Customer Reviews

Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D., Vol. 2

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book (Volume I) is worth reading by anyone interested in hypnosis. The authors present the major linguistic techniques that Erickson used to induce and maintain hypnosis, as well as his methods of doing hypnotherapy. They approach Erickson from the discipline of linguistics, so the reading is a bit technical at times, but perfectly understandable if you stick with it. They review the same material many times to make it very clear to the reader. I wish there were an accompanying audiotape of Erickson so that the reader could hear the analogical markings that Erickson uses with his speech to clients. Anyone seriously interested in Erickson's approach to hypnosis should read this book.
Volume II is nearly incomprehensive to someone who does not have a Ph.D. in linguistics. The authors in Volume II appear incapable of expressing their valuable ideas in simple English, which may be a sign that they really don't understand what they are saying well enough to communicate it to others. Rather than spending your hard-earned money on Volume II, you might read other authors like Steve Gilligan (Therapeutic Trances) who covers the same material in plain English rather than quasi-mathematic formulas and mumbo-jumbo about 4-tuples, etc.

This is a great book if you are interested in the more analytical and theoretical side of hypnosis and/or hypnosis used in therapy. -- A linguistic perspective. --

Volume I covers the model overall
Volume II goes a little more into dealing with incongruent clients, and a linguistic model of representation. [the 4-tuple, R-Operator and C-Operator]

THE GOOD -- [Although] It is not a very quick read... because everything in this book is actually useful. You will not want to rush through this one, and it is a book you will want to go back to. It does a good job covering the Milton Model, the language patterns and non-verbal communication.

This book is not for everybody though...

THE BAD -- Personally, there isn't anything I dislike about this book, but I do realize that some people have different interests and reasons for wanting to learn about hypnosis. First of all, this book is probably not for beginners. If you are, it would take a little longer to finish thoroughly. An book on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) that covers both the Meta-model and the Milton Model (consider "Introducing NLP", by Joseph O'Connor et al. -- it has a green cover) will provide a great introduction/pre-read to this book.

Rated as an 8 ONLY because of its difficulty, this ranks as one of the few references that the serious student of hypnosis and persuasive language really MUST HAVE, and should read. The exhaustive list of presuppositions in language is, itself, a goldmine of information and study, and can reward diligent study and practice with exponential elevations in skill.

If you want to know how Erickson did what he did, which even he admitted often escaped him, this book reveals the structure behind the master's skill.

If you buy only a few books about hypnosis or persuasion, make this one of them

Richard Bandler and John Grinder did not just read and study Milton's method of hypnosis, they lived it day in and day out for years. They modeled it, along with Virginia Satir's therapy models, Moshe Feldenkrais movement models and others. This book is their primary work on the structure of Milton's trance inductions and his ability to create successful generative change in his patients. It is a must read for the serious student of hypnosis and a suggested read for everyone willing to work a bit to get to the good stuff.

Keep in mind this.

If you want to learn to do what Milton Erickson did, this is the best resource ANYWHERE to help you with that quest.

I have personally trained over 750 people in the non verbal inductions of Erickson, of which the Handshake Induction is the most famous, and this work is by far the best of it's kind when it comes to the linquistic wizardry of this hypnotic genious.

Get this book if you want results. It is not an easy read, in fact it can be quite challenging. It is well worth the money spent and the time needed to completely digest it's depth.

John Wingert
The Original and Only No BS Life Coach

The book is a nice summary of Hypnotic Techniques of Milton Erickson though sometimes it seems lost in its own words. There are several references to Bandler and Grindler's other books which makes it appear that for full understanding, one must read the other books as well. I do not regret my purchase of this book.

I agree with the comments made that the language in the book is sometimes difficult to follow. If you want clearer instructions on the use of words in a therapeutic context, I recommend The Secret Language of Hypnotherapy by John Smale. Undoubtedly Erickson was the father of modern hypnotherapy but his works need to be placed into an updated world and given a new perspective.

Although the Patterns books are old books, they explain everything in an understandable and exact way and I do mean exhaustively understandable and exact which is why I like them so much. I bought Patterns 1 in paperback and Patterns 2 in hardcover. But anyhow, showing the exactitudes and subtleties of the use of language in deep-trance hypnosis is genuinely fascinating no matter how long-winded the descriptions and stuff get. Who knows? The way he used language may have been the real beginning of "the subliminal movement". Well very interesting reading nevertheless.

Captain Josh.

The guy that gave only 1 star to this book has no clue what he's talking about. Erickson was a genius and it was not in his content, but in the form he used.

This book and the other part of it are an explanation and demonstration of Erickson's true skill - reshaping a person's thought patterns. Bandler and Grinder have modeled Erickson in this work and in other non published NLP related works, and this is where you see actual "magic" in Erickson's style of therapy.

It's not the stories, it's not the miraculous improvement of his patients - it's the artful manipulation that Erickson was a master of.

I highly recommend this book and anything else related to Erickson's life and work. By merely reading Erickson, you get better in communicating effectively with others.

Enjoy!
Shlomo Vaknin, editor
NLPWeekly magazine & community

Milton Erickson is legendary for his work in hypnosis. This book is a great introduction to his ways of using language to induce trance states. It is a good intro into NLP (neurolinguistic psycotherapy). i think it is more useful as a reference book for those interested in neuropsychology but it reads well in straight reading format as well.