The art of negotiation is a real-world skill that everybody can learn. It isn’t just for entrepreneurs and big-shot dealmakers.
Each one of us negotiates every day (sometimes without realizing it), especially as we set challenging career goals.
You can apply negotiation skills in many personal situations like haggling at a yard sale, but you’re more likely to apply it as a professional development skill to boost your career.
The Assist is a free, enjoyable weekly email offering actionable tips for professional development and being a boss at your next negotiation. It's like that reliable friend you turn to for work and life advice, sending advice 4x a week to problem-solving go-getters like yourself.
❤️ Why we love this resource:
- Improve your negotiation skills by discovering new tips and tricks.
- Learn how to handle uncomfortable situations with expert guidance.
- Strengthen public speaking skills and boost confidence.
So, why not sharpen these negotiation skills with insight from the best negotiation books? Get ready for a thrilling ride to the peak of your potential!
Page Contents (Click To Jump)
What are Negotiation Books?
Negotiation books are resources that help readers understand the principles, strategies, and techniques involved in negotiation.
Negotiations are one type of communication to reach agreements. It can be developed into a positive habit. Negotiation books offer negotiation strategies derived from business, leadership, diplomacy, psychology, and law. They also can help navigate difficult conversations.
No matter your profession, discover how negotiation books can gear you up for constructive negotiations in any situation!
🤑 Negotiation Pro-Tip from The Assist: Listen actively and empathetically to the other party’s perspective to build rapport and better understand their needs and priorities in the negotiation.
Outcomes You’ll Gain from Improving Your Negotiation Skills
💥 Thrive at crucial conversations. Effective negotiations will give you an upper hand.
🚀 Skyrocket your confidence. Understand the psychology of dealmaking and conquer the deal with little techniques from must-read negotiation authors.
🤝 Master the art of persuasion. Learn to speak the language of ‘yes’ and watch as doors begin to open like never before.
💼 Climb the ladder of your professional life. Leverage proven negotiation strategies to earn the raise you deserve or to close that business deal.
🕵️♀️ Discover your strengths & weaknesses. Insightful negotiation books not only educate but also help you unearth your personal style and potential pitfalls.
12 Best Negotiation Books
Negotiation books are full of practical advice, strategies, and tips to enhance one’s negotiating skills. Now that we’ve covered what goes into a negotiation book, let’s get into it!
🤑 Negotiation Pro-Tip from The Assist: Always be prepared with a clear and well-reasoned argument for your position, as a strong foundation can help you negotiate more effectively.
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Buy NowEver thought you'd be brushing up your negotiation tactics with an FBI instructor!? Welcome to “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss, who says that “negotiation is just communication with results.” Voss was a lead FBI hostage negotiator whose techniques are present in the FBI negotiation handbook. In his book, he tactfully breaks down the art of negotiation into 9 sections. Grab “Never Split the Difference” today and go from a negotiation novice into a confident pro, one chapter at a time.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: We learn the foundations of negotiation of active listening, body language, and tone of voice, as told from his stories of tense negotiations. Win-win negotiations hold true to those principles, and Chris Voss knows how to win.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Learn from a seasoned negotiator’s extraordinary ability.
- Understand strategies influenced by human behavioral studies.
- Implement negotiation methods based on sound principles.
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Buy NowMake room on your bookshelf for "Getting to Yes.” Based on the Harvard Negotiation Project, founded in 1979 by William Ury with co-founder Bruce Patton. It is a perfect place for beginners learning to negotiate. The book is full of interesting chapters that include ‘invent options for mutual gain,’ ‘insist on using objective criteria,’ 'where should we meet?' and 'who should make the first offer? With “Getting to Yes,” negotiation becomes a real skill.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: Negotiations are given a set of criteria and boundaries, which makes everyone comfortable. We loved learning how to focus on the interests at hand.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Negotiations have a set of boundaries.
- How to separate intense emotions from the interests at hand.
- Worldwide bestseller with millions of copies sold.
