The Art of War: tips on how to comprehend?

[R_P_A_S]

so my brother recently recommended that I read "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu... I read the introduction and I get what the book is supposed to cover and How it should be applied to ones life. I get the whole idea of it, Winning conflicts and inquire a greater Victory or achievement, etc.

However I find the text repetitive, and I'm sorry to say.. I don't fucking get it. I'm missing the bit picture here and it frustrates me. any ideas or pointers?

[RedDawn]

They are millenias old tactics, they have some good points sure, but some of it is written koan (riddle) style.

It also depends on the translation. I found the Denma translation to be helpful, because it has literal and interpreted translation. Chinese does not focus on conjugation!
http://www.amazon.com/Art-War-Translation-Shambhala-Library/dp/1570629781/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201511523&sr=1-20

It really depends on what you are trying to get out of it. I mean, basic tenets in Art of War are the best commander is he who wins without fighting, fight fire with fire, use deception, and other vague platitudes.

I've been meaning to get into some of Trotsky's writings on the military, those might be more interesting and they definitely have a more modern context.

[ellipsis]

i thought that i was pretty straight forward, as long as you are applying it to military conflict. bush would have done well to read/follow it.

[Digitalism]

since I can't post LINKS yet I have to just give you the title. Go on Amazon and look for "The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition (Paperback)"

it gives you extensive notes and explanations by this scholar Lionel Giles

"this particular book gives you two copies of the famous classic: one simple direct translation from the Chinese characters (which are also included in the book) and another copy which is interspersed with extensive notes and commentary by both Lionel Giles and a several native Chinese scholars."

[RedStarOverChina]

I guess it's a Chinese military tradition partially started by Sun Tzu, with emphasis on espionage and understanding the enemy commander's mentality...And this is what the Art of War emphasized.