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Strategies of War

The Art of War is by Sun Tzu. To clarify: Robert Greene wrote a modern book on strategy called “The 33 Strategies of War”, which is inspired by military principles and applied to life, business, and power dynamics. That’s likely what you want.

Here are Robert Greene’s 33 Strategies of War summarized:

Part 1: Self-Directed Warfare (Mastering Yourself)

The Polarity Strategy – Recognize and embrace contradictions within yourself.
The Death-Ground Strategy – Place yourself in situations where you must fight to survive.
The Guerilla-War-of-the-Mind Strategy – Outsmart and adapt mentally before acting.
The Grand Strategy – Maintain a long-term vision; focus on the big picture.
The Offensive-War Strategy – Take decisive, proactive action rather than waiting.

Part 2: Organizational (Team) Warfare

The Command-and-Control Strategy – Maintain authority and direction in groups.
The Divide-and-Conquer Strategy – Exploit divisions among rivals.
The Passive-Aggression Strategy – Use subtle pressure and indirect tactics.
The Chain-Reaction Strategy – Create cascading effects to weaken opponents.
The Center-of-Gravity Strategy – Strike at the critical point of an opponent’s power.

Part 3: Defensive Warfare

The Defensive-War Strategy – Protect your position and avoid unnecessary risks.
The Non-Engagement Strategy – Avoid battles that don’t benefit you.
The Strategic-Withdrawal Strategy – Retreat to fight another day.
The Double-Edged Strategy – Use an opponent’s strength against them.
The Maneuver Strategy – Move unpredictably and fluidly.

Part 4: Offensive Warfare

The Blitzkrieg Strategy – Overwhelm your opponent quickly and decisively.
The Guerilla-War Strategy – Use unconventional tactics to destabilize.
The Chain-of-Command Strategy – Organize actions to maximize efficiency.
The Annihilation Strategy – Focus all efforts to completely defeat the enemy.
The Non-Frontal Attack Strategy – Attack indirectly, avoiding direct confrontation.

Part 5: Unconventional (Dirty) Warfare

The Guerilla-War-of-the-Mind Strategy – Psychological tactics to confuse and intimidate.
The False-Flag Strategy – Mislead the enemy about your intentions.
The Feigned Madness Strategy – Appear weak or erratic to create opportunity.
The Chain-Reaction Strategy – Trigger chaos in the enemy’s ranks.
The Seemingly Weak Strategy – Underestimate your power to gain advantage.

Part 6: Diplomatic (Non-Military) Strategies

The Alliances Strategy – Build and break alliances strategically.
The Negotiation Strategy – Use diplomacy to your advantage.
The Psychological Warfare Strategy – Manipulate perceptions and emotions.
The Timing Strategy – Wait for the perfect moment to act.
The Endgame Strategy – Plan how to consolidate victory.

Part 7: Unifying All Strategies

The Nonlinear Strategy – Avoid predictable, linear approaches.
The Center-of-Gravity Strategy – Focus on decisive points that determine the outcome.
The Death-Ground Strategy – Push yourself and your opponents into situations that force decisive action.

Sun Tzu – 33 Principles of War (Condensed from The Art of War)

1–5: Laying Plans

War is vital to the state; it must be studied carefully.
Success depends on careful calculation and planning.
Know the terrain, weather, and enemy.
Strategy must be adaptable; rigid plans fail.
Effective leaders weigh risks and rewards before acting.

6–10: Waging War

Speed and decisiveness are key in battle.
Prolonged conflict drains resources; avoid unnecessary wars.
Know the cost of war and prepare accordingly.
Leadership must maintain morale and unity.
Efficient logistics win battles as much as tactics.

11–15: Attack by Stratagem

Avoid strength; attack weaknesses.
Deception is central to strategy.
Winning without fighting is the highest skill.
Use spies and intelligence to gain advantage.
Divide and conquer to weaken your enemy’s alliances.

16–20: Tactical Dispositions

Strong positions should be defended; weak positions exploited.
Shape the battlefield to your advantage.
Adapt formations to terrain and enemy movements.
Avoid predictable patterns; be fluid and flexible.
Surprise and timing are more important than brute force.

21–25: Use of Energy

Concentrate forces where decisive impact occurs.
Use indirect approaches to create openings.
Preserve strength while forcing the enemy to expend theirs.
Build momentum gradually; cumulative pressure wins.
Exploit both defensive and offensive energy simultaneously.

26–30: Weak Points and Strong

Attack the enemy’s weakest points, not their strength.
Know your enemy and yourself to ensure victory.
Exploit confusion and disorder in the enemy ranks.
Psychological advantage can outweigh numerical advantage.
Guard your own weaknesses while probing enemy vulnerabilities.

31–33: Variation and Adaptability

Flexibility is the hallmark of successful generals.
Adapt strategy to changing circumstances on the battlefield.
Anticipate and exploit opportunities before the enemy does.

The 48 Laws of Power – Robert Greene

Never Outshine the Master – Make those above you feel superior.
Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How to Use Enemies – Friends can betray; enemies can be useful.
Conceal Your Intentions – Keep your plans secret.
Always Say Less Than Necessary – Words can reveal weakness.
So Much Depends on Reputation — Guard It with Your Life – Protect your image.
Court Attention at All Costs – Visibility creates power.
Get Others to Do the Work, But Take the Credit – Leverage others’ labor.
Make Other People Come to You — Use Bait if Necessary – Draw people in; don’t chase.
Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument – Prove, don’t argue.
Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky – Negative energy spreads.
Learn to Keep People Dependent on You – Maintain control by creating reliance.
Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim – A little truth builds trust.
When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to Their Mercy – Show benefit to them.
Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy – Gather intel subtly.
Crush Your Enemy Totally – Leave no chance for revenge.
Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor – Scarcity makes you valuable.
Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability – Surprise is power.
Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself — Isolation is Dangerous – Stay connected.
Know Who You’re Dealing With — Do Not Offend the Wrong Person – Choose targets wisely.
Do Not Commit to Anyone – Stay independent.
Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker — Seem Dumber Than Your Mark – Let them underestimate you.
Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power – Yield temporarily to gain advantage.
Concentrate Your Forces – Focus energy where it counts.
Play the Perfect Courtier – Master social finesse and influence.
Re-Create Yourself – Control your identity; be fluid.
Keep Your Hands Clean – Let others do the dirty work.
Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following – Inspire devotion.
Enter Action with Boldness – Hesitation invites failure.
Plan All the Way to the End – Anticipate obstacles.
Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless – Hide the sweat behind success.
Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal – Limit their choices.
Play to People’s Fantasies – Offer what they desire, not reality.
Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew – Everyone has a weakness; find it.
Be Royal in Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King to Be Treated Like One – Confidence commands respect.
Master the Art of Timing – Wait for the right moment.
Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them is the Best Revenge – Don’t give power to what frustrates you.
Create Compelling Spectacles – Drama draws attention.
Think as You Like but Behave Like Others – Conform outwardly.
Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish – Create confusion for advantage.
Despise the Free Lunch – Nothing is truly free; pay your way.
Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes – Establish your own identity.
Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep Will Scatter – Remove the leader to weaken the group.
Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others – Influence emotionally, not just rationally.
Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect – Reflect actions back to unsettle.
Preach the Need for Change, But Never Reform Too Much at Once – Avoid backlash.
Never Appear Too Perfect – Envy breeds opposition.
Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed For; In Victory, Learn When to Stop – Know your limits.
Assume Formlessness – Be adaptable; rigidity is vulnerable.

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