Customer Reviews

Easily Fooled: New Insights and Techniques for Resisting Manipulation

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This book is a delight for anyone who has ever felt conned or ripped-off, or who feels somehow trapped on the phone by telemarketers. The author, Bob Fellows, is a professional magician and inspirational speaker who integrates his knowledge of how magic is done (Amazingly, it's a trick!) with the foibles we humans are err to and offers information and advice about how to handle the often tricky confrontations when we find ourselves stuck with someone trying to persuade us when we aren't interested. Lucidly written, replete with engaging, real-life examples, EASILY FOOLED is a pleasure to read. And it's a valuable, practical guide for avoiding foolish situations.

As a physician that wields the sword of influence daily, I've become an ardent student of the "tricks of the trade" in motivation and influence. This is to both sharpen my own skills in helping patients get what they want, and helping patients defend themselves from the plethora of useless "health" products on the market. Bob Fellows has created an excellent exploration into the world of influence, both the ethical use, and the less-than-ethical use by those that just want to get into your wallet or mind. While some of the material may seem "common sense" at first glance, not many people are actually aware of the insidious ploys health hucksters use. If they were, there would be no market for "Fat Melt-Away Tablets" or "Cellulite Reducing Cream" or "Herbal Male Enhancer".

I have recommended this book to many of my patients. Don't wait, give yourself this gift now. The gift of opening your eyes to unwanted manipulation. Then, just for fun, you can use it back on them!

Easy to comprehend and apply, this book is filled with fun, thought-provoking activities for understanding the basis of manipulation. After reading the suggested techniques, I could't wait to answer the next call from a telephone solicitor and have a little fun! I have also had the pleasure of seeing the author, Mr. Fellows perform live at a conference. He was mesmerizing. If you get the chance to see him, don't miss it.

OK, I like this book. It's got some fun stuff that would be good if you're looking for, say, some unique and creative party activities. It is also heavy on information regarding magic and hypnosis itself. However, based on the title: "Easily Fooled, New Insights and Techniques for Resisting *Manipulation*, I was hoping for more...well, insights and techniques to resist manipulation, in terms of everyday manipulation. There is precious little to that end in the book. The price is VERY steep as well, not only because of the shortness of the book, but because of the scarcity of useful information I mentioned and the misleading nature of the title. This is mostly just a "Bob Fellows show in a book".

The be-all, end-all for books on the subject of resisting manipulation so far is still "Emotional Blackmail" by Susan Forward.