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Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator
by
Gary Noesner
An enraged man abducts his estranged wife and child, holes up in a secluded mountain cabin, threatening to kill them both. A right wing survivalist amasses a cache of weapons and resists calls to surrender. A drug trafficker barricades himself and his family in a railroad car, and begins shooting. A cult leader in Waco, Texas faces the FBI in an armed stand-off that leaves...more
Hardcover, 226 pages
Published
September 21st 2010
by Random House
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I just finished reading an advanced review copy of "Stalling For Time: My Life As An FBI Hostage Negotiator" by Gary Noesner, and I found it to be an engaging, interesting, and enlightening read. I didn't want to put it down. Noesner, who spent 30 years in the FBI and retired as the chief of the FBI's Crisis Negotiation Unit shares some of his fascinating stories along with his beliefs regarding hostage negotiations. It is very well written, in a comfortable engaging manner, and through the stor...more
I bought and read this book for two reasons: 1) it's about hostage negotiation, which is super cool and 2) it got a great review in the NYT Book Review. I mean a GREAT review.
I have to say I was disappointed. While it was interesting to read about all the cases and, yes, super cool to read some of what went on behind the scenes, I found the narrator to be whiny and very full of himself. I'm sure he's awesome, but just in case I wasn't sure, he spent a good 80% of the book telling me - he was br...more
I have to say I was disappointed. While it was interesting to read about all the cases and, yes, super cool to read some of what went on behind the scenes, I found the narrator to be whiny and very full of himself. I'm sure he's awesome, but just in case I wasn't sure, he spent a good 80% of the book telling me - he was br...more
This was only the second book I've ever blurbed. I was very impressed. My review:
This was such a rewarding book. I've always been fascinated by that very basic question: when someone is disturbed and irrational enough to actually pick up a gun and take hostages, how on earth do you talk him down?
What was most startling to me was that until very recently in human history--a few decades ago--we didn't know.
The more I learned, the hungrier I got to learn more. How interesting that so much of it amo...more
This was such a rewarding book. I've always been fascinated by that very basic question: when someone is disturbed and irrational enough to actually pick up a gun and take hostages, how on earth do you talk him down?
What was most startling to me was that until very recently in human history--a few decades ago--we didn't know.
The more I learned, the hungrier I got to learn more. How interesting that so much of it amo...more
4 likes · like · see review
Quite an interesting glimpse behind the scenes of many awful newsmaking incidents that I can remember happening in my lifetime: Waco, Montana Freemen, Ruby Ridge, DC Sniper shootings, among others. The book is well constructed and its chapters are basically a chronological account of the author's participation in those incidents. Yes, Noesner does toot his own horn, but, I think deservedly so. His career with the FBI was all about creating the whole concept of "crisis negotiation" that we take f...more
The former chief negotiator for the FBI provides his on-the-scene accounts of several major incidents, some successfully resolved (the Montana Freemen), others not so successful (Waco). As you might expect, he is a clear and able communicator. What's most interesting is how crisis negotiation seems to rely more on counseling techniques than traditional diplomacy or commercial bargaining.
On a more trivial note, it's interesting to see that hostage negotiation (and Noesner's career) were just get...more
On a more trivial note, it's interesting to see that hostage negotiation (and Noesner's career) were just get...more
This was a very interesting and fascinating book about negotiating different events. The author was involved in Waco, Ruby Ridge and the Washington Sniper cases. He tells about the behind the scenes decisions on each along with some other major cases he was involved in. He uses a conversational style to describe events and talks about the good and the bad of each situation. I enjoyed how he took you through the decision making of each. I thought the chapters could have been more detailed and he...more
Jan 31, 2011
Greg
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Students of negotiation, negotiation practitioners
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 a...more
I found this book absolutely fascinating. It was like being a fly on the wall in a room you would never be allowed into. Gary Noesner does a great job of infusing the story of his career with specific situations, the details of which are harrowing and sad. His account of the Waco debacle were frustrating but so, so interesting. I cannot imagine the frustration of having your delicate negotiations shattered by those who are supposed to be on your team. Very interesting to get the details behind t...more
A fan of the TV Series, Criminal Minds, I loved this book! It whisks you into the backrooms of politics between the FBI and the negotiators who have developed a more complex way of solving problems than the 1950's "Rambo" method of resolution. You witness the crimes of headline news, but also are party to the ways in which the men of heart and steel learn to deal with deadly situations and would-be killers. You learn why the Waco Texas disaster went wrong and how things could have been different...more
This is an excellent book by one of the early hostage negotiators. Noesner may not have been "the first" negotiator, but he was right up there, and instrumental in learning how it should be done, and what it can and cannot do.
