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  • Never Split the Difference

  • Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
  • Written by: Chris Voss
  • Narrated by: Michael Kramer
  • Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (6,171 ratings)

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Never Split the Difference

Written by: Chris Voss
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
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Publisher's Summary

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' head, revealing the skills that helped him and his colleagues succeed where it mattered most: in 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 lives.

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.

©2016 Christopher Voss (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Editorial Review

If you’re looking to improve your negotiation skills, help is just a listen away. Whether it involves your salary, a new home, or your partner, negotiating often has us worried about the arguments and the outcome.

In Never Split the Difference, a former FBI hostage negotiator shows you practical ways to get the advantage in any discussion, at home or in the boardroom. Seemingly counterintuitive, these nine principles have helped Chris Voss save lives and now, they can help you be more persuasive in any discussion.

Voss’ straightforward writing style makes for a captivating listen. Here, veteran audiobook narrator Michael Kramer’s dramatic pacing and intense voice will draw you into first-hand stories of high-stakes negotiations to reveal Voss’ mindset and the reasons for his success.

Over time, Chris Voss started seeing the same dynamics of hostage negotiations play out in business deliberations and other real-life situations. He realized that certain approaches worked as well with terrorists as they did with teenagers. The result is a lesson in how to use emotional intelligence and intuition effectively in all aspects of your life.

Timely and practical, Never Split the Difference remains a bestselling title across Canada almost years after its release.

What listeners say about Never Split the Difference

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Listened to it 2 times in 1 week

As soon as I started this book, the FBI negotiation stories and the practical knowledge pulled me in and I listened to this 8-hour book in one day. I restarted it the next day to review the principles talked about in this book (mirroring, labeling, and tactical empathy) and am enjoying it immensely. 10/10 would recommend~

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46 people found this helpful

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3rd time listening to this book

After you’ve heard this book once and know the strategies used to empathize and negotiate, its great to go back and listen again. Chris tells many stories about real hostage negotiations situations and how he used his strategies.

Very relatable to my work, although there are some things that wouldn’t be practical for my life situations everyone can take something away from this book. recommended! #Audible1

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Insightful

This book has an excellent summary of negotiation techniques that are not specific to sales or specific life situations. Even though most of them were taken from hostage negotiation situations, they are universal ways to structure negotiation about any topic. Highly recommended!

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Eye opening and inspirational

I enjoyed it! And learned so much about being prepared to make the most out of every situation. Thanks for sharing your wisdom Chris

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  • 2018-09-13

Great set of skills to learn to negotiate

Chris Voss tells great stories to teach effective technics in negotiation, the juxtaposition between negotiating for the release of a hostage and helping your son learning to play his position in football shows that these technics can we used in all aspects of life. #Audible1

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A must read!

This is a great book and should be a must read for everyone in business!

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Tangible advice for negotiating life

Whether you're negotiating with your partner, a client, a customer, your boss, or a random person, this book has provided me insights and techniques to navigate a conversation to benefit my objectives and goals. From a psychological perspective, this book explores several theories that help us understand what goes on behind the scenes in our heads during these events. Highly recommended

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Relevant and Power Guide to Negotiating

I'm three times through this audi book and every time it gets more valuable. The methodical approach to negotiating all of life's challenging situations in an actionable, proven strategy. The use of stories from high stakes hostage negotiations, to purchasing his dream car, and navigating personal relationships. A must have for any working professional looking to add value to their personal and business endeavors.

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Really enjoyed

There were very practical ideas supported by stories from the author's experience. Notebook and pen along the way to capture these key ideas would have been helpful. Worth a second listen.

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Great audio

Will definitely be listening to this many times. Voice was easy to listen to. Have recommended it several times to fellow colleagues and family members

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