Never Split the Difference

Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It

By: Chris Voss, Tahl Raz

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

This international bestseller, with more than 5 million copies sold, offers a field-tested approach to high-stakes negotiations—whether in the boardroom, in your community, or at home.

Life is a series of negotiations, and negotiation is at the heart of collaboration—whether you are a business executive, a salesperson, a parent , a community leader, or a spouse. As a former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss gives you the tools to be effective in any situation: negotiating a business deal, buying (or selling) a car, negotiating a salary, acquiring a home, renegotiating rent, deliberating with your partner, or communicating with your children. Taking the power of persuasion, empathy, active listening, and intuition to the next level, Never Split the Difference gives you the competitive edge in any difficult conversation or challenging situation. This book is a masterclass in influencing others, no matter the circumstances.

After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Chris Voss joined the FBI, where his career as a hostage negotiator brought him face-to-face with a range of criminals, including bank robbers and terrorists. Reaching the pinnacle of his profession, he became the FBI’s lead international kidnapping negotiator. Never Split the Difference distills the Voss method, revealing the skills that matter most when it comes to achieving your goals in both your professional and personal life.

Step-by-step, Voss show you how to:

• Establish Rapport
• Create Trust with Tactical Empathy
• Gain the Permission to Persuade
• Shape What Is Fair
• Calibrate Questions
• Transform Conflict into Collaboration
• Spot Liars
• Create Breakthroughs by Revealing the Unknown Unknowns

Never Split the Difference is your definitive source for defusing potential crises, winning people over, and achieving your goals at work and at home.

Insightful, convincing, and very interesting

The author highlights the human elements of negotiating - the underlying motivations that are largely ignored. He gives terrific examples using real life scenarios that capture the listener, you'll feel like you are in the moment witnessing the negotiation. Great stories! Michael Kramer performed very well, speaking clearly and inflection was used well. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their interactions with others. The techniques are useful in business, as well as at home. It's understanding basic human motivations and emotions. Great stuff!

Beautifully empathetic and genuine

I love that this author is genuinely advocating hearing out the other person, even if they are in the wrong. The empathy and true active listening techniques, while also being strong and holding your own, are the perfect combination. They show you how to validate your own desires from a negotiation, while not invalidating the other person. Brilliant and perfectly narrated.

I didn't expect that much, but wow!

I didn't think this book would be great, and yet it turned out to be one of the better and more engaging stories I've listened to in many years. Other books may be more life transformative, but this was has some solid take-aways while at the same time recounting the most interesting of stories.

Little ideas, big impact

I have listened to this book a few times now. Each time I pick up a bit more on the real impact of words, phrases, and negotiation tactics have on the human psyche. Good advice to remember when making everyday deals.

This book adds value to many aspect of my life

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The teachings in this book are very valuable to anyone who is wise enough to read it. It’s like being taught the lessons of a successful family member who enjoyed a long and prosperous career in business.
Everyone should read this book. You will be taught how to negotiate everything and anything in life. You will learn the mental grappling skills of a grand master and you will be able to use those skills in your professional and personal life.
You will even take away more than just that from book. It could very well change your life forever and you could end up fearing no man or woman in confrontation again. It’s that good.