Noesner was at the Mount Carmel mess near Waco (I lived 30 miles away when this happened). He was present for many, many other hostage situations, some of the biggest in the news. And he pulls no punches as he talks about what happened. I was very impressed, and I hope thi...more
Noesner was at the Mount Carmel mess near Waco (I lived 30 miles away when this happened). He was present for many, many other hostage situations, some of the biggest in the news. And he pulls no punches as he talks about what happened. I was very impressed, and I hope thi...more
Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator is an extraordinary book. Mr. Noesner was involved in some very high-profile incidents, such as Ruby Ridge, Waco, as well as the Washington DC sniper crisis that those of us on the East Coast remember well. In addition, he was instrumental in the creation of the negotiation team in the FBI, training, drafting and revising policies and procedures, as well as acting in the capaciy of a negotiator whenever and wherever needed.
This is a man tha...more
This is a man tha...more
Inside look at FBI hostage negotiations from the man who was first to run the bureau’s Crisis Negotiation Unit. Besides learning about specific hostage situations, he gives a very thoughtful analysis of why working for a peaceful resolution through talking and other strategies works better than relying on brute force alone. He uses his centerpiece story, what went wrong in the Waco disaster, to make his point, and I think does so very effectively.
This book was filled with insider information and analysis on hostage events I'd heard about in the news before, but never heard in detail about. Seeing the incidents from the viewpoint of an FBI negotiator was illuminating, especially when the tensions within the force where the tactical team worked at cross-purposes and set back the negotiation team. The writing did feel a little preachy at times, though.
This is book by an FBI Negatiator that has advocated and implemented ways to negotiate a hostage situation with listening, waiting and trying to have the most non-violent situation (whenever possible). The author describes some success stories and some situations where he was not allowed to proceed as planned where it ended disastrously (branch davidians). It was a good airplane read.
So I can't mark this book as read b/c I gave up about 40 pages in. This writer is so full of himself and always has to work in the ways he was awesome to every story that I just couldn't listen to him. Of course we know you think you are awesome -- you wrote a book about yourself. So stick to the facts more and tell a story. Disappointing.
A very readable book...stories of an FBI negotiator and the development of their hostage solving prThe stories of procedures. The highlights were a story of a husband who takes his wife and son hostage threatening to kill them. A wonderful account of the mother's courage. It also feature famous situations like WACO, Ruby Ridge and may others.
Jan 27, 2011
Mandy
is currently reading it
Chief negotiator Gary Noesner headed the operation at Waco, TX in the Branch Davidian situation, but indulging an abundance of machismo, FBI officials removed Noesner from the case, then went in guns blazing, and tragedy ensued. Goes to show calm and understanding go a long way. And let people who know WTF they're doing do their jobs.
Heard the author interviewed on NPR and thought "hey, learning what it was like to be a hostage negotiator would be interesting." It was - this guy was involved in virtually every major hostage drama in the '80's and '90's including Waco. He got a little repetitive in hammering home his message.
Aug 10, 2011
Tim
added it
A former FBI agent recounts his work with the agency, focusing principally on his activities as a hostage negotiator. Makes a strong case for the efficacy and the ability to save lives of negotiation, particularly when well managed with a tactical response. Easy to read, and fast paced. 11/28/10
Facinating memoir of the FBI's chief hostage negotiator. Interesting commentary on the tension between using negotiators and using force (e.g. SWAT teams). Insider view of some of the biggest standoffs of the last several decades.
The author shares real hostage situations that he negotiated - a chapter per event. Some successful - some not. Interesting exposition and reflection by the author with strategies that can be applied to many life situations.
Fascinating read about the evolution of hostage negotiation at the FBI over one agent's career. Very well written. Agent reviews several hostage situations - both domestic and intl. - and the role of the negotiators in the process. Excellent.
Great memoir. I had heard and interview on Iowa Public Radio and it sounded so interesting I had to give it a try. It was interesting to learn more about the Waco and Ruby Ridge stand-offs.
The story of the former chief negotiator of the FBI.He gives us insight into various incidents of conflict and how the spoken word have saved lives and also how the main deciders often overlooked this aspect.
Interesting, but I skipped over a few parts dealing with agency & task force formation. The best part of this for me was a refresher on the history of the events at Ruby Ridge, Waco & the Freemen in Montana
Jul 30, 2011
Jayw
added it
FBI's chief negotiator describes the incidents that most impacted him from Ruby Ridge and Waco to the DC sniper and many less newsworthy crisis.
I expected more stories, but instead got a bit of a history lesson on how negotiation became a bigger deal for the FBI. Good enough.
Fascinating. Interesting to see how negotiators learned to use wit rather than muscle to free hostages. A useful skill.
Nice inside look at the world of FBI hostage negotiation, including the infamous Waco and Ruby Ridge stand-offs.
This is an excellent book by a man who was on the scene at many prominent FBI incidents over the past 20 years.
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Nov 08, 2010 04:51am