Customer Reviews

The How-To Book Of Hypnotism

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an enjoyable book, mainly about stage hypnotism. It is short on science and maintains the old idea that animal magnetism is at the basis of hypnosis. This theory was scienfically discreditated at the time of Anton Mesmer and Ben Franklin. The practical points are well done, but the theory is consists of New Age claptrap and pseudoscience. If you want to learn to be a stage hypnotist and don't care about understanding the science behind hypnosis, this is a good book to buy (though it is rather expensive for such a brief volume). The practical "how-to" advice is sound. If you are more skeptical and value the findings of modern science, you will be disappointed since this book promulgates unscientific misinformation and long-discredited theories about hypnotic influence.

Given that you can read "How To"'s thin, LARGE print 166 pages in one sitting, that alone should illustrate how this book only touches the surface of a "DEEP DEEP" subject (pun intended). Though I thought the book a good intro, it still felt like a too brief overview rather than a manual. Hardly does it cover the subject "completely" as many reviewers claim, and is hardly a "must read" as stated by another. It is aimed more at novice and stage material. Even the one paragraph "mastering the smoking habit" is nothing more than the old stage line about the cigarette tasting stale and terrible. Though most hypnotists agree this never works, as the smoker uses rationale to remove the suggestion, McGill and Silver claim "such treatments are sufficient to cure the worst cigarette smoker." Wow. With millions of dollars being spent by consumers trying to break the habit, these guys conquer it in one paragraph. Nonsense.

The authors also make too many other elobarate and ridiculous claims as if they were fact and not opinion. For example, page 87 you are told you can put a subject in a trance easily for over 48 hours, suspending all bodily functions, as easily as you can suggest their little stage jokes. Let's not forget the pages dedicated to ESP, telepathy, and magnetic healing through hypnosis. Way too much fantasy there.

However, all that aside, if you are looking for a quick read and your main interest is to have some fun at parties, than this book is for you. You probably don't care about all the scientific stuff anyway, so why bother. This will teach you a few inductions and some fun stage tricks and techniques. Quick and easy, just don't expect miracles and expect to pass on a lot of stuff as pure hocus pocus.

BUT, if you want a more detailed and scientific look, along with various induction techniques for professional use, this book is NOT the book you want. It will not address true Hypnotherapy, only parlor tricks. It will not help you with problem inductions, problems with trance states, proper wording of suggestions and other professional needs. Try HYPNOTHERAPY by Dave Elman, or TRANCEWORK by Michael Yapko. Fortunately I ordered those as well when I got this one.

This book provides a very brief overview of different methods and applicatications from stage hypnosis, mesmerism, few methods of inducing self-hypnosis, suggestions for using hypnosis for healing certain ailments.

Most suggestions (pattern scripts) in this book are based on the fomula "when I count to three, you'll do so and so", or "when you awaken, you'll do so and so" and that's it.

Part of this book deals with Mesmeric (magnetic) healing, a topic that is not that often mentioned in modern hypnosis books (except books by Ormond McGill), but is more thoroughly covered in books dealing with energy healing.

If you already have Ormond McGill's Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis, then you'll find that a good deal of material mentioned in this book has already been covered there.

As for learning how to induce hypnosis over the phone or through the mail, get books that deal with hypnotic language patterns, sleight of mouth, and learn some indirect suggestions - Ericksonian hypnosis.

If you want to learn the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in a world steeped in vast sensationalism and B.S, this is the book for you! It cuts through 100 years of hype and gets directly to the point.

Hypnotism is an art and a science that can be learned by anyone, and everyone can benefit from its proper application. But few have had the guts to print the truth. Ormond McGill, a living legend in the field of hypnosis, along with Tom Silver, a well-respected contempory hypnotherapist, have teamed together to publish the definitive how-to book on the subject. It's concise, entertaining and easy to read. If you want a crash-course on the true art & science of hypnosis by two experts in the field, look no further...this is it! On the other hand, if you equate hypnotism with B-Movies and bad dreams, look elsewhere...you're obviously not ready for this priceless information.

