Getting To Yes by Roger Drummer Fisher Summary
Overview of Getting To Yes
"Getting to Yes" revolutionized negotiation, selling 15 million copies in 35 languages. This Harvard-developed framework teaches how to secure win-win agreements without surrendering your position. Even amid criticism, its principles have shaped everything from corporate deals to international peace talks.
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Key takeaways
Negotiation Beyond Compromise: A Revolutionary Approach
Imagine having a method to resolve conflicts without damaging relationships or compromising your core interests. "Getting to Yes" introduces principled negotiation, a revolutionary alternative to traditional bargaining that transforms how we approach disagreements. Traditional negotiation often resembles haggling at a market-starting with extreme positions and reluctantly making concessions until reaching a compromise that leaves both parties dissatisfied. This positional bargaining creates unwise agreements, wastes time, and damages relationships. Instead, principled negotiation focuses on interests rather than positions, generating mutually beneficial options, and using objective standards to resolve differences. This approach works whether the other party is more experienced, more powerful, or plays by different rules. It's not about being "nice" or giving in-it's about being simultaneously hard on the problem and soft on the people. Developed through the Harvard Negotiation Project's study of thousands of negotiations across business, government, and international relations, this method has been applied to everything from family disputes to peace negotiations. The core insight? Successful negotiators follow similar patterns regardless of culture or context. They separate people from problems, focus on interests, create options for mutual gain, and insist on objective criteria.
The Human Element: Separating People from Problems
Uncovering Interests and Creating Options for Mutual Gain
Fair Standards: The Power of Objective Criteria
Power in Alternatives: Developing Your BATNA
Handling Difficult Tactics: Negotiation Jujitsu
The Universal Power of Principled Negotiation
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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