Curcio Law Book Recommendation: Never Split the Difference

All of us at Curcio Law are committed to improving our knowledge and skills to ensure we are always prepared to represent our clients’ best interests. We are all active members of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), a state-wide organization dedicated to enhancing trial lawyers’ knowledge, skills, and professionalism.

VTLA recently started a book club for young lawyers. Both Rakin and Justin participate as a way of broadening their experience and perspective on various topics related to the law. Most recently, Never Split the Difference by retired FBI negotiator Chris Voss was the choice. We highly recommend this book that discusses the fact that negotiating is a part of everyday life; it is not just limited to the practice of law.

Whether you are trying to convince your children to eat their vegetables or having a heated debate with family members at Thanksgiving, negotiating can be used in almost any type of interaction with another. So why not brush up on your negotiating skills and learn many new tricks of the trade?

Before retiring from the FBI, Chris Voss was the lead international hostage negotiator with the Bureau. In his book, Voss carefully breaks down the art of negotiating and gives practical pointers on how to deal with everyday negotiations. The book has ten chapters, each of which discusses the fundamentals of negotiating and teaches the crucial pointers of being a successful negotiator—listening, empathizing, and rephrasing the situation. Voss teaches the readers how to sharpen these tools and achieve their desired goals.

Throughout Never Split the Difference, Voss recants riveting hostage negotiations that he dealt with while working with the FBI. He applies the lessons he learned throughout his career and breaks them down in this book. He also details applying these negotiation skills in everyday life, from asking for a raise to buying/selling merchandise. Voss explains the nuances of negotiating in great detail, making this book an exhilarating read for anyone interested in bettering themselves in the art of negotiation.