“The indirect approach is as fundamental to the realm of politics as to the realm of sex.” - B. H. Liddell Hart, Strategy
The Art of War by Sun Tzu is old, well-known, and significant. It has survived two millennia, guided successful military action for that time, and is recognized as serious work by men who kill.
According to his Infogalactic entry Sun Tzu “was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China.” Traditional Chinese historians believe that he lived from 544 to 496 BC.
Sun Tzu's historicity is not certain. If he was not a real person he was at least based on real & accomplished figures of that approximate era. I recommend reading the Infogalactic entry on Sun Tzu for a brief treatment of the different positions and an introduction to the world that, literally or figuratively, created him.
Sun Tzu's surviving work, The Art of War, is a high-level strategic guide to conducting war. Taken metaphorically it provides guidance for navigating human conflict in general.
It is a short work divided into 13 chapters with each chapter addressing a specific theme or subject. Most of the work involves dividing these themes or subjects into different types, each with its own nature or response. Roads, for example, are not just a way to get somewhere else. What terrain do they go through? What other powers do they connect? Is it advisable not to take a road at all?
The book focuses on people, both friends and foe. How do they act? How do they react? How can you create expectations that play into your hands? How may the many varied parts be orchestrated to your purpose while depriving your opponent of the means to accomplish his own?
The Art of War was written in the cultural & religious context of its period which can be confusing for Western readers. Some have described it as a Zen manual. That's okay; each read-through is quick and will provide new insights.
Not all topics are directly relevant to our day even in a straight-forward military context but analogues may be found for everything. Even if not, the underlying mental patterns are still useful.
While Sun Tzu's work itself is brief, some versions of Sun Tzu's Art of War are extensive. My own copy, translated by Ralph Sawyer, includes hundreds of pages of historical context, explanation, and notes. Others are much smaller and may be had for a few dollars or free.
I recommend Sun Tzu's Art of War to every man. One, it is now part of the global canon of important works and contains ideas in general circulation & phrases people are expected to know. Two, it introduces patterns of thought beneficial when dealing with others whether the context is cooperative or competitive. Three, it is prudent to appreciate those few instances of literature to have survived the long millennia since their creations.
Physical copies may be purchased at Amazon.
A free audiobook version may be downloaded at Libri Vox.
If you want to listen to extensive excerpts from & discussion of the text by an accomplished man of war, Jocko Willink's podcast has an hour-long segment on Sun Tzu's Art of War.
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