Negotiation isn’t just for boardrooms—it’s for everyone, every day.
Whether you’re getting a toddler to eat broccoli, handling a relentless mansplainer, navigating office politics, or standing up to a bully, negotiation is a superpower hiding in plain sight. And yet, negotiation is still seen as a high-stakes, cutthroat skill reserved for business tycoons and power brokers—a myth this book shatters.
In For the Forces of Good, S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour—Harvard Law-certified mediator, internationally recognized negotiation expert, law professor, and one of the top women in the field—brings a bold, fresh, and radically inclusive take on negotiation, proving that it can be stylish, accessible, and even fun. With plucky prose and arresting content, it offers handy Everyday Super Tips . . . and Girl Scout cookies. Accompanied by a runway fashion show of original art, you might call it the little black dress (or white pantsuit) of negotiation literature. It’s as visually splashy as it is enriching.
✔ Packed with Everyday Super Tips you can use immediately.
✔ Blends negotiation expertise with history, social commentary, and humor.
✔ Not your father’s 20th-century negotiation book—this is for real people in real life.
✔ Perfect for teachers, parents, students, professionals, and anyone who wants to level up their confidence.
As praised by the celebrated “Godfather of Persuasion” Robert Cialdini, this book is as much about empowerment as it is about negotiation.
If you love the practical wisdom of Getting to Yes but want a more updated and stylish approach, this book is for you.
If you were fascinated by the tactical brilliance of Never Split the Difference but wished it felt more inclusive and less self-promoting, this book is for you.
If you consider How To Win Friends and Influence People a classic, but wish for something more modern and female-voiced, this book is for you.
If you believe negotiation should be for everyone, not just executives and dealmakers, this book is for you.
The joy Marie Kondo sparked for home organizing, S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour has kindled for everyday negotiation.
Because negotiation isn’t just for business. It’s everybody’s business.
Author of Publishers Weekly, Booklife Editor's Pick: "The Covert Buccaneer" (also recommended on Kirkus Reviews fiction alongside "The Nightingale" and "The Women;" featured in The Times Literary Supplement; named LoveReading Book of the Month).
Nicknamed “She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Tamed” by the media—and “The Most Interesting Woman in the World” by dubious sources—S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour is an arresting cross-genre author and attorney action figure.
Her highly acclaimed sixth title, "The Covert Buccaneer" (Blackstone Publishing, October 2025), is an upmarket dual-timeline historical fiction family saga and legal drama, based on primary sources and real historical people & events—featuring a star-studded audiobook ensemble cast: Tavia Gilbert & Kate Reading.
One of the foremost women experts on negotiation, her debut book, "For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation," shot to #1 Bestseller mere days after release in 2022. She followed it with "The Money Fairy" (2023), a whimsical fable co-authored with her son; "Indispensable: Are Feminists Getting Women’s Rights Wrong?" (2023), a sharp feminist theory essay; "Moms Get Mad" (2024), a humor-filled, heartfelt picture book about the realities of motherhood; and "For the Forces of Good: Sidekick Journal & Workbook" (2024), a companion guide to her celebrated negotiation book.
A VP emerita for UN Women USA (San Francisco) and a Top Woman Disruptor featured by UK fashion magazine Violet Simon, Lucia has practiced law since 1998 and has taught negotiation & mediation for 20+ years at University of California law schools at both Berkeley & San Francisco. She has lectured at top law & business schools across the U.S. and Europe and served for several years as a judge & mediator for the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. A designer of the EEOC’s pilot mediation program, she earned her mediation certification on-site from the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, where only 44 people worldwide were invited into the program.
In addition to writing across women’s historical fiction, feminist theory, negotiation & persuasion, children’s fable, art & poetry, and social commentary, Lucia hosts the podcast "Forces of Good," which has a dedicated following for its social-cultural-historical approach to negotiation—reminding listeners that negotiation isn’t just for business; it’s everybody’s business.
Lucia is the passionate and fastidious mother of five boys (three canine, two human) and the founder of a nonprofit organization providing sibling programs, and dog matching & training for families of children with autism. She has learned (and used) six languages; is a pianist, an athlete, and a home cook of legitimate Italian cuisine. She lives in San Francisco--the fifth of six generations of her Italian family in the North Beach district.
This book delivers on its promise: to help you become a better negotiator. It does so in unassuming, but powerful, ways, reminding you of the lessons to be learned from a trip to the grocery store or negotiating with your kid over eating their peas.
But while those anecdotes make the lessons accessible, they are interwoven with powerful tools and higher stakes history by the author. The chapter on negotiating with bullies, for example, brings us both literal lunch money theft and C-suite tactics that affect a company's direction. The lessons are ones I'll be implementing right away.
Chapter 3 was pivotal for me, providing a framework (or even assigning homework...) for the next planned negotiation. But its lessons, and the lessons throughout the book (including two super sneaky power questions that help get past any obstacles in a negotiation), build on each other. The author weaves those reinforcements throughout and those gentle nudges make the lessons even more memorable.
The key takeaways for me (oh there are many - but let's start here) :
1. Figure out the problem you are solving. Make sure it's the real problem and not an assumption. Ask yourself or others in the negotiation, what would it take?
