Ma's interesting book explores the resemblance between warfare and go tactics and strategies, based on the ancient Sanshiliu Ji [The Thirty-six Stratagems]. The stratagems, structured in six sets of six schemes each, are illustrated in the same number of brilliantly selected and commented games. Briefly explaining the meaning of the military stratagem, Ma continues by presenting a selected game that illustrates a similar go tactic, accompanied of course by thorough strategic and tactical analysis and explanation. Although the traditional maxims of go cover the tactics and strategies of the game, this book succeeds in bringing a completely unique and new approach that might be closer to our thinking and is one of the most entertaining go books I have read. In addition to learning a lot, it's also a real pleasure to read.

The `Thirty-six Stratagems' in the title is a famous Chinese military work; Ma takes the stratagems in it and applies them to go. It's a nice book; the examples work pretty well, and what he says make sense. The advice is about your thinking at a sufficiently high level that this book isn't particularly suited to beginners; I'm a 2 kyu, it will take me a few readings before it starts affecting my game at all.

The translation is nice. It's a bit heavy on the Japanese for my taste, but since there's a good glossary at the back, I don't feel that that really hurts it.