The Art of War is common reading for business people, especially wall street. In 1987 it would have been widely known about and read.

It hit Wall Street big in the 80's apparently as a reaction the power of Japanese Business, it may have been in use as early as the 60's.
Translated into English for the first time in 1905.

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The Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings) is another one thats popular.