Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

“FBI negotiator's playbook: empathize, strategize, and never compromise success.”

"Never Split the Difference" is a fascinating book that redefines the conventional wisdom surrounding the art of negotiation. Written by Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, the book offers a unique perspective on negotiations based on his experiences in high-stakes, life-or-death situations.

Voss shares a plethora of practical and effective techniques, including the "Accusation Audit," "Tactical Empathy," and "The 7-38-55 Rule," which can be applied not only to high-stakes negotiations but also to everyday life situations. These techniques are derived from a combination of behavioral psychology and street-smart strategies that Voss has honed during his career.

One of the book's key takeaways is the idea that "no deal is better than a bad deal." Voss challenges the notion that splitting the difference is an acceptable compromise. Instead, he advocates for seeking the best possible outcome and not settling for less. This mindset is a game-changer for anyone looking to improve their negotiation skills.

"Never Split the Difference" is a must-read for anyone looking to sharpen their negotiation skills or gain a deeper understanding of human behavior. Chris Voss's unique perspective, engaging storytelling, and practical techniques make this book an invaluable resource that can be applied to a wide range of situations, from business negotiations to interpersonal relationships. While the structure of the book could be improved, its content more than compensates for this minor shortcoming.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

“When you tap into your subconscious, you might not leave.”

The novel is divided into alternating chapters, with two distinct storylines. The first, "Hard-Boiled Wonderland," is a gritty cybercrime and infowar adventure set in a dystopian urban setting, where characters are programmed to encrypt and manipulate data. The second, "The End of the World," is set in a utopian town surrounded by a wall, where unicorns are allowed in and out daily, and the narrator is a newcomer tasked with being a "Dreamreader."

At first, the stories appear unrelated, with vastly different settings and tones. However, as the novel progresses, elements from both storylines begin to overlap, creating an intriguing and mysterious puzzle for the reader to unravel. The novel expertly balances being a page-turner with providing enough clues for the reader to anticipate connections, without offering a definitive solution.

The book explores one of my favorite subjects, the human mind, with its powers, mysteries, and drawbacks. Murakami masterfully uses metaphors to convey the joys of deep thought, the dangers of a narrow-minded perspective, and the connection between the mind and emotions, making for an engaging and thrilling journey.

Overall, I found the story to be intriguing, but the characters lacked depth and emotion. They felt like cardboard cutouts, which detracted from the story. Although the plot was imaginative and inventive, it felt like the author did not fully explore the potential of certain themes, such as the narrator's shadow, which held promise but ultimately led to no resolution.

Later by Stephen King

“If you can see the dead, maybe don’t tell people”

Later is considered a horror story, which is usually not a genre I read. But, hey, it’s Steven King. And it was short enough to give it a go.

The premise is that Jamie Conklin has the ability to see and talk to dead people. Told from the perspective of Jamie Conklin, the narrative shuttles between the immediacy of now and the hindsight of “later” to tell a kind of coming-of-age-as-mystery story, an exploration of innocence and what’s on the other side of childhood.

In Later, as well as telling a good story, Stephen King lightly brushes and engages with wider concepts. He looks at childhood relationships, what clarifies right and wrong, if murder can be justifiable, and far more. Whilst the book does not revolve around these issues, it certainly brings in a humane, thought-provoking angle in including such issues from the perspective of a child.

The key to this snappy little novel that reads so quickly is the narrative voice of Jamie. It has that coming-of-age innocence laced with a bit of streetwise sarcasm that just works so well. Despite an ultimate battle between good and evil, this one you find to be horror-lite. It doesn't get to the point of being terrifying, but coasts around that border a little.