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Stalling for Time

My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator

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Stalling for Time

By: Gary Noesner
Narrated by: Gary Noesner
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About this listen

 The FBI’s chief hostage negotiator recounts harrowing standoffs, including the Waco siege with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, in a memoir that inspired the miniseries Waco, now on Netflix.

“Riveting . . . the most in-depth and absorbing section is devoted to the 1993 siege near Waco, Texas.”—The Washington Post

In Stalling for Time, the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator takes readers on a harrowing tour through many of the most famous hostage crises in the history of the modern FBI, including the siege at Waco, the Montana Freemen standoff, and the D.C. sniper attacks. Having helped develop the FBI’s nonviolent communication techniques for achieving peaceful outcomes in tense situations, Gary Noesner offers a candid, fascinating look back at his years as an innovator in the ranks of the Bureau and a pioneer on the front lines. Whether vividly recounting showdowns with the radical Republic of Texas militia or clashes with colleagues and superiors that expose the internal politics of America’s premier law enforcement agency, Stalling for Time crackles with insight and breathtaking suspense. Case by case, minute by minute, it’s a behind-the-scenes view of a visionary crime fighter in action. Law True Crime Exciting Siege Montana
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Fascinating insight into the career of FBI Negotiator Gary Noesner. His dedication to his duties and his development of this law enforcement tool, not only in America but Internationally is truly remarkable. The audiobook format works well as he narrates the book himself and his inflection and tone help illustrate his story. He provides a balanced view and is respectful towards colleagues who adopted differing approaches to situations and allows the outcome to highlight which approach yielded the more desired result. Highly recommend. Kev Toohey- Australia.

Terrific insight into life of a Negotiator

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This starts well but then gradually becomes a meandering sequence of FBI negotiating experiences. If that's the purpose, to tell war stories, then fine, but it needed to be edited. There is a lot of inconsequential detail. Also the sound editing is not amazing with regular switches in voice making the 'takes' stand out.
I was hoping for much more of a exploration of what he has learnt and teaches of crises negotiation. Unfortunately, that is only touched on very briefly and with no depth or precision.

Interesting but not instructive

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