In the canon of business and self-development literature, most negotiation books read like instruction manuals for a bygone era of civility. They preach logic, reason, and the holy grail of compromise: "splitting the difference." But for Chris Voss, a former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, that middle ground is not a victory—it is a failure.
By voicing the hostility, you flip a switch in their brain. Their only possible response is, "No, no, that’s not what I think." Once they say "No," they feel safe, and now you can start to negotiate.
Prepare (30–60 minutes per meeting)
Never Split the Difference is not just a negotiation manual; it is a manual for human interaction. In a world that demands collaboration, Voss teaches you .
List every negative thing the other party could say about you, then say it first. This disarms hostility. Example: “You’ll probably think I’m asking for too much, but…”