A long time ago there was a dynasty of the Chinese monarch Helii of the Wu nation, a man named Sun Tzu. At a time when the kingdom was in conflict with neighboring states and reeling under the marauding forces of larger neighboring states, Sun Tzu approached the Emperor and offered his services to turn the tables and make the empire win. . This man excelled in an art, The Art of War. To him, it was like a science, or an art, that can be perfected with meticulous discipline and that can fairly guarantee the intended result. This was a man who saw art in cunning, in war, and in his organization.

He established the principles of commitment in war, of the behavior and qualities of the general who should lead the army into battle and perhaps to victory. These principles were written on wooden boards and later translated to become a much celebrated work among 20th century corporates. It is surprising how little has changed with regard to war, except for the landscape in which we fight today, the corporate one. The ideas that originally spoke of war strategies, attack and defense against the enemy, have today been taken up again as useful analogies applicable to leadership, business, and even sports.

The Art of War is a translation of the same Chinese text and does not offer a story, but rather guidelines for leaders who want to be victorious in war. It is more of a treatise on management, and perhaps the literary skills of a war general should not be judged.

So Sun Tzu's writings tell a lot about that time, but it doesn't end there. The lessons resonate throughout history, from the fall of Hitler at Stalingrad to America's defeat in Vietnam, and the Kargil War would also attest to the validity of the principles of ground advantage and skill. This is a book that teaches how to make war profitable, and whether we recognize it or not, our very lives are a daily battle in which we try to achieve balance and move up the profit curve. The skills mentioned in The Art of War about self and social awareness easily extend into the modern concept of "emotional intelligence." Furthermore, although the book is from the time of war, it also contains valuable lessons for the time of peace. A worthwhile read, and a truly beautiful art to master.