Kissinger the Negotiator: Lessons from Dealmaking at the Highest Level

“A straightforward examination of Kissinger’s finely honed skills . . . offers keen insight for anyone interested or involved in negotiations at any level.”—James A. Baker III, sixty-first U.S. secretary of state

Includes a foreword by Henry Kissinger

In this groundbreaking, definitive guide to the art of negotiation, three Harvard professors—all experienced negotiators—offer a comprehensive examination of one of the most successful dealmakers of all time.

Politicians, world leaders, and business executives around the world—including eleven consecutive US presidents—have sought the counsel of Henry Kissinger, a brilliant diplomat and historian whose unprecedented achievements as a negotiator have been universally acknowledged. The first book of its kind, Kissinger the Negotiator provides a clear analysis of Kissinger’s overall approach to making deals and resolving conflicts—expertise that holds powerful and enduring lessons.

James K. Sebenius (Harvard Business School), R. Nicholas Burns (Harvard Kennedy School of Government), and Robert H. Mnookin (Harvard Law School) crystallize the key elements of Kissinger’s approach, based on in-depth interviews with the former secretary of state himself about some of his most difficult negotiations, an extensive study of his record, and many independent sources. Taut and instructive, Kissinger the Negotiator mines the long, fruitful career of this elder statesman and shows how his strategies apply not only to contemporary diplomatic challenges but to other realms of negotiation, including business, public policy, and law.

Essential reading for current and future leaders, Kissinger the Negotiator is an invaluable guide to reaching agreements in challenging situations.

“A very readable and informative book that will serve future negotiators well. It also presents a new look at the importance of Henry Kissinger’s role in forming the world in which we now live.” —Booklist

“An all-star trio of experts on negotiation in business, law, and diplomacy [has] done a great service in elucidating the actions of a very skilled American diplomat.” —The New York Times Book Review

“This book, based on deep interviews and research, shows [Kissinger’s] strengths and weaknesses [and] the lessons to be learned.”—Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Elon Musk and Kissinger: A Biography

© 2023 Harper (Ebook): 9780062694195

Release date

Ebook: 21 November 2023