2. Plan, but be flexible. Be open to new information. Know where you can yield without harming your true goals and how to compromise for full effect. There is power in making a concession.
I have to admit that I felt personally called out early on when the author asked about preferring any alternative to negotiation - including alphabetizing the spice drawer. (My spice drawer is, in fact, alphabetized.) But after reading this book, I know I have more tools in my toolkit. I'm already working on that homework from chapter 3 as a way to be better prepared for salary negotiation, but I know it won't stop there.
So, let's talk about "For the Forces of Good" by S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour – the hidden gem for everyday negotiation wizards! 📚✨
This book is like negotiation 101 for real life – no fancy suits required. St. Amour takes you on a stroll through everyday situations, teaching you how to weave your negotiation magic.
The best part? It's not a snoozefest textbook. It's like chatting with your savvy friend who spills the beans on how to navigate tricky conversations without breaking a sweat.
The author basically holds your hand and guides you through the nitty-gritty of negotiations, whether you're haggling at a flea market or sweet-talking your way into a better deal on your internet bill.
"For the Forces of Good" is like having a negotiation superhero in your pocket, ready to swoop in and save the day when you need to finesse your way through life's little challenges. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to level up their negotiation game without the headache! 🌟💬
I'd like to express my gratitude for having received an online copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I am reviewing this book from the perspective of a college counselor, a counselor and a teacher. This is one of the most invaluable books I have come across in a very long time, and I have one complaint that it should be taught in every high school whether it the advanced placement class in senior project, government, leader ship, because the skills outlined in this book are fundamental for students entering college because they lack the skills to start college in a positive manner. Simply presented the complex subject matter is so broken down that it has great meaning in their lives. I am facing one of the most arduous negotiations, that of family versus family. I put myself inside this book and have gained so much knowledge it is extraordinary. What a treasure, and a privilege to have read this book and I just wish that students could have access to this invaluable tool easily.
I received this book as an ARC for my unbiased review.
First of all, I would have loved to have had this author as one of my professors! I love how interactive her classes sound!
While this book is geared towards learning negotiation tequniques, I would also refer it to people who are looking for effective communication techniques.
I really enjoyed that the author kept levity in the book while still being informative. It made for an enjoyable read.
An incredible, creative, inclusive, artistic, literary, strategic, practical, stylish guide. It's a negotiation book in a category all its own, and redefines the space. I've recommended to several friends. Wonderful to "hear" an expert voice from a woman on the topic, and so encouraging of women in any situation from the everyday to the high stakes negotiation.
Lucia’s amiable prose really moves. (You’ll feel like you’re in lively conversation with a long-time friend; time flies when you’re reading this book.) Recounting personal anecdotes from throughout her life, Lucia explains how negotiations are embedded in all sorts of everyday situations and how you can tap into skills that you likely already have but may not be using with intention. She shares specific pointers and strategies, some of which may be new to you. In fact, some of them may require real attention and sustained effort in order to incorporate them into your life. But Lucia’s obvious warmth and fairness – and expertise – are inspiring. She’s not teaching a stereotypical, cut-throat approach to negotiation; she’s teaching a confident, nope-you-can’t-bully-me kind of composure through specific, practical steps. I think you’ll want to try this out in your real life. Highly recommend.
Excellent read! Lucia captures the essence of everyday negotiations that we overlook but are vital to our every day interactions and engagements. This is a must read! Thank you Lucia for this great book.
I find most business books boring. They are thirty pages of information followed by 150 pages of fluff.
This book is different. It is the best and most accessible book I’ve ever read on negotiation. Most importantly, it provides value to anybody, regardless of your negotiation experience.
Life is filled with constant moments of negotiation. Whether it’s internal negotiation or external - every day we are presented with a barrage of choices and situations that require thought and response.
Lucia has set out a great framework for everybody to follow. There are some absolute gems in here as well, like the four different negotiations stances to take, and how/when to focus on each one.
This is a relatively quick read and one that’s definitely worth the time.
Who knew that such a skill-building book on negotiation could be such a page turner? The author writes in an engaging and masterful style. Her anecdotes, analogies, and examples are entertaining, instructive, and educational. Her actionable suggestions and lessons can be applied in virtually every professional and personal situation. Even people who avoid negotiating “like the plague“ will feel empowered and confident to tackle situations involving negotiation on any level after reading For the Forces of Good. I highly recommend this book. I will refer to it often. I’m keeping it on my desk to have as a reference at a moment’s notice! I call it my “eternal negotiation mentor.“ Read it! Paulette Dale, PH. D
This was a quick read in an accessible style. It provided a good review of some basics, which we can forget about so its good to review them periodically. There were some chapters that were interesting, but I'm not sure they fit with the negotiation theme. The last chapter on preparing for her child's IEP left me very curious about the author. She was successful in securing services for the entire district in order to get a particular service for her own child, which is commendable. However, it seemed that the author made the preparation a full time job in and of itself. Not having a special needs child in order to put the process in perspective, it seems highly unrealistic to me that the average working parent would have the time or energy to prepare in that way for their child's IEP. I suppose a parent could take the author's model and use the parts that were workable for them in order to achieve their goal for their child.
