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papidoc 's review for:
Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator
by Gary Noesner
Gary Noesner has written a fascinating account of the development of the FBI’s hostage negotiation arm, and (to a lesser extent) of his own development as a negotiator. Most interesting to me was his descriptions of many of the cases he worked as a negotiator. That kind of rich description is relatively unusual, and welcome to someone like me who teaches negotiation skills. My only wish is that he would have been as descriptive about the tools and techniques of negotiation in crisis situations as he was about the chronology of events associated with those hostage situations.
Some other reviewers complained about Noesner’s self-centeredness and his seeming to excuse himself or blaming others for snafus in hostage negotiation. I can see that, and felt the same way from time to time, but I can also see his points. Yes, he sounds a little whiny, but after years of fighting an unsupportive establishment, losing lives through little fault of your own, I think I might feel a little unappreciated and self-justifying also.
All in all, though I wish there were more educational detail, this was a worthwhile read, and one I have recommended to the students in my negotiation classes.
Some other reviewers complained about Noesner’s self-centeredness and his seeming to excuse himself or blaming others for snafus in hostage negotiation. I can see that, and felt the same way from time to time, but I can also see his points. Yes, he sounds a little whiny, but after years of fighting an unsupportive establishment, losing lives through little fault of your own, I think I might feel a little unappreciated and self-justifying also.
All in all, though I wish there were more educational detail, this was a worthwhile read, and one I have recommended to the students in my negotiation classes.