Chris Voss
Born: November 28, 1957 – Mount Pleasant, Iowa, United States
Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator and author focused on negotiation, communication, and high-stakes decision-making. He co-wrote the bestselling book Never Split the Difference and founded The Black Swan Group, bringing crisis-negotiation techniques into business and everyday life through widely taught methods and executive training.
Biography & Author's Journey
Chris Voss did not arrive at authorship through a conventional literary route. Born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, he studied at Iowa State University and later earned a master’s in public administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He then built a 24-year FBI career that took him from SWAT and crisis work to the bureau’s lead crisis negotiator in New York and, ultimately, its lead international kidnapping negotiator. He also served as the FBI’s hostage-negotiation representative to the National Security Council’s Hostage Working Group and represented the United States at G8-sponsored conferences on kidnapping. ((https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chris-voss))
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Community Voices
"Chris Voss is a 24-year veteran of the FBI, who retired as the bureau’s lead international kidnapping negotiator"
— Forbes ((
"Chris Voss is a master negotiator"
— Entrepreneur ((
"For much of his career Chris Voss has been at the forefront of negotiation technique"
— Talks at Google ((
"Behind the Brand With Chris Voss, Negotiation Boss"
— Inc. ((
"Not for Chris Voss. He’s trained in the art of getting what he wants—and absolutely nothing less"
— Fortune ((
"Who better to learn from than Chris Voss, whose skills have saved lives and averted disaster?"
— Daily Mail ((
"Former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss knows a thing or two about talking his way out of any situation"
— CNBC ((
"Former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss has few equals when it comes to high-stakes negotiations"
— Joe Navarro ((
"Chris Voss was an FBI agent for 24 years and the agency’s lead international kidnapping negotiator from 2003 to 2007"
— The Washington Post ((
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
