Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2024 -

Federman (conflict resolution, Univ. of San Diego) presents a fresh and ambitious take on the art of negotiating. Her timely tome is especially important in the present age of misinformation, in which many people misunderstand the legacy of oppressive racial and socioeconomic structures. The author makes a unique contribution to negotiation literature by offering practical ideas that center the experiences of those at the margins of society rather than white-collar corporate experiences. Emblematic of the book's central idea of negotiating for social mobility and transformation, the author proposes a win-win-win approach, drawing from Roger Fisher and William Ury's win-win strategy. This idea considers the consequences for those who are not typically at the negotiating table. With great insight and precision, Federman considers how the experiences of the socially mobile are useful for understanding negotiation practices in new ways--e.g., by considering examples of people negotiating with courts to reduce their alimony or to avoid eviction. This approach helps readers consider power dynamics in a different light by emphasizing the experiences of those who have the least amount of power in society. This volume offers a practical tool for individual and collective empowerment, making it a must-read volume for those in peace and conflict studies, mediation, conflict resolution, sociology, and urban studies.Summing Up: Essential. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals.