Business•10/21/26

What do ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity AI, all have in common?

Derrick Chevalier's EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED introduces CNSUF®, combining classical negotiation, AI, and human judgment for 21st century challenges.

Book cover featuring "Evolve or Be Slaughtered" by Derrick Chevalier alongside negotiation strategy visuals

Each has a well defined framework upon which it is built, just like every plugin, building, every automobile, every piece of software, they all have a framework that holds them together,  provides the structure, the support, and the guidance necessary for them to solve problems, create content, and expand the very limits of human possibility.

Without those frameworks, all you have is a collection of commands, rules, or prompts, based on binary code and mathematical formulas.

And yet, the vast majority of books written on the subject of negotiation, even the most popular and well known books like Getting To Yes, NEVER SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE, Start With No, and The Negotiating Game, as powerful, and as effective as they have proven to be, are less like tightly crafted frameworks, than they are collections of war stories, curated examples, static rules, and empirical research, not that it is a bad thing necessarily, each of the books mentioned contains ground breaking ideas, proven strategies, and powerful tools worthy of consideration and use.

But one book, an Amazon #1 bestseller, International Impact Book Award winner, with hundreds of 4.9 Goodreads, ratings and reviews, is built on a framework called the “Comprehensive Negotiating Strategies Universal Framework, CNSUF®, detailed in: EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED: Negotiation For The 21st Century, and it is considered by a growing number of readers and reviewers, to not only be a powerful  work on its own terms, but a surprisingly effective additive to classic books like “Getting To Yes”, and others mentioned above, by identifying vulnerabilities in those works that may not have been obvious at the time of their publication.

Visual representation of the CNSUF negotiation framework with chess pieces and strategic concepts

By understanding those vulnerabilities, negotiators are able to eliminate or neutralize them, thus strengthening their ability to use the knowledge they have gained from classic texts and traditional thinking, to craft better, smarter outcomes, without giving up what they already know and are familiar with, in other words they can develop strategies that become “negotiation evolved”® !

One independent reviewer describes EVOLVE as “a deeply insightful, research-informed guide that challenges outdated negotiation tactics and replaces them with real-world strategies grounded in emotional intelligence and human connection” (Booksterr). Another said “A commanding, richly layered negotiation manual that shatters conventional wisdom and replaces it with a framework as rigorous as it is revelatory” (BenjaminC). And a third, the CEO of a hundred-million dollar organization said “These techniques are sophisticated and highly effective for an astonishing variety of applications both professional and personal”. (Martine).

Developed and written by Derrick Chevalier, Executive Vice-President of Harrison-Chevalier, a negotiation training, and consulting firm located in California, who is a former protege of renowned negotiation icon Dr. Chester Karrass, with whom he worked for nearly fifteen years, before embarking on his own to study, research, and ultimately create CNSUF®.

EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED Finds Its Place In The Goodreads Conversation

In a publishing landscape crowded with business advice, a book's influence extends beyond its pages. Platforms such as Goodreads give readers an opportunity to discover new perspectives, evaluate established theories, and engage with ideas that challenge conventional thinking.

The presence of EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED on Goodreads introduces Chevalier's approach to readers interested in negotiation, leadership, psychology, law, and professional development. More importantly, it places the book within a broader conversation about whether traditional negotiation strategies remain sufficient for modern business challenges.

Unlike books that focus primarily on isolated tactics, Chevalier's work examines the circumstances that determine when and why particular negotiation methods succeed.

This perspective encourages readers to reconsider familiar principles rather than simply memorize techniques.

EVOLVE’s  central message and composition is especially relevant as artificial intelligence changes how professionals prepare for negotiations. While technology provides increasingly sophisticated analytical capabilities, it also raises questions about strategic judgment, emotional intelligence, and the limits of automated decision making.

Unlike classic, and traditional books on negotiation EVOLVE was expressly written and constructed with the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in mind from its origins back in 2015, when the first edition of EVOLVE was published, but limited and dispersed primarily only to active clients of Harrison-Chevalier.

In fact because CNSUF® is specifically designed to work together with artificial intelligence, there are unconfirmed rumors circulating that several AI platforms may be interested, if not engaged, in efforts to potentially gain exclusive or licensed access to CNSUF® which can be tweaked to desired parameters, and offered to organizations, and individuals seeking the most sophisticated tools and approaches  for their major and complex multilateral negotiation challenges in particular.  

