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Negotiation- a part of our everyday lives that we learn and do on a daily basis, be it as simple as a toddler convincing a parent to give them a candy or a group of professionals finalising contracts during an office meeting.
Some of us have an inbuilt ability to negotiate on favourable terms in any setting, but most of us struggle to learn this very important capability. The main sources of training are our environment, the people around us, the career we chose and our personality.
What are the Best Negotiation Books to read?
In order to fill any gaps left in learning negotiation, several writers have written books on the subject, guiding those struggling to live life on their own terms. They have attempted to explain and guide on different techniques and ways to negotiate.
Whilst this is just touching the tip of the iceberg, we have reviewed some of these books on negotiation. There are many more in the market, with varying levels of quality and content. However the following covers a basic number of books to give you an idea just how much material is available in the market to assist you through life:
Best Negotiation Books: Our Top 20 Picks
Here are some of the best negotiation books that you can consider to expand your knowledge on the subject:
1. Trump: The Art of the Deal
Written by the famous US president Donald Trump, this book provides an insight into how he has managed to rise through his way through several deals and come out at the top. All the tips and tricks are told first hand.
This book is more about trump himself than simply talking about the topic at hand. However since we know he’s been successful, it is a good guide to follow. He is undoubtedly very good at his work to be able to reach where he is now.
Although not one of those typical how to books, this one is definitely makes a mark. A day in the life of the most powerful man on earth is definitely a must read. It gives a very interesting insight into just how important negotiation is in every aspect of your life.
- Authors: Donald J. Trump (Author), Tony Schwartz (Author)
- Publisher: Random House; 1st Edition (November 12, 1987)
- Pages: 246 pages
2. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
In some serious situations, being a good negotiator is important to save a life. FBI agents, police, armed forces all have to face this situation, especially in cases of kidnapping or hostages.
A former FBI agent has shared his experience of negotiating with kidnappers in this very intriguing book. He has lived the real deal, trying to talk over with criminals while innocent lives hang on balance over the outcome. The level of skills required for such a negotiation is definitely right at the top.
The author has highlighted nine main tips and tricks he frequently used and recommends for daily life, be it personal or professional. He has broken it down for an average man to help him be a better negotiator, and not waste the skills he has learned over a lifetime.
- Authors: VOSS/RAZ (Author)
- Publisher: Random House Uk (January 1, 2017)
- Pages: 288 pages
3. Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Emotional intelligence is a relatively new concept but widely known. It measures how strong we are emotionally in dealing with other people and life in general. It forms part of entrance skills tests in several organisations nowadays.
This books talks about emotional intelligence (EQ) and guides on how to improve it. It talks the reader through on how to become emotionally strong through self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. These steps would help the reader through dealing with life better.
Being emotionally strong is not only important in personal but also in professional life, maybe even more so in the latter. This book is amazing in its easy to understand guidance and useful tips and tricks to increase EQ. highly recommended for the young generation who are still in the process of shaping their personalities.
- Authors: Travis Bradberry (Author), Jean Greaves (Author), Patrick M. Lencioni (Foreword)
- Publisher: TalentSmart; Har/Dol En Edition (June 16, 2009)
- Pages: 280 pages
4. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition
Persuasion is a very important part of negotiation. You need to persuade the other person to understand and accept your point of view and then agree to doing as you say. It is a rare skill that is not developed in many.
The author has worked hard for 35 years in this field and passed a three year program on persuasion. He now shares his skills and findings in this book. The experience and real-life examples help the reader better understand and learn this very important skill.
This book is bound to help readers in all walks of life go on about their daily lives. It is a great guide for both professional and personal lives of the readers. A must-read for anyone who feels they are not persuasive enough and miss out on life.
- Authors: Robert B. Cialdini (Author)
- Publisher: Harper Business; Revised Edition (December 26, 2006)
- Pages: 336 pages
5. Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition
This amazing book on communicating effectively has been liked by million around the globe. It focuses on important incidents when the outcome of a negotiation has a very high level impact. It is specially written for those crucial moments that make or break the deal.
