Cultures do not change dramatically over time, especially a culture as old as is China's. One of the widely held beliefs about Chinese culture is that in it's strategic thinking; how to handle conflicts with other nation-states, the use of force, and the nature of the enemy, China has been largely passive and defensive. Not so contends Johnston. By a systematic and painstaking review of the "Seven Military Classics", a compilation of the military writings of ancient China, Johnston satisfactory demonstrates the realpolitik found in Chinese thinking. A set of operational strategic maxims that "argues that the best way of dealing with security threats is to eliminate them through the use of Force". This of course based on gaining the abilities and upper hand to do so.

Taken as a whole this book argues for a reassessment of the Western world's view of China as something of a gentle giant. Far from being gentle, this book argues for a China ready to use force to protect it's national interest. And a certain sensitivity to what may be constituted as a threat to national interest. For the United States, this book offers a clear blueprint for China's actions to date as our presumed "strategic partner". This book is a must read for our current crop of the China lobby, and should have been a must read for Bill Clinton before he threw open the barn door of U.S. security.