The two political classics in this book are the product of a time of intense turmoil in Chinese history. Dating from the Period of the Warring States (403-221BC), they anticipate Machiavelli's The Prince by nearly 2000 years. "The Art of War" is the best known of a considerable body of Chinese works on the subject. It analyses the nature of war, and reveals how victory may be ensured. "The Book of Lord Shang" is a political treatise for the instruction of rulers. These texts are anything but arm