It's a book of conflict knowledge and tactics revolving around several key concepts, including:<ul><li>Knowing when to fight and when not to fight.</li><li>Knowing how to mislead the enemy.</li><li>Knowing oneself and one's enemy.</li></ul>

Summary

“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”

<ul><li>Strike a balance between confusing the enemy and teaching troops to obey seemingly futile commands.</li><li>Arrive on the battlefield early and organized.</li><li>Actions should be clear and coordinated.</li></ul>

Maneuvering

<ul><li>Physical terrain and psychological terrain are equally important.</li><li>Poor leadership cannot make up for well-trained troops; well-trained troops cannot make up for poor leadership.</li></ul>

Terrain

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

<ul><li>The leader has full awareness of themself, troops, and the opposition.</li><li>The leader knows how to use small or large forces.</li><li>The leader knows how to unify the ranks with a common purpose.</li><li>The leader knows how to be patient while the opposition is impatient.</li><li>The leader's authority does not cloud judgment.</li></ul>

5 Essentials for Victory:

If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .”

“Deep knowledge is to be aware of disturbance before disturbance, to be aware of danger before danger, to be aware of destruction before destruction, to be aware of calamity before calamity. Strong action is training the body without being burdened by the body, exercising the mind without being used by the mind, working in the world without being affected by the world, carrying out tasks without being obstructed by tasks.”

<ul><li>Recklessness, which leads to destruction;</li><li>cowardice, which leads to capture;</li><li>a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults;</li><li>a delicacy of honor which is sensitive to shame;</li><li>over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble.</li></ul>

5 Dangerous Faults which may Affect a General:

<ul><li>The Moral Law- causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger</li><li>Heaven- signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.</li><li>Earth- comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.</li><li>The Commander-  stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness.</li><li>Method and discipline</li></ul>

5 Essential Elements of War

The Art of War is not really about war per se but about how to be wise when it comes to our  daily life battles.

The Art of War is an enduring classic that holds a special place in the culture and history of East Asia. An ancient Chinese text on the philosophy and politics of warfare and military strategy, the treatise was written in 6th century B.C. by a warrior-philosopher now famous all over the world as Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu's teachings remain as relevant to leaders and strategists today as they were to rulers and military generals in ancient times. Divided into thirteen chapters and written succinctly, The Art of War is a must-read for anybody who works in a competitive environment.

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"There's not a dated maxim or vague prescription in it." — Newsweek Regarded as the world's oldest military treatise, this compact volume has instructed officers and tacticians for more than 2,000 years. From its origins in China, The Art of War traveled the world to inform the strategies of Napoleon and World War II generals. More recently, it has taken on a new life as a guide to competing successfully in business, law, and sports. All of The Art of War's concepts retain their value to modern readers, from the prudence of circumventing a strong opponent and taking advantage of a weak one to the wisdom of preparedness and flexibility. Other topics include strategy, tactics, maneuvering, communications, the treatment of soldiers, and the worth of well-trained officers. History enthusiasts, business thought leaders, and anyone intrigued by competition and rivalry will appreciate this elegant edition of the classic work.

Sun Tzu (孫子; pinyin: Sūnzǐ) is a honorific title bestowed upon Sūn Wu (孫武 c. 544-496 BC), the author of The Art of War (孫子兵法), an immensely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy. Sun Tzu believed in the use of the military sciences to effect outcomes that would result in peace.In the author's name, Sūn Wu, the character wu, meaning "military", is the same as the character in wu shu, or martial art. Sun Wu also has a courtesy name, Chang Qing (Cháng Qīng).