“If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperilled in a hundred battles. If you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperilled in every single battle.”

While this quote might fit perfectly in a modern self-improvement book, these wise words were actually written over 2,000 years ago.

“The Art of War” remains a particularly famous book to this day, the bestseller translated into many languages, including Malay.

Its many nuggets of wisdom have earned it a place in the libraries of military thinkers, politicians, lawyers and entrepreneurs alike.

But where did this book come from? Who wrote it? And how is it relevant today in a world so different from the time when it was written?

The author lived in a particularly turbulent time in Chinese history, aptly named the Warring States period.

During this period, China was not a single unified country, instead it consisted of dozens of individual states engaged in constant civil war.

Despite the violence and bloodshed, this period also saw great innovation in technology and culture.

It was also during this time that Confucius and Lao Tzu founded their respective schools of thought, both of which survive to this day.

Among the warring states was Wu, and it was here that Sun Tzu sat down to write “The Art of War”.

While a famous author today, nothing much is known about Sun Tzu’s life. Records about his background are scant, but traditionally, he is believed to have lived from 544BC to 496BC.

Debate still rages about when exactly Sun Tzu lived and who he was in life, but it is likely the truth is lost to time.

Perhaps “The Art of War” is not the product of a single person’s experience, but rather wisdom gained from many brilliant military minds.

Many first-time readers might be surprised to discover that this famous book would probably take just over an hour to finish in a single sitting, with 13 short chapters in total.

As to be expected of a book meant as a military guide, the chapters carry titles like “Waging War”, “Weaknesses and Strengths” and “Military Manoeuvres”.

Surprisingly, these chapters cover very basic points briefly; you won’t become the next world conqueror by taking them at face value.

The way the book is written is its saving grace though as its words of advice can easily be applied outside the battlefield, in everyday life.

“Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley” is a piece of advice that works for an employer just as much as a military general.

Likewise, the line: “A leader leads by example not by force” might prove relevant to aspiring trailblazers.

Most copies of “The Art of War” come with a commentary, as it can sometimes be hard to decipher what the author is trying to say.

At its core, the book suggests that to face any problem, a person first needs to understand themselves and others as well as potential problems and solutions.

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win,” wrote Sun Tzu.

The book explicitly encourages readers to use deception to accomplish their goals, especially by hiding their own weaknesses while exploiting their rivals’.

“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,” he wrote.

If one’s rivals are misled about the true situation, they will be unprepared once you make your move against them.

Sun Tzu also encouraged readers to be as practical as possible. Tried and true methods could and should be used alongside unexpected and new strategies.

After all, what is considered unusual now might become the new usual, and the previous usual might become the new unusual.

Despite the destructive nature of warfare, Sun Tzu actually recommends achieving your objective with as little damage as possible.

“To subdue the enemy without fighting is the pinnacle of skill,” wrote Sun Tzu. To him, the best victories were those accomplished quickly and painlessly.

In business terms, a win-win strategy is the best option, rather than one that costs you more than you get in return.

To summarise the lessons of “The Art of War” would ultimately do it an injustice. The best way is to read the book yourself.

Its ambiguous storytelling style means that you can find your own meaning in the words and see how they may apply to your own life.

Many of these pieces of wisdom are essentially common sense, but they are harder to understand than one might think.

There is a reason why the book has been studied by military leaders and CEOs. After all, Qin Shi Huangdi, Tokugawa Ieyasu and Douglas McArthur are said to have been among the author’s admirers.

But is it wise to use wisdom from a book written ages ago for people of a different time? Or is wisdom ageless and always applicable in any situation?

That’s for you to decide when you pick up “The Art of War” from the local bookstore to read it for yourself.