Dylan did not show up in person, but wrote a letter for his gratitude to the famous writers.

In lieu of attending the ceremony, Dylan wrote a speech, which was read by the American ambassador to Sweden. In it, he expressed his gratitude to the committee, and his admiration for writers who have won the award in the past, including Rudyard Kipling, Albert Camus and Ernest Hemingway.

To be effective, a negotiator must recognize subtle messages being sent across the table. In international interactions, however, it’s much harder to interpret unspoken signals. Meyer identifies some helpful rules of thumb, such as adapt the way you express disagreement.