36 Stratagems Explained

You have probably watched it happen: the vendor whose deadline turns out not to exist, the rival who plants a rumor in one office to move a vote in another, the colleague who smiles warmly while quietly changing the plan. Long ago, Chinese strategists gathered moves like these into thirty-six short proverbs. This book explains every one of them. 36 Stratagems Explained takes each proverb in the traditional collection and gives you its plain-English meaning, the historical story or battle it grew out of (with the legends labeled as legends), and modern examples from business, negotiation, sports, politics and everyday life. It is ancient Chinese strategy built around awareness, preparation and defense, not around tricking the people who trust you. It is not a script book for one particular negotiation and not a retelling of a single military classic. It is a walk through all thirty-six, group by group, with a simple way to notice a stratagem when it is aimed at you and answer it calmly. Inside, youll learn: If you want to see the moves coming, understand the history behind them, and keep your integrity while you do, this guide gives you the stories and the questions to ask.