Trance-Formations: Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the Structure of Hypnosis Paperback – Touch & Feel, January 1, 1981

First, I agree with the reviewers about this not being a beginner's book. You would probably get more out of reading a different hypontism book first.NLP is a somewhat controversial approach to hypnotherapy. The version presented in this book is not really a science so much as an art, which requires deep personal experience and understanding to make work. For this reason it will always be on the fringes of psychotherapy. This book is one of the classic books about NLP and therefore should be read critically by anyone interested in it or related topics (including how the brain processes language).I found the book to crystalize what I had learned from life experience and by watching others. Given that experience I think I got a lot out of the book, perhaps more than the authors intended. However I can understand how others might take wrong turns trying to see this as some sort of short-cut (when it is really a power tool). Having said this, I think if folks read the book critically, it will lead to greater insight.I wasn't sure about all aspects of the book. For example, while I understand the idea of symptom substitution as a possible good, I found the examples in the book to be questionable in the long run (while they might be good for transitional measures, they seem to help rob an individual of the need to address some circumstances directly).All in all, though, a very thought-provoking book and worth reading.

John Grinder and Richard Bandlers collaboration in Trance Formations truly aims at the heart of what NLP is all about.While many other books and individuals have tried to capitalize upon the methodologies within NLP, this book is probably where a lot of the other books derived from. Because of this, the book is highly concentrated with information about linguistics and most importantly, using it to your advantage.This highly distilled book is comprised essentially of the transcript of a seminar which doesn't allow for the best outlay that you may come to expect in a book. There is no table of contents or an index. However, the fact that what these guys are saying is so clear, so distilled, and so elucidating, it's extremely easy to forgive them for the lack of structure in the book.I personally carried this book around like a bible after I had first bought it reading as much as possible. Most of the seminar transcript is also where Grinder/Bandler are using the NLP to influence the audience, so you can actually see how masters of NLP use their technique.Some of the topics that are covered are: presuppositions, nominalizations, unspecified referential indexes, deletion, mind-reading, ordinal numerals, awareness predicates, and a whole slew of other techniques.It was only after the usage of this book that I truly began to integrate the use of NLP into my life and finally understood how language, pacing, breathing, and touching can truly allow someone to experience things in a different manner.This book took me a little extra time to digest, keeping in mind that the intended audience is well educated therapists. However, their speaking style is not difficult to comprehend and anyone wanting to learn NLP and you can do so very well with a solid study of this book.

Without any doubts – one of the best books(if not the best) on NLP and the structure of hypnosis. By far one of the best books on the topic. Must read for anyone interested in “rewiring your brain.” Surprise a book like this one is even published. Occults are made of the knowledge in Trans-Formation. Ideal, for hypnotist,therapist,people who want to help other people, or anyone interested in achieving greatness. Definitely a pickup. 10/10!

Transcript of a seninar, not quite what I expected. Since I'm just starting with NLP, it's pretty confusing and a hard read for me.

If you know how to meditate, and you can quiet your mind, and you can do The Work by Byron Katie, and you have listened to all of Eckhart Tolle and Joseph Goldstein, and yet, still, your conscious, thinking mind is problematic, study this book. Then read the other books this duo has written. Plain and simple, this is how to work with the ego—the false self—the human mind, and it's helpful beyond belief. It will empower you without a doubt.

If you master the skills in this book, anything you want for your life is within your grasp. A truly amazing book. So, what's in it?A three day seminar by Richard Bandler that teaches what some trainers charge $1600-$3000 to learn the same skills. Get it, if you use persuasion skills or hypnosis to help people, this is a great place to start. Magic is real. Real technique.

This is one little book that helps create great hypnotists. Very easy to understand and is a fun read at the same time. Out of print but worth every cent you will spend on it. Written, of course, as only Richard can write with instruction and great humor. Learn from one of the original tranceweavers.

Fun and interesting reading and will remind you sooo much of your practitioner training and all that stuff that you forgot to remember. But since its out of print you are pretty much out of luck. This one is MINE and you cant have it.