Order Out of Chaos cover art

Order Out of Chaos

A Kidnap Negotiator's Guide to Influence and Persuasion

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Order Out of Chaos

By: Scott Walker
Narrated by: Scott Walker
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About this listen

 Shortlisted for The Business Book Awards and the Fingerprint Awards

The indispensable Sunday Times bestselling guide to succeeding in negotiations where failure is not an option, from one of the world's most experienced kidnap for ransom negotiators.

Scott Walker has probably one of the most difficult jobs in the world. When pirates have hijacked a ship, when a criminal gang has kidnapped someone, when an entire company's future is being held to ransom from a cyber-attack, Scott is the person who gets called in. He has successfully negotiated more than 300 such incidents using the principles in this book.

His methods, centred in empathy, active listening, trust-based influence and emotional control, will help you achieve the outcome you want. Regardless of whether you're an executive in a multi-national organisation, the owner of a small business, a local sports team coach or running the family household, you're negotiating every single day, whether you realise it or not.

Learn the skills Scott uses to resolve life or death kidnappings all over the world ­- from the Niger Delta, China and the Philippines to the Middle East, Europe and Latin America - and how to apply them to your own life, at work and at home.

Order Out of Chaos provides tools that cut straight to the most effective way of communicating, particularly in times of crisis, change and uncertainty.©2023 Scott Walker (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK Business Communication Career Success Management & Leadership Negotiating Business Disappearance Leadership Management

Critic Reviews

What a brilliant book! Encouraging, practical, enjoyable, helpful. I'm left feeling determined to harness my inner red centre and to no longer be taken hostage by my own negative mindset (Cathy Rentzenbrink)

Scott has spent years honing his negotiation skills in some of the most high stress situations imaginable, times when people's lives are on the line. This book captures all his wisdom and shows you how to apply it to everyday life. It is a step-by-step masterclass in communication excellence (Andy McNab)
Scott Walker's Order Out of Chaos is a manual for navigating modern life. The lessons within hold the key to harmony and influence in business and relationships (Colonel Tim Collins OBE)
All stars
Most relevant  
I found this audiobook completely underwhelming. The knowledge shared could have been provided in a relatively short narrative. Given almost anyone reading the book is not planning to get into hostage negotiations but rather use these skills for everyday negotiations, the author could cut back on the drama and make clear and succinct the key takeaways. I got to the end, but it was a struggle.

Not what I expected or had hoped for

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Overall boring with disjointed stories and bad attempts at pop psychology on topics like the structure of the brain. Had a few good nuggets but there are far better Negotiation books out there, e.g. Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss.

Boring, better negotiation books elsewhere

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