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Buy Now"Ask For It" by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever, is bestowed with engaging anecdotes and practical strategies. The central question the author asks is: How much do women lose by avoiding negotiation? A lot, as it turns out. Learn to determine your own career path and lay out an action plan with guides in each chapter. You will learn to negotiate things you once thought as nonnegotiable.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: It deftly illuminates an under-taught skill – empowering women to claim their worth and truly advance professionally.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Personal negotiation experiences from women of different professions.
- Step-by-step guides and practical exercises to hone your negotiation skill.
- Empowering insights challenge societal norms in empowering and cooperative ways.
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Buy NowImprove your business and get your seat at the negotiating table. Take a slice of wisdom from the radically unique approach, offered in Barry Nalebuff's "Split the Pie". Nalebuff's insights fundamentally reinvent the negotiation process. You’ll utilize these new tactics to improve daily life around the workplace.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: If you don’t think you are getting your fair share, read this book and see just how big the pie can get. There’s a piece out there for everyone!
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Revolutionizes the traditional negotiation mindset.
- Principled negotiations to treat everybody fairly.
- Rethink the ideas of fairness and power.
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Buy NowFor 10 years, Fotini Iconomopoulos' negotiation abilities have been sought after by Fortune 500 companies, the Harvard Business Review, and Forbes Magazine. Here in “Say Less, Get More,” Iconomopoulos consolidates the same lessons she gives her most esteemed audiences. This must-read book shares fun techniques and wisdom that actually work. Your negotiation skills will never be the same again.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: Iconomopoulos insists that negotiation become an exciting mind sport instead of a dreaded chore. She asks questions such as, “What is your starting position?” and “How can you get your tactics across?” Her technique offers a stimulating and enriching way to learn negotiation.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- How to lay out a plan and follow through.
- Reinvents negotiation as a positive experience.
- Has an innovative approach to overcoming objections.
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Buy Now"Getting More," by Pulitzer Prize Winner, Stuart Diamond, is highly regarded for its amount of research-backed evidence. This book shares examples of how Human Resources Departments from major corporations improve from learning negotiation strategies. Stuart Diamond's research shows that value creation should emphasize emotional intelligence, perceptions, cultural diversity, and collaboration more so as determiners of success than old-school, conflictive, power, leverage, and logic.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: This resource teaches how to negotiate in today’s global community. Moreover, there are examples of how negotiations are found everywhere; from kids, jobs, travel, shopping, business, politics, relationships, and cultures.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Collaborative negotiation strategies.
- Understand value creation in a global community.
- Practical techniques for diverse scenarios.
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Buy NowGot a rough deal lately? Don't fret. Tim Castle has been there. Now, he shares how getting past "no" in negotiations is the toughest part to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He details how he climbed the business ladder by brokering multimillion-dollar deals. In a nutshell, “The Art of Negotiation: How To Get What You Want (Every Time)” isn't just another book—it's your roadmap to negotiation victories.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: Tim Castle shows that the path to becoming the ultimate dealmaker is challenging but worthwhile. Overall, we gained confidence from his techniques.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Develop the habit of negotiation.
- Set practical timetables from the start of negotiation to its outcome.
- Non-jargonish language that speaks to every reader, making complex concepts easy to understand.
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Buy NowIn the third edition of this internationally acclaimed book, Richard Shell stays ahead of the game with new ways to master negotiations. Building off the previous edition of "Bargaining for Advantage", he introduces a “Negotiation I.Q Test” that reveals how individual strengths are useful in negotiatons. Modern examples of world-class negotiations provide fantastic case studies. This updated edition continues to be a best seller.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: Who we are at this present moment plays a big role in how the negotiation will go. The skills we need account for who we are today, so we can go into the negotiation prepared tomorrow. You are already a leader!
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Craft personalized negotiating strategies, not a one-size-fits-all.
- Great way to understand our individual bargaining style.
- Dive into the mental mechanics at the heart of each bargain.
