The ability to "thin slice" competitive situations has long been recognized in history's great generals. Despite the chaos of battle, generals such as Patton could look that the battlefield and instantly see what was critical.

The first description of this power was the French phrase "coup d'oeil," the "power of the glance." This phrase was used to describe Napoleon’s ability. And where did Napoleon get this ability? He was the first western student of Sun Tzu.

After Napoleon's success, all other great generals, including Patton studied the work. Gradually, this knowledge spread through the military world. Gradually, this knowledge spread through the military world. The Department of the Army in the United States, through its Command and General Staff College, has directed all units to maintain libraries within their respective headquarters for the continuing education of personnel in the art of war. The Art of War is specifically mentioned by name as an example of the works to be maintained at each individual unit, and staff duty officers are obliged to prepare short papers for presentation to other officers on their readings. The book is taught at most military schools and colleges around the world.

The ideas began to spread into the Western business world in the late 1980s. As you can see from the Institute's own list of corporate customers, these ideas are popular with some of the largest and most respected organizations in the world. In many companies, Sun Tzu is required reading. As you can see from our list, even government organizations use his principles.

The work is also used in politics. Republican strategist Lee Atwater said he never traveled without a copy.

In sports, a whole series of winning coaches study Sun Tzu's principles. In football, coaches such as Bill Belichick of the great New England Patriots teams and, earlier, Bill Walsh of the great San Francisco 49er teams both used the book. In professional basketball, Phil Jackson, the coach of several championship teams, not only follows its principles but hands out copies of the book to his players. An entire book has been developed, unfortunately not by us, about sports champions who follow its principles.

In the first stanza of his work, Sun Tzu says that good strategy is a matter of survival. What works, survives. His words turned out to be prophetic, since his book is one of the oldest in history. If his system didn't work, would people still be studying it after 2,500 years? In a culture littered with "gurus of the week," Sun Tzu's front-line strategy stands out as a monument to the enduring power of ideas.