| Description | Today if someone were to ask me what NLP (neurolinguistic programming) was all about I wouldn?t tell them to read any of the classic books in the field like Frogs into Princes or NLP volume one. I would tell them to read Magic in Action. This is a transcript of Richard Bandler the co-creator of NLP working directly with people and their problems.
The first three cases in this book were taken from the famous Marshall University tapes. This was where Bandler answered the challenges of his critics, for awhile he had been parading around claiming that he could do some patently ridiculous things such as curing phobias and other serious psychological problems in a single half hour session. Marshall University was supposed to be the place where his critics finally got the opportunity to prove him wrong. So what happened that day? Well the psychologists brought in three patients who were completely unknown to Bandler. He was supposed to cure them in one 30 minute session and those sessions were taped so that succeed or fail the record would always be there. What happened that day at Marshall University? That is what this book Magic in Action is all about. It is the direct transcripts of those tapes that were made, along with commentary from Bandler and other onlookers. Plus this book includes the follow up interviews that were done with the patients to measure how well the therapy worked.
With this book not only do you get transcripts from Marshall University, you also get excerpts from Bandler working with seminar participants on such topics as belief change and the use of the swish pattern. He demonstrates his usual sense of humor and quick thinking as he skillfully guides these people around and over their problems. Now if you are already familiar with NLP this book will serve as a useful example of the ways to implement the strategies you already know. Basically, by watching Michael Jordan play basketball the schoolyard player might learn a few new moves. Now for someone who doesn?t know NLP from the NRA, don?t just read this book and go out and try to cure your friend?s phobias. This book isn?t designed to teach you explicitly how to do every thing there are better books for that such as Using Your Brain for a Change. This book will show you what an NLP session is supposed to be like. Fast light hearted and humorous; never take yourself or your problems too seriously.
The last section of the book will either be a treat or an absolute bore depending on your personality. It is a transcript of Bandler with a lady who wants to lose weight. The transcript has been broken down and all the language patterns have been analyzed. If you learn best by taking in all the little details first then this is for you. If you like to get the quick and dirty and are a big picture person you might want to skip this section. Every sentence has been broken down and analyzed, for some that might be too much?for me it was too much.
Overall I recommend this book, though the transcript format can make some sections confusing, the fun of sitting in on Bandler doing therapy more than makes up for it. |
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