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Buy NowWritten by two Harvard Business School whizzes, “Negotiation Genius” is a program that teaches new negotiation methods. It outlines nonnegotiable situations that can turn into conversations benefiting your professional development. These authors understand what sets a stellar, high-stakes negotiation in motion.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: It's like a cheat sheet for seeing where opportunity lays. It equips readers with fail-proof strategies, practical talking points, and actionable advice. And, it’ll turn any conversation into a negotiation situation.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- How to find new opportunities.
- Detailed strategies for every stage of the negotiation process.
- The ethics of negotiation for creating trusting relationships.
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Buy NowGet valued insights into the art of negotiation from renowned sales consultant, frequent publisher in many business journals, and author of 50 professional sales books, Stephan Schiffman’s, whose "Negotiation Techniques (That Really Work!)" is jam-packed with innovative strategies to ace your sales, meet quotas, and elevate bottom lines. Schiffman's negotiation style ensures you always get a winning deal. Whether you're seasoned or new to the sales field, this is the go-to guide for enhanced selling power.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: Schiffman's experience-based negotiation skills are a game-changer. His techniques are easy to apply and get results. Readers will boost their negotiation game, secure better deals, and edge their competition.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Apply the valued Schiffman-style of negotiation.
- Boost your sales bottom line.
- Learn how to surpass quotas consistently.
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Buy NowSelling 5 million copies worldwide, "Influence: Science and Practice," is authored by world-renowned Robert Cialdini. This book is a comprehensive exploration of the psychology behind persuasion and how it functions in various contexts. Drawing upon extensive research, the book branches into 8 fundamental principles that govern human behavior: reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, scarcity, and unity. It’s a great book for anyone curious about how psychology affects negotiations.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: For anyone looking to grow their business, and employ many people (You’ll need a good HR team!), "Influence: Science and Practice" by Robert Cialdini emerges as an invaluable guide. This book empowers negotiators with an education into the deep understanding of principles that drive successful interactions.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- 8 fundamental principles of persuasion.
- Psychology of why people say “yes”.
- It is easy to read. There is no overly technical jargon.
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Buy NowEver wondered how to negotiate like a pro? Well, you are in good hands with Steve Gates, who is the Founder of the world’s leading negotiation agency, The Gap Partnership. In this book, you’ll learn the negotiation practices used by the world’s best negotiation firms. Some themes in store are how to use new technology in negotiation, and how to conduct virtual negotiations. With these skills in mind, you’ll be well prepared to negotiate in any circumstance.
❤️ Why we love this negotiation book: Business professionals will continue to advance from new incremental steps. We love the focus on negotiation in the modern age of politics, virtual machines, and ever-changing conditions.
⭐️ Key Takeaways:
- Take incremental steps on your way to negotiation mastery.
- Learn how to be mindful and keep a balanced perspective.
- Recognize the interests of all parties.
People Also Ask These Questions About Negotiation Books
Q: Why are negotiation books important?
- A: The best negotiation books equip you with essential communication tools, develop your emotional intelligence, and give you a better understanding of conflict resolution. Essentially, they prep you for being a fantastic deal-maker!
Q: Who should read negotiation books?
- A: Honestly, anyone who communicates (which is everyone?) needs negotiation books — from leaders, business owners, and salespersons to anyone seeking to improve personal relationships. So basically, you, me, everyone.
Q: Do negotiation books teach manipulation?
- A: Nope! Negotiation books are about ethical communication and understanding others that bring benefit to both parties. It is not about deceiving them. Remember, power is not always in cunning, it’s in understanding.
Q: How long does it take to master the art of negotiation?
- A: It varies. Remember, the art of negotiation is a skill, so consistency and practice matter more than a particular timeline. Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? With that said, the more negotiations you enter into, the better you’ll get.
Q: What’s the best way to use a negotiation book?
- A: Read all kinds of negotiation books that you can find on Amazon. Understand the concepts and then apply them in real life. Test them out! Remember, actual learning begins outside the book.
