Sun Tzu, The Art of War: Complete Texts and Commentaries: The Art of War; Mastering the Art of War; The Lost Art of War; The Silver Sparrow Art of War, translated by Thomas Cleary (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2003) (From Mastering the Art of War: "Knowing People: Nothing is harder to see into than people's natures. Though good and bad are different, their conditions and appearances are not always uniform. There are some people who are nice enough but steal. Some people are outwardly respectful while inwardly making fools of everyone. Some people are brave on the outside yet cowardly on the inside. Some people do their best but are not loyal. // Hard though it be to know people, there are ways. // First is to question them concerning right and wrong, to observe their ideas. // Second is to exhaust all arguments, to see how they change. // Third is to consult with them on about strategy, to see how perceptive their ideas. // Fourth is to announce that there is trouble, to see how brave they are. // Fifth is to get them drunk, to observe their nature. // Sixth is to present them with the prospect of of gain, to see how modest they are. // Seventh is to give them a task to do within a specific time, to see how trustworthy they are." Id. at 183, 221-222. I have found that person self-describing him/herself as being "a good judge of character" never is.).
Zhuge Liang & Liu Ji, Mastering the Art of War (Shambhala Dragon Edition), translated and edited by Thomas Cleary (Boston & Shaftesbury: Shambhala, 1989).
