Brodow (Beating the Success Trap
) covers familiar territory in this primer on common negotiations like buying a new home or asking for a raise at work. There are also plenty of lists, such as 10 traits for successful negotiation (including being a good listener and knowing when to walk away), and three rules for achieving a win-win outcome. There are no surprises: the pointers are all along the lines of "ask for a better outcome than you are willing to settle for" and "make minor concessions." But Brodow brings a straightforward delivery to his material, based on a long-running seminar he's presented to blue-chip clients like Microsoft, Starbucks and Goldman Sachs. Drawing heavily upon his own professional and personal experiences as a U.S. Marine and a professional actor, he shows how to achieve "win-win" scenarios in various settings, suggesting that such collaborations are what makes negotiation one of humanity's greatest accomplishments. Readers who aren't looking for revolutionary techniques will find that Brodow's tactics get the job done. (Dec.)
