Sun Tzu's The Art of War (Sunzi Bingfa) is one of those rare texts that transcend time and space. Though it was written 2,500 years ago in China, it is arguably the most important work on the subject of strategy in the world today.

Written by a gifted and experienced Chinese general named Sun Wu, Sun Tzu Art of War was intended only for royalty and the military elite of his time period. However, this treatise would later be treasured and studied by others of influence -- from the fearless samurai in feudal Japan to the shrewd business leaders of the 21st century.

Yet the book's content is even more fascinating than its background. Only reading it will the reader see the principles are true and universal, the words practical to any difficult situation that requires absolute victory. Equally important, a person can learn to avoid disasters.

One more recent translation:

Sonshi.com's The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a consummate translation backed by the most reputable scholars in the field. It is an original translation and not the common Giles version found on many websites. Countless hours were required to meticulously render each individual character from the original Chinese text.