I get asked this all the time so I’ve decided to start a short regular post sharing books I am currently reading. I usually finish a book a week, so I will try to share these on a weekly basis. This month, I’m about done reading Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on it - an absolutely phenomenal book on negotiating written by former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss.

The book has been very helpful to me in negotiating a MAJOR project I am currently working on and I bought the book on the recommendations of FBI colleagues for especially this purpose. It’s been a game changer. And beyond being relevant, it’s also well-written and hard to put down as a narrative story.

The book takes the viewpoint that 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, focuses on the importance of active and empathetic listening and not giving up in a negotiation, and instead asking, “how am I supposed to do that?” to any demand your counterpart makes.

Amazon lets you download a sample chapter in either audio or Kindle format - check it out.