The 10 Most Influential Books of All Time
7. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Art of War is an ancient Chinese military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a high-ranking military general, strategist and tactician. The text is composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. It is commonly known to be the definitive work on military strategy and tactics of its time. It has been the most famous and influential of China’s Seven Military Classics, and for the last two thousand years it remained the most important military treatise in Asia, where even the common people knew it by name. It has had an influence on Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy and beyond.
Among military leaders, who were known students of Sun Tzu, were such renowned generals as Yamamoto, who was responsible for planning the attack on Pearl Harbor; Mao Tse-tung, who gained control of China through guerrilla warfare; General Giap, who was the man behind victories over the French and American troops in Vietnam; and General Colin Powell, during the campaigns of Desert Storm and Desert Shield. The Art of War is also used in business, as a means to win negotiations. It’s also applied in coaching and sports, helping teams strategize for the win. Its principles can be adapted in a myriad of ways and although written approximately 500 B.C., it continues to inspire readers today.
