The Six Secret Teachings on the Way of Strategy

Book excerpt: Along with The Art of War by Sun-Tzu, The Six Secret Teachings on the Way of Strategy is one of the most insightful and comprehensive of the so-called Seven Military Classics of ancient China. T'ai Kung, to whom this classic is attributed, has been honored throughout Chinese history as the first of the great military leaders and as the father of strategic studies. In this book, T'ai Kung offers a broad range of teachings on strategy that are applicable to leadership in any arena of human activity, including: the importance of benevolence in building strong and effective organizations, strategies for overcoming an opponent of superior strength, the role of moral leadership as the basis of prosperity, the hidden dynamics of power and the strategies of command, and specific tactics for overcoming adverse situations.