Books › Getting to yes
Getting to yes
negotiating agreement without giving in
First published 1981 · 242 pages
A clear-eyed, pragmatic toolkit that transforms the anxiety of conflict into a collaborative puzzle to be solved.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting down with a wise, unflappable mentor who instantly drains the heat and emotion out of your most stressful conflicts. The pace is brisk and purposeful, moving swiftly through relatable scenarios ranging from boardroom standoffs to domestic disagreements. Instead of feeling bogged down by academic theory, you are immersed in a clear-headed, constructive atmosphere that reframes negotiation not as a battle of wills, but as a shared problem-solving exercise. The prose is crisp and accessible, stripping away jargon to deliver actionable clarity. It is an empowering experience that takes the reader from the natural anxiety of confrontation to a place of confident, rational strategy, delighting anyone who wants to navigate human friction with grace and effectiveness.
- Mood
- clear-headed
- empowering
- constructive
- focused
- Tone
- pragmatic
- authoritative
- encouraging
- rational
- objective
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- conflict resolution · mutual benefit · principled negotiation · emotional detachment · finding common ground
- The writing
- Crisp, accessible, and highly structured, favoring clear examples over academic jargon.
- The arc
- Moves from the anxiety of confrontation to the confident clarity of structured problem-solving.
- Who it's for
- Professionals, leaders, and everyday people looking to navigate disputes with less stress and better outcomes.
About the book
Getting to Yes offers a concise, step-by-step, proven strategy for coming to mutually acceptable agreements in every sort of conflict—whether it involves parents and children, neighbors, bosses and employees, customers or corporations, tenants or diplomats. Based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project, a group that deals continually with all levels of negotiation and conflict resolution from domestic to business to international, Getting to Yes tells you how to:Separate the people from the problem;Focus on interests, not positions;Work together to create options that will satisfy both parties; andNegotiate successfully with people who are more powerful, refuse to play by the rules, or resort to "dirty tricks."Since its original publication in 1981, Getting to Yes has been translated into 18 languages and has sold over 1 million copies in its various editions. This completely revised edition is a universal guide to the art of negotiating personal and professional disputes. It offers a concise strategy for coming to mutually acceptable agreements in every sort of conflict.
Description from Open Library.
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