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The 33 Strategies of War
33StratagiesWar
Author Robert Greene
Country United States
Language English
Genre Business, management, military history, psychology, self-improvement
Publisher Penguin Group (HC); HighBridge Audio (CD)
Publication date January and April 2006
Media type Print (hardcover) and CD
Pages 496
ISBN 0-670-03457-6
Preceded by The Art of Seduction
Followed by The 50th Law

The 33 Strategies of War was written by American author Robert Greene in 2006. It is composed of discussions and examples of offensive and defensive strategies from a wide variety of people and conditions, applying them to social conflicts such as family quarrels and business negotiations.[1][2][3]

Reception[]

The Independent said Greene has set himself up as "a modern-day Machiavelli" but that "it is never clear whether he really believes what he writes or whether it is just his shtick, an instrument of his will to shift £20 hardbacks" and concludes "There is something less than adult about it all."[4] Admiral James G. Stavridis said the book had good breadth, but it lacked depth.[5] Leadership theorist and author John Adair said Greene "shows a poor grasp of the subject" and the book is based on the flawed "assumption that the art of military strategy and the art of living are comparable".[6] Booklist said the book was repetitive, lacked a sense of humor, and had an annoying "quasi-spiritual tone".[7] NBA player Chris Bosh stated that his favorite book is The 33 Strategies of War.[8][9][10] The 33 Strategies of War was part of the reading list for youths attending the Indigenous Leadership Forum organised by the University of Victoria, which aimed to redesign radical Indigenous politics and the Indigenist movement.[11] It is also read by students attending a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary course in Christian apologetics.[12] The book has been banned by several US prisons.[13]

In the book Greene writes that "Afghanistan was rich in natural gas and other minerals and had ports on the Indian Ocean":[14] Afghanistan is land-locked. (Trade to and from Afghanistan uses ports in other countries, such as Chabahar Port in Iran.[15]) The political tales in the book are said to be "mostly foolish or just plain wrong".[16]

The book has been described by reviewers as having "far too many duff sentences",[4] such: "Your goal is to blend philosophy and war, wisdom and battle, into an unbeatable blend."[4][17]

It has sold more than 200,000 copies.[18]

See also[]

References[]

  1. Fearn, Nicholas (5 March 2006). "The 33 Strategies of War, by Robert Greene". https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-33-strategies-of-war-by-robert-greene-6107606.html. 
  2. Lee, Eloise (4 May 2012). "33 War Strategies That Will Help You Win Everything In Life". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/33-strategies-of-war-you-should-apply-to-everyday-life-2012-5?op=1. 
  3. Youssef Aboul-Enein (March 30, 2006). "The 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene". The Waterline. Comprint Military Publications. http://www.dcmilitary.com/navy/seaservices/11_02/commentary/40435-1.html. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Fearn, Nicholas (March 5, 2006). "The 33 Strategies of War, by Robert Greene". https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-33-strategies-of-war-by-robert-greene-6107606.html. 
  5. Stavridis, Jim (2006). "The 33 Strategies of War". U.S. Naval Institute. http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/21679225. 
  6. Adair, John (2006). "All is fair in work and war?". Management Today. http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/542845/books-fair-work-war/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH.  alternative URL
  7. Driscoll, Brendan (2006). "The 33 Strategies of War". Booklist. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=3c633203-09c9-44ac-b33a-b63e15515769%40sessionmgr198&hid=119. 
  8. Tice, Carol. All’s Fair?. Entrepreneur. November 1, 2006.
  9. Green, Mark (January 12, 2012). "Not a Third Wheel: A GQ&A with Chris Bosh". https://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201201/chris-bosh-miami-heat-interview-style. 
  10. Mirchandini, Raakhee (January 5, 2007). "The Merchant of Menace". http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/item_CRnkXeIsCkhsYyCyAwDh1J. 
  11. "Indigenous Leadership Forum IGOV 595/384 A01". http://web.uvic.ca/~igov/programs/masters/IGOV_595_S01/IGOV%20595%20INDIGENOUS%20LEADERSHIP%20FORUM.pdf. 
  12. William A. Dembski. "PHREL 4373 Christian Apologetics". http://www.designinference.com/teaching/2006_fall_chr_apol_mdiv/syllabus_chr_theol_fall06_SWBTS_4373.pdf. 
  13. "Books Banned in U.S. Prisons Featured at Minneapolis Art Festival" (video). Unicorn Riot Media. 25 June 2018. https://www.unicornriot.ninja/2018/books-banned-in-u-s-prisons-featured-at-minneapolis-art-festival/. 
  14. Greene, The 33 Strategies of War, p284.
  15. Sawhney, Asha (8 April 2019). "Chabahar Port: Unlocking Afghanistan's Potential". New Perspectives in Foreign Policy. Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://www.csis.org/chabahar-port-unlocking-afghanistans-potential. 
  16. St Louis Post-Dispatch, If war's a given, then strategy is the wild card, by Joseph Losos, 29 January 2006.
  17. Greene, The 33 Strategies of War, preface, pXX.
  18. Robert Greene Interview, Part 1. Power Seduction and War. July 7, 2006.

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at The 33 Strategies of War and the edit history here.
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