A former international hostage negotiator for the FBI offers a new, field-tested approach to high-stakes negotiations—whether in the boardroom or at home.
After a stint policing the rough streets of Kansas City, Missouri, 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 takes you inside the world of high-stakes negotiations and into Voss’s head, revealing the skills that helped him and his colleagues succeed where it mattered most: saving lives. In this practical guide, he shares the nine effective principles—counterintuitive tactics and strategies—you too can use to become more persuasive in both your professional and personal life.
Life is a series of negotiations you should be prepared for: buying a car, negotiating a salary, buying a home, renegotiating rent, deliberating with your partner. Taking emotional intelligence and intuition to the next level, Never Split the Difference gives you the competitive edge in any discussion.
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"The author tells really engaging stories to illustrate the different fundamentals of negotiations. It was eye opening because it is contrary to so many standard notions of negotiation techniques taught and applied in the western world. I've already applied some of his teachings in my own life and was surprised at how well they actually work. It felt like I had this secret toolkit for being able to work and negotiate with people, which was so empowering. I have less fear and anxiety now when faced with such interactions in my life."
— Cp (5 out of 5 stars)
“Never Split the Difference is a different kind of business book—one that emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence without sacrificing deal-making power. It comes from the pen of a former hostage negotiator—someone who couldn’t take no for an answer—which makes it fascinating reading. But it’s also eminently practical. In these pages, you will find the techniques for getting the deal you want.”
— Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author“This book blew my mind. It’s a riveting read, full of instantly actionable advice—not just for high-stakes negotiations, but also for handling everyday conflicts at work and at home.”
— Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author“Former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss has few equals when it comes to high stakes negotiations. Whether for your business or your personal life, his techniques work.”
— Joe Navarro, FBI special agent (ret.) and author of What Every Body Is Saying“Voss, who believes that ‘life is negotiation,’ has set out to help readers get what they want out of any given situation, without harming the other parties. Along with telling stories of his time in the FBI, he guides readers through key lessons, such as how to ‘confront without confrontation,’ understand an opponent’s emotions, become good at saying no, manipulate your opponent’s reality, and develop the calm but authoritative vocal style he calls ‘the late-night FM DJ voice.’ Chatty and friendly and packed with helpful resources, this is an intriguing approach to business and personal negotiations.”
— Publishers Weekly" There are a handful of books that you read which truly change your perspective on life and this is one of those gems! Everything from the stories, to the applied methods, and lastly the narrators voice just sells you! This book is so great it deserves multiple reads to ensure that you grasp everything that this book has to offer, it is that good! "
— Calvin, 3/19/2019" Chris voss seems to be knowing what he's talking about. You need to listen a couple of times to find out the parts you missed. Sometimes you hear new things even if you heard the audio book a couple of times. It doesn't get boring for me and gave me some helpful extra information. "
— Jeroen, 12/12/2018" Detailed, decently explained but still some heavy content. Some really good pointers in there, he sure knows what he's talking about. You will have to listen a couple of times to get the hang of it. "
— Jeroen, 10/26/2018" Outstanding negotiation book! Best in field! "
— Jay, 10/21/2018" very engaging narrator. This book really delivered. "
— cp, 6/11/2017Tahl Raz is anaward-winning journalist, editor, and bestselling book author with more than eight years of experience as a digital media entrepreneur and executive. He is an expert of digital strategy, branding, voice, audience growth and retention, and digital media management, with an emphasis on creating and delivering high-yield revenue via addictive content, social campaigns, product development, and strategic editorial programming. He has written for Inc. magazine, the Jerusalem Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, and GQ. He lives in New York City.
Chris Voss, a twenty-four-year veteran of the FBI, is one of the preeminent practitioners and professors of negotiating skills in the world. He is the founder and principal of the Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that provides training and advises Fortune 500 companies through complex negotiations. He currently teaches at University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and has taught at many other business schools, including Harvard University, the Sloan School of Management, the Kellogg School of Management, and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Michael Kramer is an AudioFile Earphones Award winner, a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, and recipient of a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award. He is also an actor and director in the Washington, DC, area, where he is active in the area’s theater scene and has appeared in productions at the Shakespeare Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and Theater J.