The new edition of this book helps its readers prepare for situation with high takes, where tempers are prone to running high, which leads to deal-breaking dialogues. It helps readers on ways to control tempers in such situation, giving them an upper hand in the conversation along with a clear mind. It is good guide to negotiating in almost any situation.
This is a really good book available to help you close your deals successfully on a good note. It helps you stop aggression and use your words smartly.
- Authors: Kerry Patterson (Author), Joseph Grenny (Author), Ron McMillan (Author), Al Switzler (Author)
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education; 2nd Edition (September 9, 2011)
- Pages: 272 pages
6. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Business dealings are another frequent and high level of negotiation sessions that make up a huge part of our daily lives. The Harvard Negotiation Project was conducted to address skills required in business, and results published. This book is based on the workings of this project.
This volume gives a step-by-step recommendation on how to deal with real life situations. It has been regularly edited and updated with new findings and is therefore one of the best books you can get on the market.
Although it is not very high level and provides only a basic level of findings, it is nevertheless quite useful for daily business transactions or personal conflicts, for example within spouses, in-laws etc. It is used and followed by readers worldwide, in all walks of life.
- Authors: Roger Fisher (Author), William L. Ury (Author), Bruce Patton (Author)
- Publisher: Penguin Books; 3rd Revised ed. Edition (May 3, 2011)
- Pages: 240 pages
7. Getting More: How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life
A highly recommended book by names such as Goole, who use this to train their own global employees, and celebrities such as Oprah, this book is a very unique one in terms of its guidance on negotiation.
This masterpiece is based on more than 20 years of research spanning over 45 countries and involving 30,000 people. This amount of research is bound to give you effective, correct and successful methods on successful negotiation. You can put them to use in both your professional and personal lives.
The author has also initiated his own programs and tools based on his research, and they have all proved very successful in good negotiating skills. They complement the book and its guidelines, completing a package for those people who are very serious about learning this very important skill.
- Authors: Stuart Diamond (Author)
- Publisher: Currency; 58952nd Edition (August 14, 2012)
- Pages: 416 pages
8. Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator
One of the most dangerous and sensitive time for being negotiator is during a hostage situation. The author of this book is a former FBI negotiator and he shares his real life experiences of negotiating with criminals.
The tips and tricks given in this book are very high level due to the nature of the situation involved. The author talks us through complete incidents that occurred where he played vital roles in saving hostage lives. The methods used have proven very successful for him to achieve his goal.
Although the general public does not face such situations in their routine lives, it is nevertheless a very interesting read, not to mention useful if ever faced in life-threatening situation. Moreover, the negotiation skills are no doubt useful in everyday life, where high level of bargaining is required.
- Authors: Gary Noesner (Author)
- Publisher: Random House; American First Edition (September 21, 2010)
- Pages: 240 pages
9. Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People
Everyone has their own insights and opinions on how to negotiate best to get the best out of the deal. This is yet another book written by a famous negotiator who gives his useful tips and tricks to negotiate successfully.
The author gives a useful step-by-step approach on how to achieve what you want. His main focus is being you, and not pretending to be someone else. This gives you a stronger foothold while negotiating deals.
A unique feature of this book is the easy to take IQ test included, which gives you an idea on where you stand and how much more improvement is required before you become adept at this skill. This and the other methods given in this book will help you be the best negotiator around.
- Authors: G. Richard Shell (Author)
- Publisher: Penguin Books; 2nd Edition (May 2, 2006)
- Pages: 304 pages
10. Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining Table and Beyond
Written by two graduates of the Harvard Business School, this book gives a good guide on how to negotiate deal at work, both in high level meetings as well as simple ones salary raises or job promotions. The authors share their real life experiences with the readers.
Anyone who has ever tried to negotiate knows it is very easy for the other party tp start getting aggressive or turn hostile. This book gives tried and tested methods on how to deal with such situations and come out with a comfortable closed deal. The techniques given in the book are very effective and useful for such situations.
Amongst the several books out there on the topic of negotiation, this book is an easy read. Its guidance on how to deal with aggressive and negative people is very useful, even in daily life where such people are commonly found.
