Sun Tzu: The Art of War
The best victory is the one won without fighting
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The work came out of the Warring States period, when China was divided into realms in constant war and warfare became a discipline. It stands in sharp contrast to the Greek tradition, which prized the decisive battle: Sun Tzu sees battle as a sign something has already gone wrong. The book reached Europe in the eighteenth century and has influenced everything from Napoleon to modern strategic literature.
For children
The book is less about battles than about avoiding them: know the enemy, know yourself, and win before the fighting starts. It was written two and a half thousand years ago and is still read by generals — and by business people.
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Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org