SPLASHY, SEXY, SMART, STYLISH, un-put-downable, Robert Cialdini-endorsed, and NPR interviewed. One of only about a half a dozen women authors in the general marketplace on the topic of negotiation, this book is inclusive. Negotiation is everywhere, every day and for everyone. Although distinctly not a business book like most other negotiation books, business-people will certainly learn from it. What joy Marie Kondo sparked for home organizing, Lucia Kanter St. Amour has kindled for everyday negotiation.
St. Amour has written a book that should be in every home, office & school. How much better the world would be if everyone followed the lessons & tips she has so clearly spelled out. Lawyers, sales people, managers - everyone really - should study this book & make use of this superpower. Parents with special needs children could greatly benefit from her story of negotiating for her own special needs child. I was deeply touched. Plus, her watercolor paintings are charming!
This is an excellent guide to navigating the many opportunities in our lives for the negotiation of matters both large and small. It is engrossing and highly practical, weaving storytelling and brain science into concrete negotiating tips and exercises that anyone can use. This book should be relevant to people with all levels of skill and experience in negotiation. Strongly recommended.
“For the forces of Good” is an easy-to-read and relatable guide to effective negotiation. It provides insightful and common-sense steps to negotiate successfully, with often funny examples. It really is a great resource for anyone, since everyone has to negotiate on a regular basis, whether they realize it or not.
Historically, negotiating has made me break out into a sweat. I've read books, been to conference presentations and watched great negotiators in action. But I couldn't make it work for me. For the Forces of Good is full of humor, practical advice and a doable path to making negotiation work for me. Great read!
This book is so much more than you might think it is. Blows other negotiation books out of the water, imo. An author who demonstrates expansive and deep, interconnected thinking (not to mention expertise). Outstanding, and cleverly designed with art, "super tip" callout boxes, diagrams, etc. Smart and sexy, indeed!
An easy read that also challenged me to think about conversations and how to improve my everyday negotiation skills. Great stories. So insightful and informative - the chapter on bullies really hit home for me because I've often wondered how to better handle tough situations.
What a gem of a book. Smart, comprehensive, artistic, accessible, and refreshingly female-voiced on this topic. It's the only negotiation book you need.
Definitely NOT your father's 20th century negotiation book. This is the only one you need. Great stories, well structured, and actually pretty riveting!
A readable, relatable handbook for negotiating daily life. While rich with academic information, the book explains negotiating techniques in an accessible, personal way. Highly recommend for those who want to improve their success in addressing difficult situations and people.
“Superpower” awakens you to a skill that has been dormant, then gently shows you how to use it. You will be amazed with the breadth of situations where this practice can be applied. The examples proffered will expand your definition of negotiation as a tool to express yourself strongly, affirmatively, and without creating conflict. The practices are especially handy with bullies and aggressively manipulative people who pressure you to make decisions while you’re uncomfortable. If you ever wondered how to go about being the change you want to see in the world, be curious enough to read this book and courageous enough to practice negotiation everyday.
The art of negotiation is an extremely useful one to have, if you know how to use it. This book does such a great job of demonstrating various situations where you may not realize you're using negotiation. We typically think of negotiation as high stakes high pressure situations but that's just what media has gotten us to think. Even something as simple as deciding who gets the last piece of chocolate requires tactful negotiating. Along with helping you see that you need negotiations in various parts of life, the book also helps you think through it! I enjoyed the real life examples that the author also included.
At last! There is a master class in the art of negotiation filled with powerful insights and engaging examples of basic principles and the most sophisticated nuances of achieving an agreement. Written in an accessible style, with bullet points for key concepts, this a book you will want to read again and again. There is much to learn for novices and people who hate to negotiate, as well as the most advanced practitioners.
Have you ever left a face to face or written communication thinking “How did that go wrong so fast & what do I do now?” Most of us have experienced that hollow stomach sensation. This book is your game changer.
Entertaining stories guide the reader through the research, theory, and everyday application of negotiation skills. You can turn the frustration of “What happened?” into the confidence of next steps. This book is a must have for anyone who wants to move beyond coulda/woulda/shoulda.
This book is incredibly relevant and useful -- it explores real life tactics for approaching not just negotiation, but also conflict resolution. It's smart, personal, funny, and if you'd prefer a more pragmatic reading, everything is summarized in succinct text boxes at the end of each chapter. I read it in one sitting and I'll definitely be reading it again.
So refreshing! This book has it all: relatedness and intellect; triumph and heartbreak; comedy and sobriety; suspense and calming reassurance; art and science. A pleasure from start to finish, and goes toe-to-toe with the most celebrated negotiation books out there.
Whip-smart, unapologetically true, uniquely funny, and more than needed in this point in time. This book will give you the most practical tips and tricks to up your day-to-day, AND big-time negotiation game. It's a must read for everyone and anyone.
I have always considered myself a terrible negotiator and I can’t wait to use these negotiation strategies at both work and home. This book has so many practical tools that can be used by anyone! I love how the author uses personal stories and the book has both humor and heartbreak.