Some battles are won before anyone draws a sword. The Thirty-Six Stratagems make up China's classic handbook of cunning: thirty-six short phrases, each tied to a story of generals, rulers and advisers who won with their wits. This book, a companion to Sun Tzu's The Art of War, tells the story behind every stratagem and shows what it looks like today. Inside you will find:Each stratagem's name in Chinese, with pinyin and an English translationThe classic story behind it, and what it really meansThree ways it shows up at work and in daily life, including how to see it comingAn ink-wash illustration for every stratagemQuestions for reflection at the end of each partThis book does not ask you to deceive anyone. It teaches you to recognise deception, which is harder and more useful. Read it straight through, or open it anywhere and take one stratagem a day. A trick you can name has already lost most of its power.