Customer Reviews

Effective Self Hypnosis: Pathways to the Unconscious, Book/Tape Combination

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These authors are perhaps best known for their book entitled 'Principles of Self Hypnosis' (now out of print) which for many years was the most regularly recommended primer on this subject. This academic work completely updates the former book and adds much new research to the subject area. It is very extensive in nature and written in a style that facilitates access to both the professional and the lay person wishing to use self hypnosis for their own benefit. The book is accompanied by an excellent audiotape which clearly demonstrates many of the techniques described in the book. Whilst appearing a little expensive when compared with other self hypnosis books, this book and audiotape can definitely claim to be 'top of the pile' in quality of content, research and writing style.

Having grown up believing that in hypnosis you give up your free agency and self-will to demonic control, and also hypnosis just being used for silly stuff, like having you act like a monkey or chicken on stage, I was quite leery about reading this book.

Now, after having read this book my understanding of hypnosis has been completely redefined. I now understand that we all put ourselves and other people through different forms of hypnosis every day. Praising or putting down your children, solemn prayer, day dreaming, deep thought, engrossed in a movie, television show or book are forms of hypnosis that we apply to our daily lives.

Also the only person who has the power and authority to hypnotize you, is you. All hypnosis is technically self-hypnosis. A person should be careful though because like all things that seem harmless, there is always someone out there using it for no good. Hypnosis can also be used for no-good. And then so can solemn prayer, watching movies, reading books, etc., have harmful effects on your conscious and unconscious mind.

It is our unconscious mind that effects what we can or cannot accomplish. We can learn to utilize our unconscious minds stored experiences through different forms of hypnosis to achieve our goals and utilize our abilities and potentials that are already stored within us.

Understand why autosuggestion, such as a New Years Resolution, does not work.

Learn how to explore and access your unconscious mind where everything we have ever seen or experienced is accurately stored.

Throughout this book you will learn the history of hypnosis, the theories behind it, how to learn, unlearn and relearn such things as sports, self control, smoking, stress, fear, pain, and being over-weight.

The only thing that I didn't like about this book is the poor typesetting and poor sound quality of the cassette recording. Overall though, an excellent, easy to read book for anyone interested in how the mind works. And exercises on how to apply the theories to your own mind.

I ordered this book on a last ditch effort to help me quit picking my fingers. I've had this compulsive habit since I was 7 years old. I've tried everything and nothing has worked because I was doing it unconsciously. I couldn't stop myself when I didn't know I was doing it. This book wasn't a magic bullet. It just allowed me to tap my unconscious mind. Now I know why I was doing it (nervousness). I notice when I'm about to start doing it and I have a way to keep myself from doing it. This book guided me through exploring self-hypnosis. The tape was key because it helped me do a hypnosis session for the first time. The book explained what hypnosis is and gave several chapters on how to solve common problems. I used the chapter on how to quit smoking to help me build a plan for myself to quit picking my fingers. After 5 sessions I've totally stopped picking my fingers. I mean I haven't picked once since then! What an achievement! I can't begin to tell you how glad I am that I ordered this book!

Freud called dream interpretation the "royal road to the unconsious." Now, here at your fingertips is the "expressway to the unconsious.": a complete guide to the principles and practice of self hypnosis in day-to-day life. Quoting their first teacher, G. Wilson Shaffer, the Simpkins are quick to point out that "hypnosis is first and foremost an experienced and, therfore, mere intellectual theory--no matter how rational and well thought out--cannot be a subsitute for felt experience." In this highy effective text/tape duo, readers will find both the theory behind self hypnosis (and the research findings supporting it) as well as step-by-step instructions in how to achieve those felt experiences (from tingling sensations in one's limbs to life-altering memories) to "achieve one's personal best"--whether in managing pain, resolving stress, or achieving career goals. What you do with the tools presented here is up to you. What the Simpkins offer is the opportunity to learn to permit, trust, and develop the natural, positive, spontaneous functioning of your unconsious mind.

Effective Self Hypnosis is a combination book and audiotape set, co-written and presented by experienced and skilled practitioners. They have utilized a logical and well thought out framework to bring readers a resource that will enhance both understanding and skills. Directed to a wide audience, the book is written "for professionals who are interested in helping themselves or their clients, using some hypnosis facilitation, and for the person who is intereted in developing skills in self hypnosis to bring about changes." (p. ix) It is unusual that any book can meaningfully appeal to such a broad audience, but the Simpkins have accomplished this...Like the book, the tape presents a sequential progression of information intertwined with well-crafted experiential exercises. The well-integrated building blocks bring together conscious awareness and understanding with that which is not so easily understood consciously. Each chapter begins with a thought-provoking quotation that fits well into the chapter content. "Truth refines but does not obscure" (pvii) attributed to Nathaniel Stone Simpkins (1836) is one such delight. Sprinkled throughout are illustrations, which also evoke imagination. The simple, straightforward information is presented in ways that let the novice recognize the powerful potential of hypnosis...Overlying the simple straightforward presentation is a depth of wisdom that subtly glimmers. Effective Self Hypnosis helps each of us "...to voluntarily do the involuntary, to deliberately be spontaneous and to regain rapport with your own inner self." (p. vii)

I'm more interested in practical guidebooks and this was too academic without being academic. I think by trying to cater to both professionals and 'hobbyists' they fail at both. The section on inducing trance is way lacking in details and reads like 'relax, think about relaxing, let your mind drift, now lift yourself out of trance'. Huh? I have hypnotized myself many times and this stuff was too simple.
Creative Imagery by William Fezler was much more adept at guiding you into a full trance.

If you're looking to effect change look elsewhere (I haven't found a perfect product yet), however this did have some interesting background material on hypnosis. Some of things like the section on learning (anyone with some academic background knows what Pavlov's conditioning is so no need to re-explain and then STOP - tell me how to APPLY it in context of self-hypnosis please) are just way too sparse. They assume exercises like hand elevation will work with minimal guidance ('go into trance, think your hand is getting lighter, watch in amazement'). I ended up flicking through the last half of the book becuase it was all fluff and no substance. Actually I'm dropping the score from 3 to 2 stars because any book that prompts me to flick through the last half is rubbish.

I wanted a book on this topic as soon as possible, but
after reading thereviews for this one, I felt it was worth
the wait.

This is a very well balanced and scholarly look at using
hypnosis to better understand the unconsious. It reads
like a text book, but is presented very clearly for people
like me who are not familiar with hypnosis.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for
a better understanding of hypnosis and not just a quick
fix.

It was worth the wait.

This book was excellent: comprehensive, clear, and helpful! It not only explained how hypnosis developed and what it is about, but also pointed out the various theories and perspectives so that I got an intelligent understanding. The practical exercises through out made it very easy for me to develop hypnosis and use it. I learned how suggestion works and how to use it so that I could formulate suggestions that were personally meaningful and really struck a chord in me. I was also able to use the mind-body link chapter to work with my own reactions. When I felt a little resistance, I tried the chapter on resistance and found that I was able to respond well! I can now develp a deep trance by following the methods given in this book. I also followed along with the very helpful tape and use it regularly. The voices are clear and relaxing to listen to. I highly recommend this very useful, readable, and likeable book/tape combination!