The Thirty-six Strategies Of Ancient China

The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China is an easy to read and insightful look at how many strategies and tactics mentioned by Sun Tzu in his book The Art Of War were employed in ancient times. There is a Zen-like simplicity in the book's structure. Each strategy is also a Chinese proverb and is briefly explained. There follows three or four short anecdotes taken from Chinese and Japanese history which act as teaching tales to show how such strategies can be used.

What is unique is that many strategies are specifically suited for political and diplomatic situations and applications that often foreshadow today's politically nefarious world affairs.

Some of the anecdotes date back 4,000 years illustrating how little human nature has changed and how consistently ruthlessness is used throughout. These are the same tactics used by secret services, political campaign planners, and home siding scam artists. In a way, it is easier to view these strategies through the distance of time, in a land far away. However, once you understand each strategy you realize that they are being applied all around you, from office to international politics and all in between.
Reading this book will provide you with some serious street smarts, not just in the art of war, but in the way the world often is.