The Art of War, also known as the Sūnzǐ, is a classic Chinese text on competitive strategy. It has influenced modern military and political strategists, East and West, and is considered a major landmark in the history of strategic thought. In these 12 lectures, Professor Wilson leads you in plumbing the depths of the text, understanding its historical context and profile, while grasping its application to contemporary politics, business, sports, and more, as you explore:

The Political Terrain of Ancient China. Dig deeply into the military and political culture of China’s Warring States era, spanning the 8th to the 4th centuries BCE. Learn the legend of the general Sun Tzu, and his ideology which comprises of The Art of War.
Foundations of the Sūnzǐ. In the shift from chariot to infantry warfare, track the factors which mandated more complex logistical organization; examine the Sūnzǐ’s call for a new kind of military leadership, rooted in intellect, expertise, and professionalism.
Integral Principles of Strategy. Across four lectures, examine the foundational tenets of competitive strategy, encompassing command and method, mastery of weather and terrain, management of energy and timing, and the complex matters of espionage and deception.
The Global Reach of The Art of War. Witness how the Sūnzǐ’s influence spread across Asia, its transmission to 18th century Europe, and its adoption in the 20th century by military and Cold War strategists in China and the West.
The Sūnzǐ in the 21st Century. Investigate how the Chinese People’s Liberation Army makes use of the text. Note the explosion of PLA studies of the Sūnzǐ, and their current focus on high-tech and cyber warfare.

Through a detailed and penetrating examination of the text, Books That Matter: The Art of War offers you a fascinating excursion into strategic thinking, as it has figured in human affairs from the battlefields of ancient China to today’s complex political and economic landscape.

Rated 4 out of 5 by DaGeek from The Art of War in its cultural context I read “The Art of War” a while back, mainly as it shows up frequently on must read/best books types of lists. It is also, as the Professor mentions, a bit of pop culture phenomenon. I did not get a lot out of my reading. I then listened to the audio book and came away from that with the same feeling. Most likely, that says more about me than the book. I saw this short (12 classes) course on GCP and thought I would give it a shot. Perhaps I would gain some insight as to why of the great staying power of this book. As Professor Andrew Wilson stated, in order to understand this book, you need to understand how it came to be, and the times and Chinese culture when it was written. He did a good job explaining the context and the history of the book. The professor pointed out that at its heart, the book is revolutionary, pushing back against the cultural norms of the Warring States period of Chinese history. He devoted one whole lecture to initiating the viewer into the Chinese language by taking selected passages from the text and working through the translation. It was interesting, I am still debating as to whether it that was good or bad. Professor Wilson has a nice lecture style. He is obviously passionate about his subject, with a deep knowledge of it. I enjoyed the course. However, it never really grabbed me like some other GCP offerings. I would say, however, if you want to understand what this book is about, this is a great place to start.

Date published: 2026-02-09

Rated 5 out of 5 by the professor from Insightful Strategy in "The Art of War" Andrew R. Wilson, Ph.D., delivers a deeply engaging and well structured exploration of The Art of War and its enduring legacy. His knowledge as a professor at the U.S. Naval War College clearly comes through, blending military history, Classical Chinese philosophy, and strategic analysis in a smooth, conversational style. Each of the 12 - 30 minute lectures is rich with context from the world of ancient China and Sun Tzu's place in it to parallels with Western strategic thinkers like Clausewitz and the Greeks. While I found some of Sun Tzu's ideas less applicable to modern business or daily life, Dr. Wilson convincingly explains why the text remains a foundational study in military education. The way he interweaves cultural history, statecraft, and timeless principles of command deception makes this a truly rewarding 12 lecture series. I give it five stars for its depth, clarity, and historical insight. As with Dr. Wilson's previous The Great Courses lecture set, Masters of War: History's Greatest Strategic Thinkers, this is an excellent presentation by a passionate and exceptionally qualified instructor. I highly recommend it!

Date published: 2026-02-05

Rated 2 out of 5 by lucius703 from Get your facts straight "The Spartans is the only Greek states with a professional standing military". No they don't. It's a militia just like every other Greek army. Greek identity? It doesn't exist before the Persian war. I'm not going to get into all the other myth that professor used in the lectures. Too much 300 watched, he has.

Date published: 2026-02-02

Rated 5 out of 5 by Dr Pet from A fantastic surprise With each lecture, I became more and more impressed both with the book, "the Art of War" but also with Dr. Wilson. Since he taught military history, I was not surprised by his understanding of the importance of the book, but he also read and spoke Chinese allowing even more insights into the book. The course became more and more interesting lecture after lecture. I will very likely watch the course again and again. The only glitch was in chapter 8 in which he suggested that writing on paper and wood block prints didn't occur until nearly 1000 AD, in fact, the Buddhist religion used pamphlets to further its influence in Chinas as early as the 2nd century AD. Paper was invented in China about 130 BC.

Date published: 2026-02-01