Art of the Warrior: Leadership and Strategy from the Chinese Military Classics

In the enormous sweep of Chinese history, war and the wisdom of war have figured prominently in the development of Chinese philosophy. The redaction of military strategic secrets from their oral tradition into written form repeatedly provoked considerable repression of these texts and on occasion brought death to those who owned such volumes. The small portion of this military lore that has survived has been tremendously influential in Asia throughout the centuries and has become increasingly influential in contemporary Western culture. Sawyer's compendium brings together wisdom in chapters titled, ""The Seven Military Classics,"" ""Military Methods"" and ""Six Secret Teachings."" In addition, his introduction contains an important discussion that places these texts in their appropriate cultural and historical context. This important book is an introduction to some of the most profound insights into the human condition and into the nature of power. (Oct.)