Caesar's Commentaries:
On the Gallic War and
On the Civil War
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 Playing a traditional zither Confucius not only said interesting things, he sang them and accompanied himself on a kind of zither. The Smithsonian Institution’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery has frequent shows of musical instruments from Confucius’ time, 2,500 years ago. A collection of his lyrics (there are no melodies preserved) is one of the first pieces of Chinese literature handed down through the centuries.
“It is said that Confucius accompanied himself on a ‘qin’ while singing the odes of the Shi Jing, or the ‘Classic of Poetry,’” says cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a guide to the exhibit. “We don’t know what Confucius’ qin may have looked like, but in popular accounts of his life, the image of the philosopher-musician became firmly established.” The qin is a kind of zither. Today’s Chinese musicians still use one kind. Ma is an American of Chinese ancestry, one of today’s leading cellists playing classical western music.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Confucius Not Only Said It… He Brought It
 Excerpted from The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition According to the 2nd century BC biography written by Sima Qian, Sun Tzu was born in Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC), and became a heroic general for the king of Wu, Helü. Historians place the writing of the text in the Warring States Period (476–221 BC), based on its description of warfare. The period was a time of constant conflict between seven nations (Zhao, Qi, Qin, Chu, Han, Wei and Yan) seeking to control all of China.
It is said that the king of Wu tested Sun Tzu’s skills in military tactics by commanding him to train several hundred concubines into soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the King’s favorite concubines at the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?” The girls replied: Yes. Sun Tzu went on: “When I say “Eyes front,” you must look straight ahead. When I say “Left turn,” you must face towards your left hand.
 Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Sun Tzu and The Army of Concubines
This special edition brings together three classic works by Western scholars of ancient Chinese texts. The men were family friends and colleagues, and were all living in Shanghai during the late 19th century. Much of their combined transcription became shaped into the book we know today as the “Tao Te Ching.”
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 ISBN: 1934255122 Translations can be a tricky thing. Especially if you are translating the oldest book on military strategy still in existence.
Lionel Giles is famous for his translation of The Art of War, as are James Clavell and Samuel B. Griffth. Still, many scholars despair of ever having a truly accurate translation of any of the historical Chinese texts, due to the changing nature of language patterns over the centuries, which complicate translation and transliteration.
In this article, the author explores some various nuances that have been lost in many of the accepted translations of The Art of War, (excerpts from The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Special Edition):
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… The Art of War or The Heart of War?
ISBN 1934255157
The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Large Print Edition contains the complete English translation by Lionel Giles in large, easy to read print.
The cover image depicts the bamboo scroll containing the teachings of Sun Tzu, which was discovered by archaeologists in the 1970s.
Leaders as diverse as Mao Zedong and General Douglas MacArthur [...]
Lionel Giles (1875 – 1958) was a Victorian scholar, translator and the son of British diplomat and sinologist, Herbert Giles. Lionel Giles served as Keeper of the Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books, as well as Assistant Curator at the British Museum.
His 1910 translation of The Art of War succeeded an earlier attempt by a British officer named E.F. Calthrop in 1905. Publicly refuting large portions of Calthrop’s work, Giles writes in his introduction:
It is not merely a question of downright blunders, from which none can hope to be wholly exempt. Omissions were frequent; hard passages were willfully distorted or slurred over. Such offenses are less pardonable. They would not be tolerated in any edition of a Latin or Greek classic, and a similar standard of honesty ought to be insisted upon in translations from Chinese.
Special Edition Books – Continue reading… Lionel Giles – Keeper of the Faith
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Lady Chatterley's Lover
Restored Modern Edition
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Special Edition
Tao - The Way
Special Edition
Now on Kindle
The Samurai Series
Now On Kindle
Factoid Xenophon's tale of high adventure, Anabasis: The March Up Country (or sometimes called "The Persian Expedition") has a direct tie to modern times.
In addition to being required reading for most classical literature students, it inspired the Sol Yurik novel, The Warriors, which was later made into a cult classic movie, and more recently adapted into a video game by Rockstar.
This time instead of the Greeks vs the Spartans in Persia, The Warriors retells the story of a group of modern street gangs brawling through Coney Island.
Anabasis: The March Up Country
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A Timely Look at Chairman Mao's Collected Writings
ISBN: 1934255254
Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Volume 1 – Politics and Tactics
Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Volume 2 – Guerrilla Warfare
Collected Writings of Chairman Mao – Volume 3 – On Policy, Practice and Contradiction
Mao Zedong, also known as Mao Tse-tung, is regarded as one of the most controversial figures in modern world history. After conquering the country, he ruled the People’s Republic of China from its establishment as a Communist State in 1949 until his death in 1976.
Brilliant and ruthless, his legacy includes guerrilla military warfare tactics, violent cultural revolutions, and enduring Communist propaganda. He was named one of the 100 most influential figures of the 20th century by Time Magazine.
Eric Margolis, of the Huffington Post writes of Chairman Mao:
“Mao was an accomplished poet, writer and historian, a profound thinker, and a superb military strategist. He crushed the US-backed Nationalist’s 4.3-million strong armies in a series of titanic battles, forcing his rival, Chiang Kai-shek, to flee to Taiwan… Special Edition Books – Continue reading… A Timely Look at Chairman Mao’s Collected Writings: Kindle and Paperback