Customer Reviews

Covert Hypnosis: An Operator's Manual

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Some people work readily with cognitive behavioral therapy. Some people are happy to try hypnosis. And some people have the troubles they have because they work very hard to hang onto the psychological mindsets that bring them about. Covert hypnosis has many good ideas for using language to heighten suggestibility and covertly implant suggestions that would not be accepted if presented overtly. On the whole, this looks like a method of turning a conversation into a long-form induction, except that there isn't an explicitly denoted conversion to hypnosis.

I am a certified hypnotist, but I'm a customer service agent by trade. I purchased this manual after reading the author's Psychology of Persuasion. I had hoped this would offer a more in-depth look at the communication strategies discussed in that book, and have not found this manual as helpful in that regard. If you are a therapist or work with people in other settings where wide-ranging, extended conversation is a given, this manual offers lots of good suggestions for guiding the conversation, all the way to planting suggestions for those resistant to change in a therapeutic setting. But if you're in sales, customer service or another profession where shorter interactions are the rule, I'd recommend the Psychology of Persuasion instead.

Maybe this book does help becuase I was totally taken in by the marketing hype describing the book.

First, this book has quite a lot of the shortcomings of many self-published books -- rampant typos, grammatical errors and unverifiable testamonials followed by unsubstantiated anecdotes sprinkled with factual errors.

Second, it's regurgitated, dumbed down NLP for the masses.

Third, the information is dated although presented as "new" and "cutting edge".

There are many other books on NLP and body language that are a lot more helpful. Don't buy this book, especially at its inflated price. That's part of the ploy. If it costs so much it must have the "good stuff" in it, right? Wrong!

I'm just very disappointed to be told that I need to lose weight, grow taller and dress for success to get my subliminal message across to make the sale.

This book is more than a book on covert hypnosis. Master the skills in this book to be an elegant communicator, have a greater, more thorough understanding of persuasion techniques and gain the upper hand in negotiations.
This book is easy to read, easy to understand and follow. As someone who has worked in the hypnosis field for a number of years now, this is THE book on covert hypnosis.
Whatever field you work in, you will benefit from this book. I have followed Kevin Hogans work for a number of years and this book delivers his usual brilliant high standard and is packed with information. Very enjoyable.

Despite the title, this book is about understanding how to help people envision your ideas and thoughts. There are many good concrete examples that illustrate methods for guiding conversations in a positive productive way for both parties. Implementing the lessons taught in this book has improved my business and personal relationships. I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to build his "people skills."

I typically don't write reviews about books but I found most of the reviews here extremely un-helpful. First covert hypnosis is not really traditional hypnosis. No one is being told, "Sleep!" It's also different from conversational hypnosis which gives strong attention to language patterns.

Covert hypnosis is about changing behavior at a deeper drive level. In other words you not only have someone do something but have them eager to do it.

The strategies, techniques, and tools Kevin Hogan present are so easy that a 12 year old can do it. Some people say when they learn how it's done "that's it". Well yes succeeding can be had with simple changes.

What's great about Kevin Hogan is that he tests everything to see if it works in the real world. So everything he presents is groundbreaking science.

Covert hypnosis has been used for decades. Only now is it being discovered how it's used. In fact I believe it was Kevin Hogan invented the term covert hypnosis.

I was reading two reviews below and I was surprised that people didn't really understand what Covert Hypnosis is. If you didn't know what is really was its okay it's not your fault. Covert hypnosis has been used by politicians and if you discover what it is you can see how it's used in the bible. Note: it's used a lot.

One reviewer about his grammar, I'm no expert in English but I'm not sure I really care.

When you use Covert Hypnosis you get results. At least I have.

I found this book to be life changing for me. I was surprised by how much I didn't know about human behavior. This book really helps you understand people, what motivates them and how to make a positive impact in their lives.

I can see where salespeople will love this. I use it for marketing. Most people will probably take the sales and marketing directions and apply them to relationships.

I have to recommend this book.

Kevin helps the reader understand what drives a person to make a decision. Reading this book can help with selling to people by getting to know what drives them. Helpful for building rapport with others. A must read for anyone wanting to increase your confidence with selling products and services. [...]

Want to IMPROVE Your Life? Be better at your Job? Go deeper in to Kevin Hogans work after reading some of his other books (like Pyschology of Persuasion)? Then this is the logical next step for you....unless you are lucky enough to attend one of his seminars in person! This is the next best thing!!! Because his work is transformational! I wasn't even aware of all the changes taking place in my life until other people started commenting on them...people have even told me that I LOOK different (as in younger and more vibrant), but I AM aware that I am making more money and I am happier!! And it began about two years ago when I started reading and applying Kevin Hogan's work....and Covert Hypnosis is the latest. Read it only if you, too are ready to make life changing leaps forward!!! Ahd then as you apply it, watch for the inevitable changes to occur around you!! You will be glad you did. Don't thank me, thank Kevin.

This is a great book for a newbie - if you have not yet started, but want to - then this is a good starting place. If you don't achieve what you want in the first 90 days, give it 6 months to try again. It is very basic which is what some people need.

One related book that is very powerful if you read it with a different eye is: How to make a Manchurian Candidate: the Soviet Art of Brainwashing: A synthesis of the Soviet Textbook on Psychopolitics

Be careful!

This is a good book with quality information. Kevin Hogan has written several good books on persuasion. I have read Psychology of Persuasion, Covert Persuasion and Covert Hypnosis in that order. Although a decent amount of the information in this book is covered in Covert Persuasion, there is a substantial amount of new information and tactics that can be applied to many situations in life. Overall this is a nice read for someone that would like to raise the bar at work and elsewhere.
Working in the Formula Race Car of Sales "metaphorically speaking" anything that can give me an edge is worth looking at.

Good job again Kevin

I have read most of the book. I won't say that it is useless, but that it is rather disapointing. NLP is a very powerful set of practices for influencing other people. The name of the book is the one thing the author did that succeeded in convincing me to buy this book. The book is mainly about how to become a successful salesperson, almost nothing about other practices of covert hypnosis. Thus the name of the book suggests a wider scope. Throughout the book, the author seem to plant the messages "buy my other stuff" and "use my knowlege", and he seems to do it in a very ineffective way. If at least he was able to use covert hypnosis more effectively for that, the way Bandler and Grider (the original developers of NLP) did, then I would be tempted to believe I can learn a lot more from him.

Yet, the book is not useless. Some of the things written in this book are deep understanding of the selling business.