For Goodreads readers exploring influential negotiation literature, Chevalier offers an additional perspective: Classical frameworks still matter, but their application must evolve.

Why Classical Negotiation Needs A Stronger Framework In The AI Era

For decades, negotiation professionals have drawn on Roger Fisher and William Ury's Getting to Yes, Dr. Chester Karrass's The Negotiating Game, and Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference. These works established essential principles of mutual interests, bargaining strategies, and tactical empathy.

However, today's global markets, complex partnerships, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence demand a broader approach.

While AI can analyze contracts, compare proposals, and predict outcomes, successful negotiation still requires human judgment, trust, an understanding of motivations, and strategic implementation, often in real time, CNSUF® informs and facilitates that process.

Chevalier's CNSUF® builds on classical negotiation principles by providing a strategic framework for evaluating context before applying specific techniques.

Rather than replacing established methods, CNSUF® strengthens their relevance in an AI era where information is abundant, but sound judgment remains essential.

Derrick Chevalier's Journey From Classical Theory To CNSUF®

Chevalier's approach emerged from extensive experience within the traditional negotiation field.

For nearly fifteen years, he studied and worked alongside Dr. Chester Karrass, founder of Karrass International and the Effective Negotiating Seminar. During that period, he developed a deep understanding of established negotiation methods and their application in professional settings.

After leaving Karrass, Chevalier spent two years studying negotiation literature, including the work associated with Harvard's Program on Negotiation. His research led him to question whether traditional models provided sufficient guidance for the increasingly interconnected global economy.

Those questions eventually shaped CNSUF®, a framework designed around the complexities of what Chevalier calls the Emerging Integrated Global Economy, (EIGE).

The framework's defining idea is that negotiation strategies should not operate as rigid formulas. Their effectiveness depends on the circumstances, relationships, and objectives surrounding each discussion, and situation.

Through Harrison Chevalier, Inc., Chevalier incorporated these concepts into training programs addressing sales, procurement, management, mediation, leadership, and more.

The publication of the latest edition of EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED in 2025 brought this perspective to a broader audience, offering professionals a structured way to examine negotiation theory through contemporary business challenges.

Book cover featuring Derrick Chevalier with a chess theme and negotiation concepts

Where Artificial Intelligence Meets Human Negotiation

Modern negotiation requires harmonizing technological capabilities with human judgment.

For example, a procurement director negotiating with an international supplier can use AI to analyze pricing, market trends, and contractual risks. Classical negotiation principles help assess bargaining positions, alternatives, and shared interests.

However, neither AI nor traditional techniques alone can fully address cultural differences, organizational priorities, interpersonal relationships, and other critical elements.

Chevalier's CNSUF® bridges this gap by encouraging negotiators to evaluate these factors together and understand how strategic considerations influence outcomes.

Rather than treating AI and classical negotiation as competing approaches, CNSUF® connects their strengths. Technology improves preparation, established principles guide communication, and strategic thinking helps professionals navigate the complexities of modern negotiation.

Why EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED Matters Beyond The Boardroom

Although rooted in business negotiation, Chevalier's EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED extends its principles to leadership, diplomacy, communication, and everyday decision making.

The book emphasizes that effective negotiation requires more than fixed techniques. It demands adaptability, strategic awareness, and the ability to assess changing circumstances.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into professional life, human judgment, emotional intelligence, and contextual understanding remain essential.

Available through platforms such as Amazon and Goodreads, EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED introduces readers to Chevalier's CNSUF® framework, which complements established negotiation methods.

Ultimately, the book encourages readers to view negotiation as an evolving discipline that requires continuous learning, flexibility, and strategic thinking.

Explore The Next Evolution Of Negotiation

The future of negotiation will not be determined by technology alone. It will depend on how effectively professionals combine analytical tools, classical principles, and human understanding.

Derrick Chevalier's EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED: Negotiation for the 21st Century presents CNSUF® as a framework for making that combination more thoughtful and adaptable.

Readers interested in exploring this approach can discover EVOLVE OR BE SLAUGHTERED on Goodreads, review its available reader feedback, and explore the book further on Amazon.

For additional insights into Chevalier's work and professional perspective, connect with him on LinkedIn or Instagram.

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the business world, Chevalier's central argument offers a lasting reminder: The strongest negotiation strategies are not necessarily those that abandon the past, but those that learn how to make its best ideas work for the future.

Related blogs