i've been searching for this book and i came across about 4 copies at my local hasting, all copletely different works...just looking for a recommended one, which translator, interpretation, that sort of thing

I have it in a tiny "Pocket Classics" edition. When I say tiny, I mean tiny: it's about 2 inches wide by 3 inches tall I don't recall the publisher offhand.

Sun Tsu's actual text is very brief; even the ultra-short version I have fills it out with some commentary from authors of his time and slightly later, who were expanding on his words. I like the translation I have because it's very clear and plain, yet sounds nice. Not too flowery.

I'm not sure what anyone else reads it for, but I've found The Art of War to be a *superb* strategy guide for the sport of fencing (I'm a nationally competitive fencer, so I'm definitely interested in high-level strategy in competition!) Just flipping it open and looking at a single sentence, and pondering it, can be very worthwhile.

I have read three different translations.

My favorite is from 1963 by Samuel B. Griffith. It is clear and concise and devoid of any sort of self-important interpretations that some others have, imho.

Griffith was a USMC General and also spoke fluent Mandarin and Cantonese. He has a great introduction and several appendix and bibliography pages.

The Griffith translation is the one that Norman Schwarzkoph recommends, in case that matters to you at all.

appreciate it

I concur with the Griffith recommendation.

While you're at it, and if you haven't already, read The Book of the Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi.