199. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu's The Art of War (Oxford University Press, 1963; 197 (Originally written in 500 BCE and translated by Samuel B. Griffiths)) is one book that has inspired several other books. It's been applied to various fields from business to friendship and more. In this book, Sun Tzu discusses what a good General should do if he is to win wars. The discusses almost everything that one needs to do and know about war and its effects from war-induced inflation to food shortages that accompanies it. According to Sun Tzu [1] War is a matter of vital importance to the State; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thorougly studied. [63] Regardless of this, Sun Tzu puts premium taking enemies and their state whole with as minimum a damage as possible. He writes [1] Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this. [Page 77] He goes on further to explain [3] For to win one hundred v...