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Welshwizard Loyal user Wales 292 Posts |
What's the best book for someone who has no previous knowledge of hypnosis?
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brownbomber Regular user Edinburgh 156 Posts |
Ormond McGill - New Encyclopaedia of Stage Hypnotism
It's the Bible... BB |
Dr Omni Regular user UK 199 Posts |
There have been several posts asking about how to learn hypnosis, so this is a copy-and-paste from my post to another such thread:
To really understand NLP, it's a good idea to read the works of its creators, Richard Bandler and John Grinder (who incidentally are no longer working together and have recently been involved in lawsuits with each other). Their original book was "The Structure of Magic" (2 vols.), aimed at therapists and somewhat difficult reading. More accessible is their "Frogs into Princes", a transcript of one of their workshops. To study hypnosis from a show business persepctive, a good place to start is Ormond McGill, "New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnotism" and Jerry Valley, "Inside Secrets of Professional Stage Hypnotism". From a general and therapeutic point of view, the number of books is absolutely collosal. A fairly good introduction for those new to the subject is Paul McKenna, "The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna", by Britain's leading stage hypnotist, who is also a therapist and trainer. For the study of old-fashioned direct, authoritarian hypnosis (in a therapeutic context), I would recommend Dave Elman, "Hypnotherapy", based on transcipts of his seminars for doctors and dentists, and Gil Boyne, "Transforming Therapy", which is mostly transcripts of actual one-to-one hypnotherapy sessions betwen the author and various clients. Dr Milton Erickson was the father of the contemporary style of therapeutic hypnosis, which is based on indirect methods, tailored to the individual client. The best parts of NLP were derived from his work. Good introductions to Ericksonian hypnotherapy are Richard Bandler and John Grinder, "Trance-formations", and Rubin Batttino and Tom South, "Ericksonian Approaches". Erickson's voluminous writings are assembled in "Collected Papers on Hypnosis" (4 vols.), edited by Ernest Rossi. It also seems as if a new history of hypnosis, from Franz Anton Mesmer in the 18th century to the present, comes out practically every year. Having looked through most of them, it's difficult to single out one as being better than the others. The most recent, "Hidden Depths" (2002) is by Robin Waterfield, who was advised on stage hypnosis by my sometime co-perfomer and good friend Ron Alexander ("Sleepy Sam"). |
Sariel Loyal user 258 Posts |
trickshop has an ebook called "mastering hypnosys" I haven't read it though...but I do own the tradecraft book and it's pretty good
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
I would call Hypnotherapy by Dave Elman the bible and required reading even for beginners just wanting to perform Stage Hypnotism.
Whups. I missed that Dr Omni already mentioned that one. Another favorite of mine is Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy by Gerald Kein & Calvin Banyan.
Yakworld.
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Welshwizard Loyal user Wales 292 Posts |
so the best for a COMPLETE beginner would be? Bare in mind it isn't for me. It's gonna be a christmas present for someone who knows nothing about magic or mentalism.
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Dr Omni Regular user UK 199 Posts |
Welshwizard - The problem is that despite the vast number of books on hgypnosis, they tend to fall into two categories: either specialist books for hypnotherapists or rather superficial. There isnt a book I'm really happy with that introduces the complete beginner to the subject in an informed way. But out of the books mentioned above, you can't go wrong with Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia.
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
I agree with that recommendation if you are looking at learning hypnosis as a performing medium. Assuming that is the case I would steer clear of "classical" NLP and instead pick up Kenton Kneppers Wonder Words series. Essentially the same principles (kinda) but from a performing perspective.
But instead of me speculating I should probably just ask, is your friend wanting to learn hypnosis for the stage, hypnotherapy, enhancing mentalism or magic, for personal reasons, or just for general knowledge?
Yakworld.
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Ted Lesley V.I.P. Berlin / Germany 421 Posts |
Hi:
The best book(let) for a beginner is in my opinion Docc Hilford´s "BALL & TUBE", because the technique is logical and brings immediate results. Believe me, it is great stuff. The booklet should be availble at "Hocus Pocus" or any other dealer and for $ 20.00 it is an absolute "Steal". ESPecially & MAGICally TED LESLEY
Ted Lesley
( The "Victor Borge" of Mentalism ) |
glenglen1 New user England 1 Post |
"Fun With Hypnotism (The Complete How-To Guide)" by Professor Svengali is an excellent book, for a beginner. It's very easy to read, and contains enough information to keep someone going for a long time.
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teejay Inner circle Liverpool, UK 1831 Posts |
Welshwizard, IMHO you have asked the wrong question. (NLP precept for getting/forming a good outcome: find out EXACTLY what it is you want, BECAUSE if you don't know exactly WHAT you want; how are you going to know when you get it?) Becase of this, the answers you have (which are all excellent advice) could cost you a few thousand £s.
:cry: Ask yourself, or your friend, what type of hypnosis are we talking about here? When you know EXACTLY what kind of hypnosis book you want, our good friends' advice here on the forum should only cost you about £20. : |
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