- Authors: Deepak Malhotra (Author), Max Bazerman (Author)
- Publisher: Bantam; Reprint Edition (August 26, 2008)
- Pages: 352 pages
11. The Book on Negotiating Real Estate: Expert Strategies for Getting the Best Deals When Buying & Selling Investment Property
Real estate is one of the major areas where deals are negotiated on an almost daily basis. It is not just sellers and buyers, but banks, municipalities, vendors etc. all are part of the deal. This book focuses on just that.
Written by successful real estate agents who have closed hundreds of deals, it gives real life examples and ways on how to become a star in real estate. It even shares problems that arise after a bad inspection or negative reviews and guides its users carefully on how to deal with them. The first-hand experience is a great source of knowledge and guidance for beginners.
Although it focuses mainly on real estate and investment properties, the content can help any reader learn negotiation in any setting. Highly recommended book as it is loved by all its readers.
- Authors: J Scott (Author), Mark Ferguson (Author), Carol Scott (Author)
- Publisher: BiggerPockets; 2nd Edition (March 28, 2019)
- Pages: 271 pages
12. The Art of Persuasion: Winning Without Intimidation
The skill of persuasion is very important generally for daily lives. It completes half the picture for successful negotiation. It is not very common but essential for living life as you want it.
The author has studied many personalities in history and noted down some common factors. He has resented them for users so that they can learn and put them to use in their own lives. Experience is the best teacher and there is no better source for tips and tricks than tried and tested methods, such as those presented in this book.
This one is a good recommendation for those people who like experimented and classic methods to learn new skills. Readers will definitely benefit from the real life examples of known personalities given here.
- Authors: Bob Burg (Author)
- Publisher: Sound Wisdom (March 28, 2013)
- Pages: 238 pages
13. Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want
Women are known to lose most negotiations just because they are more soft-hearted and emotional. This leads to unfair decisions being made. This unique book is written especially for women who want to improve their negotiation skills and get what they want.
Women are generally most hard-hit in their professional lives, whether negotiating a new job, the salary raise, promotions or job descriptions. Their opinions are not taken into consideration even today. This book will help them overcome all these challenges that they face by learning to negotiate effectively.
The skills learnt from this book will also help them in personal lives, where they can convince their spouses for household help or bargain while shopping. A must-have for all the ladies out there! Be ready to shine and dazzle your male counterparts!
- Authors: Linda Babcock (Author), Sara Laschever (Author)
- Publisher: Bantam; Reprint Edition (January 27, 2009)
- Pages: 336 pages
14. Contract Drafting and Negotiation for Entrepreneurs and Business Professionals
It is one thing to negotiate a deal successfully, and entirely another to put those terms and conditions in writing. This unique book guides us through just that.
Drafting or writing up written contracts and agreements require a lot of skill and professionalism. These should address all necessary concerns and every point that has been negotiated and agreed upon by the relevant parties. Legal requirements also have to be kept in mind in this process.
This book gives a very useful guide on how to ensure that written contracts and agreements are properly drafted. It also helps negotiate the important aspects that go in writing, for example breach of contract consequences etc., which are usually not part of oral discussions. Therefore this book is a must read for business professionals.
- Authors: Paul A. Swegle (Author)
- Publisher: Business Law Seminar Group, LLC (June 8, 2018)
- Pages: 148 pages
15. The Only Negotiating Guide You’ll Ever Need, Revised and Updated: 101 Ways to Win Every Time in Any Situation
This book gives many ways on how to negotiate successfully in daily life. The unique thing about this one is that it gives you more than just tips and tricks. It talks about behavioural styles and body language guides, which re very important in assessing situations, to form a complete package.
Another unique feature of this book is the questionnaires included in it, which help you understand exactly where you stand as a negotiator. This proves very successful as it highlights the areas you lack in, so that you can focus and work on those aspects and become better at this skill.
This book is highly recommended to those willing to learn how to become the best negotiator. This self-help guide is a great choice for an average man on his way to success.
- Authors: Peter B. Stark (Author), Jane Flaherty (Author)
- Publisher: Currency; Revised, Updated Edition (June 13, 2017)
- Pages: 304 pages
16. Fearless Salary Negotiation: A step-by-step guide to getting paid what you’re worth
Salary is a very common example of when high level of negotiating skills is required. You know your skills, your qualification and your experience, but a new employer does not. You need to convince them of your worth, while they are looking for low cost alternatives. It is a sensitive matter discussed between a potential employer and a hopeful employee.