I'm giving this book 2 stars as opposed to the 5 stars nearly everyone else did. I bought this book expecting it to be great, but was chagrined to discover it was not that informative. In fact, it was down right mediocre. Maybe it would be a half-way decent book for beginners, but in my opionion--there are much better books out there... The person who said this book is of "dubious scientific validity" hit it right on the spot. The book is chalk full of outdated concepts and psuedo-scientifical concepts about how hypnosis works. Animal magnetism? While I am nothing even resembling a hardcore skeptic of paranormal, I have to say the complete lack of evidence, even anecdotal, really hurts this book's validity. Maybe there is some "force" involved with hypnotism, but you couldn't tell from this book, seeing as they just go ahead and assume there is one based on their pre-existing conceptual paradigms, disregarding any use of the scientific method. Aside from that, I saw MANY spelling errors which really detract from the professionalism of this book. On the plus side, it has many techniques to use(regardless of how misguided their explanations of how they work are). Overall, the book left me wondering: where's the meat?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Hypnosis Book Has It All! Reviewer: Niccolous Thompson, Hypnotist from Montclair, California This book is a great foundation to the ancient art of Hypnotism. Many people are facinated with Hypnosis, and this book holds back NOTHING! It is easy to read, and yet filled with some of the best and most informative Hypnosis information on the market today, all written by two masters in the field of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. Ormond McGill, "THE DEAN" of american Hypnotists, and Tom Silver, Celebrity Stage Hypnotist combine their talents to share with you, the reader, some of the best and most incredible information ever published. This books will not only teach you the art of Hypnotism, it will keep you turning page after page for new and exciting techniques. In the years to come this book may be imitated by others, but it will never be duplicated! When two "Masters" like Tom Silver and Ormond McGill combine their knowledge of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, Watch out! The mysteries and the Magic of Hypnosis are now revealed! This Book Shows exactly "How To Do What They Do!" "HYPNOSIS! " I not only liked it...I LOVED IT!

I AM TRULY IMPRESSED BY THE "HOW TO BOOK OF HYPNOTISM" BY TOM SILVER AND ORMOND MC GILL. THESE 2 SEASONED MASTERS OF HYPNOTISM HAVE JOINED FORCES TO PRESENT A BOOK THAT IS NOTHING SHORT OF THE HOLY GRAIL OF HOW TO BOOKS.THIS BOOK NOT ONLY TEACHES HYPNOSIS BUT ALL FACETS OF THE ART AND EVEN BEYOND THAT: STAGE HYPNOTISM, HYPNOTHERAPY, SELF HYPNOTISM, POSITIVE MOTIVATION TECHNIQUES EVEN UP TO THE CONCEPTS OF MYSTICAL TEACHINGS AND ENLIGHTENMENT! THIS BOOK ISN'T JUST FOR THE STUDENT OR THE PROFESSIONAL, IT'S FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES. IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR ANY PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENTS AND INSTITUTES OF HYPNOSIS.THE BOOK IS ONLY 169 PAGES BUT OTHER BOOKS NO MATTER HOW BIG THEY ARE DON'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THIS ONE. BRIAN WISHNEFSKY HYPNOTIST.

It's hard not to be personal about this.... I've been a friend and colleague of these two authors for 22 years, and am happy to see their combined century of hypnotism experience distilled into such an accessible form. Ormond has been mentor to all of us. Tom is a outstanding practitioner of and staunch advocate for responsible yet highly creative and entertaining stage hypnotism (not to mention that he is also a media darling and excellent human being!)
The How-To Book Of Hypnotism by Tom Silver and Ormond McGill belongs in every serious hypnosis library. yet it is also a perfect, no-nonsense way to begin an understanding of the art and practice of hypnotism for the beginner or the simply curious.

The How-To Book of Hypnotism is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand exactly how-to hypnotize others. What makes this book uniquely valuable is that it is written in a way that makes learning the subject of hypnosis very easy. Clearly written in an entertaining manner, this work really is a "course in a book" that will provide you with all of the knowledge necessary to undersatnd and apply hypnosis in a wide range of areas, including therapy, education or for the fun of entertaining others! (how stage hypnosis really works is revealed in this book.) The authors, nationally recognized authorities on the subject, have over seventy years of combined experience, traveling all over the world, demonstrating and teaching hypnosis. There are dozens and dozens of books on hypnotism available today, but this one is one of the very best that you can buy because it cuts through the theory and jargon, teaching you everything you need to know--but no more. I have read other books by McGill, and this is one of his better works--contemporary, explicit and to the point. If you are new to the field of hypnosis and really want to understand the "hows" and "whys" of hypnotism, order this book today. I consider this work to be the best how-to text available. If you are like me, an experienced hypnotist who has read many, many books on the subject, you will definitely want this book for your collection. It is bound to become a classic.

I've seen many books on hypnotism, and this, from a clinical hypnotherapist point of view, is by far one of the more interesting. It is very informative for not only a practicing hypnotherapist, but also, it is easy for a lay person to gain insight to this form of alternative healing. The chapter on interlingual hypnotic trance induction alone was well worth the cost. Kudos to Mr. Silver and Mr. McGill