Robert Greene’s background as a writer and a synthesizer of historical material plays an important role in shaping his perspective and intentions in The 33 Strategies of War. As a student of classical studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Greene has studied military history, political dynamics, philosophy, and strategic thinking from a range of civilizations. Instead of self-identifying as a scholar or social scientist, Greene describes himself as a curator of strategic patterns, drawing on historical examples from Sun Tzu, Napoleon, global political leaders, revolutionaries, and others. His previous works, such as The 48 Laws of Power (1998) and The Art of Seduction (2001), illustrate his expertise in applying historical case studies to provide a framework for understanding modern life. In The 33 Strategies of War, he extends this approach, applying a framework of military strategy to everyday competition.

The 33 Strategies of War represents a disciplined study of power relationships, akin to a situational awareness tool. Greene identifies patterns of strategic behavior across different contexts and presents them in a manner that appears accessible beyond the battlefield. However, his work is based on a predominantly elite, hierarchical, historically male-dominated view of power, with a focus on personal agency, manipulation, and control. His method prioritizes interpretive synthesis over empirical validation, and his case selections often emphasize effectiveness rather than moral consequence. The examples he chooses are those of success, rather than morality, positioning the text as a strategic perspective grounded in historical realism and competing worldviews, rather than an all-encompassing theory of conflict.