It is not just for a new job, but also for salary raises at the present one, that you may need to raise this issue with your superiors. This book gives a very useful practical guideline on how to go on about it, with real life examples to help you understand. The book is divided into various chapters for ease of reference and a more organised approach towards the topic at hand.
This one is a good recommendation for all working professionals.
- Authors: Josh Doody (Author)
- Publisher: Josh Doody (December 2, 2015)
- Pages: 174 pages
17. Negotiation (Harvard Business Essentials Series)
Focusing on business deals and professional matters, this is yet another book on negotiating successfully through your career. Whether you have just started your career or are already at the top, this will guide you through.
With content derived from authentic sources and studies, this book carefully highlights several successful negotiation techniques. The content is also regularly revised by professionals from world class business schools. Hence it is finely tuned to provide good and effective guidelines.
The tactics and tips and tricks highlighted in this book are useful in common business situation. It is easy to use for an average office worker who can put them to use and become successful by negotiating his way to the top. This book is highly recommended for business students and new job seekers.
- Authors: Michael Wheeler (Author)
- Publisher: Harvard Business School Press (July 1, 2003)
- Pages: 184 pages
18. 99 Negotiating Strategies: Tips, Tactics & Techniques Used by Wall Street’s Toughest Dealmakers
This book does exactly what the title says. It gives 99 tips on how to negotiate your way to success. And the tips are the best ones out there, as they are very simple yet very effective.
It is a simple and easy to understand book with amazing techniques given to help its readers. The tips are all tried and tested by the author, who is famous for being one of the best negotiators in the United States. His work can be applied in almost any situation, be it at work, or in your everyday life.
This is highly recommended by professionals and all users, who just love the simplicity and brilliance of it. A simple life highlighting very important tips and tactics is something everyone would want to have.
- Authors: David Rosen (Author)
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 28, 2016)
- Pages: 148 pages
19. INKED: The Ultimate Guide to Powerful Closing and Sales Negotiation Tactics that Unlock YES and Seal the Deal
Salespeople deal with hard negotiation with buyers on a daily basis. Their earnings depend on how well they use their skills to convince a buyer of doing business with them. It is very important for them to learn this skill and apply them in their professional lives.
This book is specially targeted to salespeople so that they can understand and learn negotiation and use it to influence the modern smart buyers. Since the modern market is so easy for buyers to walk through and choose an alternative, salesmen suffer as a result and lose out on their earning potential. This book will help them overcome this gap.
This one is especially recommended to the sales force, and they should read and learn and improve their earning potential. The market is quite harsh and hard and every little skill counts towards success.
- Authors: Jeb Blount (Author)
- Publisher: Wiley; 1st Edition (January 15, 2020)
- Pages: 336 pages
20. The Negotiation Book: Your Definitive Guide to Successful Negotiating
This book on negotiation deals with mostly the business end of professional life. It highlights ways on how to work through business deals and close them successful in a way that the other party is happy too. It guides users on how to reach a conclusion suitable for all.
The tactics and ways used by the writers in their own work are given in a very interesting manner. It is very easy for the user to read and understand and then apply in real life. The guidance is good and helps the user walk through the basics of negotiation and how to end it on good terms.
Highly recommended for those just entering or are midway through their professional lives. It will be useful in both personal and professional lives of its readers.
- Authors: Steve Gates (Author)
- Publisher: Wiley; 2nd Edition (December 2, 2015)
- Pages: 232 pages
Choosing the Best Negotiation Books
It is not easy learning a skill as complicated as negotiation. One can only try and understand the basic idea, put them in action, and see where it goes. Simply reading through a book can only give you a general idea; practical life is much more complicated than that. Most of the skills come through experience.
We have reviewed some books to help you gain that basic idea. However, once you start putting them to use, you can learn through hit and trial. Every person is also different and only a smart present mind can truly be adept at negotiating to the best of their interests.
