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.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

“A boring tale of young Irish love and its challenges”

Overview: This was a very quiet book. about Marianne and Connell, who meet as high school classmates in a small Irish town.

After reading the reviews and the high praise for this book, I was excited to get into it. Overall impressions: Waste of time. The characters are flat, the content (there really is no plot) is boring and insipid. I absolutely hated this book and hated that it sucked hours of my life reading it. I kept hoping it would get better but it just droned on.

The perpetual circling, round and round in the same dance, of two people who clearly love each other, without clear reason why they don't admit it and become a pair in their mutual suffering, is repetitive and very tiring. It feels like the author keeps it going simply to keep the book going.

Nice enough writing and observations but somewhat dull and infantile. The very notion of the two people, seemingly perfect for each other, ruining each other's lives over and over again drove me crazy. It became repetitive, then it became boring. I just couldn’t stand reading about the on-off relationship of these young damaged adults while such important matters like domestic abuse, depression and mental health in general were hugely overlooked.

I didn't find much to recommend this story. Writing was okay, not the lauded talent as described in many reviews. I took a chance reading something out of the genre that I typically stick to, and it wasn’t really motivating to do so again.