>read The Art of War expecting unique insights into the psychology

>>1716649

It's supposed to be simple and intuitive, like an instruction manual.

Sun Tsu wrote other books that were more in-depth. The Art of War is just the most famous example, precisely because it is vague and so you can adapt the advice to all sorts of different situations.

>>1716649
How many wars have you won faggot?

>>1716649
Read Clausewitz if you want something more in depth.

>read meme book
>expect unique insights

This was revolutionary shit back in 500 BC. Until then, being better at war simply meant bring more guys than your opponent. The tactics described in Art of War allowed smaller forces to gain advantages over larger armies.

"Don't kill nobody, don't steal shit" seems pretty basic now, but there was probably a lot of that going on before the Ten Commandments.

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>>1716661
I have conquered myself. What greater war is there?

>>1716664
>Don't kill nobody, don't steal shit
clearly the government didn't get the message :^)

>>1716649
kek what did you expect? "call for air support"

>>1716649
If its so obvious, why do generals still break his rules all the time?

>>1716649
Some of the information, like about how useful it is to keep a disciplined army, and how to keep your soldiers from deserting, is valuable to a 20-yr old prick who inherits military power and wants to exert it. Simple things like supply lines and knowing when to cut your losses make a huge difference when sheltered nobles decide to make moves on each other.

>>1716740
>Simple things like supply lines and knowing when to cut your losses make a huge difference when sheltered nobles decide to make moves on each other.
We still have, in the 21st century, with the increased importance of supply lines, people who link 'lol, supply lines don't matter.'

>>1716649
chinese writing is concise and holistic.

there are war manuals for tactical movement and formations, if you want to learn

but strategy is inherently intuitive.

why not read record of the three kingdoms if yo want to see how strategy was applied.

sun tzu reads like introductory game theory. game theory, when you read it, is ALSO incredibly obvious, but the fact that it's systematized makes it useful.

a prominent example you can draw from sun tzu that's very practical is bridges. if a retreating enemy doesn't burn a bridge after retreating, it's because he's going to counterattack after half of your forces have crossed, and trap you

but if he burns the bridge, does that mean he's weak and retreating in earnest? or is he trying to attack you while half of your force is fjording the river, which would be tactically superior to the first option?

it's a basic exercise in deductive logic and poiting out the gaps in your own knowledge.

sun tzu would be more useful systematized, but holisticism was the bronze age equivalent of systemization.

>>1716649
you fell for the meme
that book is marketed to gullible managers that think reading a book will lend them some sort of edge

same applies to the Prince

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>>1716649
>read How to Win Friends and Influence People expecting unique insights into the psychology of social interactions
>it's actually filled with obvious statements, "be a good listener bro :DDDD"

>>1716649

It's "obvious" because it's been part of our culture for a hundred years or more now, it wasn't "obvious" when it was compiled.

>>1716649
>knowledge is intrinsic
xD
>certainly can't be the fact that his teachings were so important they became intrinsic to human knowledge
xD

>book made in 5th century BC
>Fast forward 2500 years
>hurr its such a meme so fucking basic even a caveman can do it

Do you know how stupid you sound?

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>>1716649
I can't believe you actually managed to bait people with this...