Book excerpt: The Soul of the Deal effortlessly teaches unconventional transactional strategies that are radically changing the approach of business buyers and sellers, investors, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. Their origin? Selling encyclopedias door-to-door, following the Grateful Dead for a lifetime, and closing 400+ successful deals. His music-fueled philosophy that people (not spreadsheets) are the epicenter of every business interaction took Marc from Silicon Valley to Shanghai as principal, advisor, or counsel, as well as to the Board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tangible takeaways--captured as “Morgenstern’s Maxims” -- punctuate every chapter and are woven into vivid stories as much thriller as business book. This entertaining and accessible book addresses the unchanging human, emotional, and tactical aspects of negotiating; stressing humor, real-time spontaneity and flexibility, empathy, and engaged listening as pathways to expanded negotiating and operating success.