The art of war

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every great victory you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will lose every battle..."

The art of war is undoubtedly the bible of strategy, widely used in the business world to conquer people and markets. In peace, prepare for war; in war, prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a path to both security and ruin. Thus, under no circumstances should it be neglected.

This is how the remarkable Chinese document, written some 2,500 years ago, begins, recording the wisdom of Sun Tzu , a philosopher turned general. Sun Tzu 's advice can be applied in many ways and to various fields of human knowledge. It is particularly useful for young executives and entrepreneurs, as well as for heads of state and commanders.

In The Art of War , all aspects of war—tactical, hierarchical, and human, among others—are discussed in language as poetic as it is didactic. James Clavell , a world-renowned author, wrote the foreword, citing some of the book's precepts and contextualizing them in our daily lives. This work should be read not only by every commander or officer, but by anyone interested in peace. It's no surprise that the book is cited in films and constantly applied to solving the most recent conflicts in our daily lives.