Ask for More

Alexandra Carter's Ask for More is one of those rare negotiation books that actually changes how you think rather than just giving you a script. The ten-question framework—five you ask yourself, five you ask the other party—is elegant in its simplicity and genuinely versatile across salary talks, relationship conversations, and business deals alike. Carter teaches at Columbia Law, directs their Mediation Clinic, and advises the United Nations, so the credibility here is real. It was the first negotiation book solo-authored by a woman to hit the Wall Street Journal Business bestseller list, which says something about both its quality and its timeliness. The caveat: the structured framework can feel rigid in fast-moving real-world negotiations. But as a starting point for anyone who wants to negotiate better, this is one of the strongest options available.