On Compromise

Natan Sharansky came to prominence as a Soviet Jewish dissident who went to jail in pursuit of his right to emigrate to Israel. He later won that right and became an Israeli politician and cabinet member. In this brief but cogent book, a man famous for not compromising his ideals discusses the ins, outs, good, bad, and art of compromise as a means to advance the human condition. His compelling personal anecdotes of life in the Gulag and days spent across the negotiating table with terrorists and presidents yield illumination and inspiration. He even reveals necessary compromise in his own marriage, as he agreed with his Orthodox Jewish wife to keep kosher and observe the Sabbath at home, but not to follow all the religious rituals.Natan Sharansky shows that compromise works when both parties benefit; it never works when one party has to betray a fundamental belief. This insight has informed his entire career, and in this illuminating book he shows how compromise, properly applied, could help solve the most intractable problems.