Richard Bandler's Guide to Trance-formation: How to Harness the Power of Hypnosis to Ignite Effortless and Lasting Change (Paperback)

by Richard Bandler (Author)
Key Phrases: meta model, process instructions, swish pattern, Patterns of Induction, Resource File, Patterns of Utilization (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
With decades of practical and clinical hypnotherapy work behind him-during which he claims to have cured everything from phobias to schizophrenia-hypnotist and author Bandler (Get the Life You Want) rejects conventional psychotherapy in favor of "neuro-linguistic programming," rooted in the inherent human capacity for learning and communication. Here, Bandler collects his techniques for overcoming mental problems now and in the future. Trance states, according to Bandler, are phenomena vital to the human experience, particularly in repetitive behaviors: "At some level or other, everything is hypnosis...people have their work trances, their relationship trances, their driving trances." Exploring these trance states with readers, Bandler provides a number of practical, meditative strategies for developing one's abilities to self-assess and reprogram destructive patterns, providing numerous patient anecdotes and sidelights on subjects like buried hypnotic commands. Despite some improbable claims (achieving lasting cures after only one trance session), Bandler's thorough breakdown of the learning process and simple, cumulative exercises make this psychological self-help worth a look, especially for those who have hit dead ends with more standard approaches.
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Review
'This wonderful book is for anyone interested in making their life significantly better. It is a goldmine of insights and techniques from one of the greatest geniuses of personal change. As you use the techniques in Richard Bandler's Guide to Trance-formation, you will exponentially increase your ability to make dramatic life-enhancing differences. It is by far one of the most entertaining and professionally stimulating books I have read. It will change your life!' --Paul McKenna, Ph.D., coauthor of I Can Make You Thin and host of TLC's I Can Make You Thin

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Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: HCi (September 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757307779
• ISBN-13: 978-0757307775
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,681 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great NLP/Hypnosis book, October 9, 2008

By	Richard Nongard -- SubliminalScience.com (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is based on the book, and I believe you will find it quite helpful. I ordered it the day it came out, using my Amazon prime membership and had it overnighted. It kept me up all night. First I will cover the positive elements of this book: For those who are experienced at NLP or hypnosis, you will find it a refreshing and comprehensive review, with a few updates on processes and approaches from Bandler. For example he describes how he uses the meta-model now in an opposite manor to what he wrote in "The Structure of Magic I". For those who are teachers you will find the self-help exercises given at the end of each chapter familiar from your own NLP training, and useful new light is shed on them, with a few new ideas. The scripts, back matter, glossary and other resource files in the back make this an essential book for quick reference and study.
For those who are new to hypnosis or NLP, you will find the examples concrete, clear and well written. This is a comprehensive book covering many complex ideas, but with a highlighter and a pen you will be able to learn skills and begin applying them immediately. The lessons are categorized well, and to me it seems like an excellent introductory text, and I will begin recommending it to all my students at an introductory or intermediate level. You will understand hypnosis and NLP if you really take the time to study this book.
I also think that for those considering this book as a "self-help" book, you will find it helpful. All of the material can easily be internalized and practiced as self-transformation and help you to do what the subtitle actually promises.
Now the downside (although there really aren't too many). First, the book is a basic NLP book and those who have a lot of experience and don't enjoy the review and reframes of prior knowledge may find it less than challenging, or covers a lot of material that has already been covered. For me though, I enjoyed the review, update and exercises as suggested after 35 years of Bandlers teaching experience has helped these to evolve. Second, Bandler makes more than a few statements that cause me to ask, "Where is the footnote?" And third, the irreverent style of Bandler can be a distraction at times, with a lot of hyperbole and opinion. However, I actually enjoyed this, even when I disagreed. An example of this was his attempt to reframe NLP by stating the following: "NLP may be thought of as the underlying structure of hypnosis".
I wish I could give it four and a half stars, but I can't so I will go ahead and give it five stars, and am glad I bought the book.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stealing a skill, November 18, 2008

By	L. Power "nlp trainer" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

I have to admit I am very impressed with Richard Bandler's latest books, both of which are totally different.

This book is clearly geared at people who already have experience with trance or are hypnotists, and is more detailed. If you're like me, you will find the book to be very free flowing, and an easier read than his earliest works. As you might expect, his trance work has become even more and more refined, there is a grace and fluidity about what he does.

This is apparent in the client session trance scripts included at the back. The embedded commands are italicised. If you don't already know much about Milton Model and Meta Model patterns, you will find resource files at the end, which will enable you to get up to speed very quickly.

My favorite line from the book is: 'So you only torture youself in your spare time?' spoken with typical irreverence.

I particularly like the stealing from a genius exercise. Its similar to something I already do.

Another one, you may find interesting is The Magic of False Memories.

One particular item I saw him do on a clip from Paul McKenna's tv show.
He was demonstrating -spinning feelings. That process is described in - Get the Life you want.

If you're unsure about which book to get, they are both excellent, and highly recommended.

I hope you find this review helpful, and, if you do, please click yes.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed, January 30, 2009

By	LUS (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

I have read little on hypnosis and was not aware of Bandler or NLP before reading this book. Therefore, I write this review as a contrast to the majority of reviews posted on Amazon which display a greater level of sophistication than I brought to the book; thereby providing a point of view for those coming to the book with a more elementary background.

Bandler promotes some interesting ideas. One is his continual insistence that psychological change need not be traumatic nor take years to accomplish, as is often espoused and practiced by mental health professionals. Also interesting was his idea that people report their psychological states more literally than we generally imagine (for example, someone should be taken at their word whenever they say they feel "heavy" or "things look dark," etc.) and his treatment of psychological distress under such a premise.

As a novice in this field, however, his suggestions on what to do while in a trance were not altogether helpful, because his explanations upon how to achieve self-hypnosis in the first place were cursory and incomplete (for the beginner at least).

Additionally, perhaps 50 pp. of self-promotion and product-placement could have been cut from the book.

For the true believer in NLP, I'm sure this is a great book.
For someone familiar with the literature on hypnosis, but not necessarily an advocate of Bandler, I couldn't say.
For the absolute beginner, I could only say that it will introduce you to some terms and concepts that may be new and helpful.

So, my review is mixed. Buy it used.