Book and DVD Review

k2r wrote:Probably the cheapest hypnosis book you can physically buy, possibly due to it being little more than 31 pages.

Just what can such a small book teach regarding hypnosis? Quite a bit it seems, its written in a very easy to read manner, almost taking you by the hand as you learn the basics. In fact the author suggests you read a chapter, then go out and practice what you've learnt before you read the next chapter.

The first couple of chapters are basically telling you how to read the book and how you should present yourself as a hypnotist, telling you that your clothes should be neat and tidy. your hands clean, you should be shaved, hair combed etc. Perhaps a little over the top compared to most books.

The next few chapters deal with a few suggestability tests including one I've never seen before where you encourage the subject or even group of subjects to balance one hand on a finger from the other hand, simple yet possibly effective.

Almost half way through the book you reach the section most people would be most interested in, the act of hypnotic induction itself. You get guided through 5 techniques, none are exactly instant or even that rapid however I'm sure they would be of interest to most people on the forum (one involves tapping on someone's head in a monotonous way).
Interestingly and in many ways reassuringly the next part of this particular chapter regards re-awakening your subject. Although i feel the basic script isn't as good as the one suggested by Jon Chase in his books it does appear to be suitable for a someone with no other experience. Although they are not mentioned by name, Abreactions are discussed with a suggested way of dealing with one. Also discussed in this chapter is how to wake someone from a trance induced by another hypnotist.

Post Hypnotic Suggestions are briefly mentioned before the book starts to tell you how to use hypnosis in a medical/therapy enviroment. basic information is given for helping a patient with insomnia, constipation and even helping to remove habits such as masturbation (worth the cost of the book just to read at the absurdity of that section alone)

A couple more pages suggest how to put on a stage show though i doubt this section would be enough information for a modern audience.

In many ways this is a book that should be in the archive of anyone on this forum even if its only for the novelty value. In some ways it could also be argued that this is a diet version of McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis.

As i mentioned in the opening paragraph, this book is its so cheap, in fact i paid slightly over the average price, I paid £3.50, yes thats right, no i've not mistyped anything, i'll repeat that THREE POUND AND FIFTY PENCE

Anthony Jacquin wrote:Good question.

I expect if you have a dozen books including McGill you already have most of the 'bibles'. Like most bibles what is best in practice varies considerably from what the bible suggests.

Although McGills book contains a long introduction on what it is to be the hypnotist and do hypnosis most of the techniques are rapid and diret. This is because the book is principally about stage hypnosis. I suspect many of the more recent books you have that have NLP in the title are principally about 'ericksonian' methods of hypnosis. Although Erickson used plenty of rapid, direct and impromptu hypnosis techniques he is most remembered and written about with rference to his indirect, permissive often metaphorical methods.

Both work fine if the hypnotist works well. I was originally taught an ericksonian approach to hypnotising. The stage style passed me by, in truth it seemed too simple. At that point McGills Encyclopedia didn;t ha that mch value to me. Then I started to use a more rapid and direct approach I found it perfectly workable in any situation not just performances. Then the book was really worth something.

So you should ask yourself what do you want to do with hypnosis in practical day to day life, work and play. Then you can narrow down your bible.

My advice is firstly go and get some good quality training in the kind of hypnosis you would like to do by someone who can do it.

Failing that, revisit McGills section on waking hypnosis. Master those exercises and then learn the word 'sleep'.

Anthony

spazzlecrayola wrote:Hey Benwha,

Thanks for the review. I just wanted you to know that I couldn't get the link to work.(your blog)

benwha wrote:

spazzlecrayola wrote:Hey Benwha,

Thanks for the review. I just wanted you to know that I couldn't get the link to work.(your blog)

Thanks Spazzle, seems to work ok for me. Perhaps it was having a funny 5 minutes...