Jim Gimian, an editor of a translation of The Art of War and co-author of The Rules of Victory, shares invaluable insights on leadership and conflict resolution. He introduces a three-part framework of Heaven, Earth, and General, emphasizing the need to adapt to an ever-changing world. Their conversation highlights how ancient strategies are relevant today, focusing on systemic conflict resolution, the importance of strategy in decision-making, and how to shape relationships for better outcomes. Listeners gain practical applications of these timeless principles.
42:47
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Gimian's Journey to The Art of War
Jim Gimian's disillusionment with leadership in college and the anti-war movement led him to study The Art of War.
This study involved a men's group, a new translation, and eventually, leadership programs based on the text.
insights INSIGHT
Origins and Relevance of The Art of War
The Art of War likely emerged from a lineage of military strategists during China's Warring States period.
This era of constant conflict and shifting power dynamics mirrors today's competitive landscape.
insights INSIGHT
Misinterpretations of The Art of War
Many misinterpret The Art of War by trying to extract individual tactics without understanding the underlying philosophy of interconnectedness.
True mastery comes from seeing oneself as part of a larger whole, not as a separate actor manipulating others.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Masters of War explores the strategic ideas and historical contexts of influential thinkers like Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, and Mao, providing insights into how nations and military leaders adapt to changing warfare dynamics. The course covers a wide range of topics, including naval warfare, air power, nuclear strategy, and counterinsurgency, offering a deep understanding of strategic thought across centuries.
The rules of victory
James Gimian
Barry Boyce
The Rules of Victory offers in-depth explanations of The Art of War's essential principles and strategies, along with first-person success stories illustrating their application in various challenges. It provides guidance on recognizing and creating critical turning points in projects and includes a complete translation of The Art of War. The book helps readers apply ancient military insights to modern life, making it relevant for both personal and professional conflicts.
The Art of War
Sun Tzu
You heard about The Art of War, and it sounded pretty cool. So you picked up a copy to read. But you found that, beyond a few of its famous maxims, a lot of this text attributed to the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu was hard to understand, much less incorporate into your life.
My guest offers a tripartite framework that can help you get a lot more out of The Art of War. His name is Jim Gimian, and he's an editor of one of the text's translations as well as the co-author of The Rules of Victory: How to Transform Chaos and Conflict—Strategies from The Art of War. Today on the show, Jim argues that The Art of War is a holistic, interconnected text that's about how to approach conflict and obstacles in a holistic, interconnected way. Underlying this approach are three dynamics: Heaven, Earth, and General, which correspond to View, Practice, and Action. Jim and I talk about the importance of constantly orienting and reorienting yourself to an ever-changing world, working with the shih, or energy, in the landscape you're navigating, using action to further refine your perspective, and more.
The Art of Manliness 
