This book sets out to determine useful strategies in conflict, however I am more drawn the possibilities of applying its teaching to real life. I believe the philosophies introduced in this book can offer advice to people struggling with social issues, mental health, or personal issues. I think that the underlying message speaks about finding and appreciating our strengths as opposed to dwelling on what we think are our weaknesses.
The book also teaches us about how good preparation can help one make a solid sense of confidence and self-assurance. Sun Tzu often mentions how accumulating more knowledge can give you an advantage over an enemy on the battlefield, but again, when applied to personal development, this can be translated to exposing yourself to more education, courses, and networking to strengthen your relationships and place in the community.
The text can truly give a 21st century reader many valuable life lessons when taken into consideration. Throughout the chapters of the book, insights into fear, confidence, trust, and emotional impulses are discussed in a very cutthroat, yet impactful manner. Instead of going into depth about each topic, the strategies are written as one or two sentence bullet points, almost like an instruction manual, leaving the reader to interpret in their own way. This is one of the main reasons I chose to feature this text, because I believe that knowledge and art are best when kept simple, as the human mind is capable of infinite imagination to fill in any gaps.