healthy Sleep
Kierkegaard on the Present (Passionless) Age
Become a Backyard Adventurer
The Dangers of "Concept Creep"
Run Like a Pro (Even If You're Slow)
The Writing Life of Ernest Hemingway
The Dreams That Precede Death
The Secrets to Making the Perfect Pizza
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free