Sun Tzu draws from the thoughts of Confucius and Laozi: wisdom has practical power, knowledge is strength, recklessness and ignorance lead to disaster. And the (not so surprising, as we see) critical conclusion for a general and warrior like the author of the book is that one must avoid, almost at all costs, the subject of the treatise, which means war itself.
From the afterword by G.-I. Babasakis
For more than two thousand years, The Art of War, the emblematic work of Chinese culture, has served as a reference text for anyone seeking advice on strategy both on the battlefield and in business, in relationships, and in the struggle of life.
The book consists of thirteen short, dense, and comprehensive chapters, which in turn are made up of brief paragraphs. With an imperative tone, astonishing precision, and confidence, General Sun Tzu (544-496 B.C.) offers us a timelessly relevant work.