Customer Reviews

Change Your Mind-And Keep the Change : Advanced NLP Submodalities Interventions

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4 star:		(3)
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The authors Andreas may have had some interesting points to convey in a concise clear context, but took the lazy approach and used mind deadening conversations from recordings. This technique filled space with maximum words and minimum worthwhile content. In my opinion, grossly overrated by previous reviewers.

This book follows on from "Using Your Brain for a Change", a book based on Bandler's 1982 seminars. It's therefore a good idea to read "Using Your Brain..." before coming to this one so that you get the full benefit of the plot, so to speak.

Having said that, whilst the Andreas' willingly acknowledge their indebtedness to Bandler, this is very much their own book.

It includes plenty of information on subjects such as Timelines, the Swish pattern, eliciting criteria and submodalities - stuff that was relatively new and novel when it was first published, in 1987, but how does it look fourteen years later?
In my opinion it is still pretty relevant, and I'd expect that will have something to offer all but the most experienced NLPers, either in the sections on "life skills" or on the more directly therapy-oriented sections that deal with compulsions, destructive behaviour, etc.

One word of caution: This book is *not* presented in the same chatty style that characterises many of the Andreas' other books (including "Using Your Brain ..."). The authors explain the reason thus:

This book is more technological than most, because we know that detailed technology gets results, and that the "coldest" technology can be delivered with humanity and respect.

Ummmmm, yes, I guess so. I certainly wouldn't let this put me off buying the book.

If you are an advanced student of NLP (at least having completed a practitioner training) and wish to get a deeper and more practical understanding of using and interpreting time lines, the swish pattern, submodalities, and the internal-external meta program; then this book is definitely for you. It is written by two NLP leaders who put their vast practical knowledge on paper from which the rest of us can benefit. Specific applications such as Eliminating Compulsions, "The Last Straw" Threshold Pattern and Responding to Criticism are presented in detail. Given this book was written in 1987, many newer and more elegant techniques have been developed since. However Steve and Connirae Andreas provide us with a rich understanding of NLP basics that gives us greater insight as to why the newer techniques work, what we need to be aware of when using these techniques and how we can actually use these basic building blocks to develop our own approaches. A significant part of the book consists of transcripts of actual sessions. For me, this did not enhance my reading enjoyment; however it did provide clear descriptions as to how the techniques can be used in practice.

This book has not ceased to amaze me with its practicality. I find myself using its principles and insights almost daily to help understand what's going on in this crazy world

Simple and easy to read, yet filled with very useful NLP stuffs. Good reading for both advance NLP learners and beginners in NLP. Recommended.

I consider this to be your typical run of the mill NLP book. It's solid in its approach, addresses the key pieces and is well written. But it doesn't stand out.

disclaimer: I studied with Steve Andreas when he was at the top of his form and I think it was the best general experience of NLP that I have experienced, perhaps with the one exception of Richard Bandler in a peak moment.

having said that: NLP must have the worst literaure ever generated by a discipline which imagines that it should be taken seriously.

This book is simply awful, not much more or less awful than every other NLP book out there. Whatever NLP is, it doesn't translate to the written word... maybe no more than Jimi Hendrix transcriptions translate Jimi Hendrix... this detritus, and that's all it should be labelled as, this compost of concept, has all of the impact that hearing Voodoo Child played on an insipid string synthesizer at half tempo in a bloodless shopping mall out in the midwest somewhere... only much less interesting...

Easier to find what you're looking for here than other NLP books. My favorite is the Godiva Chocolate pattern.