Otis's review
Win-win is a great concept if both sides embrace it. If the other side comes in thinking they'd just as soon kill you, it's a bit of a challenge. One interesting thing I learned from this book (or it might have been from its companion Getting to Yes) was an anecdote about the green junior senator Joe Biden who was sent on a fool's errand to sweet-talk the Soviets into a better arms deal. He went up against Andrei Gromyko, one of their oldest and crustiest hard-ass dudes, who needless to say was not a proponent of win-win. Biden persisted in playing the fool in front of the older man, admitted he was all for the Commie side of things personally, but needed to sell it to the Senate. Gromyko then puffed up his ego and started to lecture the callow fellow, and in the process reportedly saw how indefensible his own position really was. I'm now thinking Biden is much underrated in the popular mind. And also in this election year he's probably the wrong sex to be V.P. ;-]
Otis's review
Win-win is a great concept if both sides embrace it. If the other side comes in thinking they'd just as soon kill you, it's a bit of a challenge. One interesting thing I learned from this book (or it might have been from its companion Getting to Yes) was an anecdote about the green junior senator Joe Biden who was sent on a fool's errand to sweet-talk the Soviets into a better arms deal. He went up against Andrei Gromyko, one of their oldest and crustiest hard-ass dudes, who needless to say was not a proponent of win-win. Biden persisted in playing the fool in front of the older man, admitted he was all for the Commie side of things personally, but needed to sell it to the Senate. Gromyko then puffed up his ego and started to lecture the callow fellow, and in the process reportedly saw how indefensible his own position really was. I'm now thinking Biden is much underrated in the popular mind. And also in this election year he's probably the wrong sex to be V.P. ;-]