Review: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss is an engaging and practical guide to negotiation, rooted in the author’s experience as a former FBI hostage negotiator who brings high-stakes lessons into everyday life and business. Unlike conventional negotiation books that emphasize compromise and logic, Voss demonstrates how emotions, empathy, and psychological insight are far more powerful tools in reaching successful outcomes. Through gripping real-life anecdotes—ranging from hostage standoffs to corporate deal-making—he introduces techniques such as “tactical empathy,” calibrated questions, mirroring, and labeling, all of which help negotiators build trust, defuse tension, and gain leverage. The book is both highly readable and immediately actionable, with clear takeaways that can be applied in everything from salary discussions to personal relationships. What makes it especially compelling is its blend of storytelling and science: the suspense of FBI cases keeps readers hooked while the strategies themselves feel practical and transformative. More than just a negotiation manual, Never Split the Difference challenges the idea of compromise as success, showing instead how careful listening and emotional intelligence can lead to outcomes where you don’t simply “split the difference” but actually achieve more than you thought possible.