Sourcebook of Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to NLP Change Patterns [Paperback]

L. Michael Hall (Author), Barbara P. Belnap (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2004

This edition streamlines the patterns so that they are even more succinct and offers new insights about how the patterns work, that is, the cognitive-behavioral mechanisms that make the neuro-linguistic and neuro-semantic approach so powerful.

Product Details

• Paperback: 383 pages
• Publisher: Crown House Publishing; 2 edition (December 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904424252
• ISBN-13: 978-1904424253
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sourcebook of magic 2nd edition, January 17, 2005

By 

Rizo Gibonious (Oxford) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sourcebook of Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to NLP Change Patterns (Paperback)

Those of you who missed the 1st edition of this excellent book, there is now a second chance to pick up this modern classic.

The premise of the work is that many NLP books are available that contain, within extensive "padding", only a few patterns, some books just one or two. Hall achieves his goal of separating the wheat from the chaff admirably with all the objectivity of a Haynes car manual leaving this pragmatic work refreshingly academic yet accessible. Like a cookbook it is reference driven allowing the practitioner access to these powerful patterns without the contingency of having to wade into battle against the author's literary aspirations.

What are these patterns?
Most of these patterns are primarily action orientated, simple exercises to be run through step by step with regard to specific ends. The other few are, more fundamentally, explanations of NLP assumptions, such as the principle of well formed outcomes.

Hall begins by introducing the reader to an overview of NLP and levels-of-processing that is indispensable, as within the instructions to the patterns he falls back on a few technical concepts with out further explanation, such as "test and future pace".

Then we come the patterns themselves, organised roughly according to their level of processing, the book allows you to easily select a pattern for your goal. Included patterns are; collapsing anchors, resolving internal conflict, chaining states, becoming intentionally compelled, responding to criticism, healthy eating, spinning icons.....

The second edition adds to the first; some simplification of the procedures and a little more detail as to the cognitive / behavioural mechanisms used in the patterns, and a deserved revision of the introduction. In the first (and second) edition Hall asserts that there may be as many as 200 distinct patterns and surely some that haven't been invented (or should that be discovered?) yet. So I was expecting some new patterns in the 2nd ed. but it's the original 77.
I don't know how I would start to define the distinction of a unique pattern (as opposed to a variant) anyway. I find it unlikely that at a computational - cognitive level there are 200 modes of action, so it's safe to assume the all of the building blocks are here for you. Hall hints that, a list of patterns touted as "exhaustive", would promote dogma and stagnate inventive development, through his legitimate assertion that all the patterns are largely prototypical and are easily extended and adapted.

Without being overly complex, this book is dense.

75 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As magic as its title suggests, November 8, 2006

By 

L. Power "nlp trainer" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sourcebook of Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to NLP Change Patterns (Paperback)

I bought this book recently, and even working on the first pattern, I noticed a significant mental shift, when I ran the pattern through my own neurology. I have used that pattern many times, and just feel very calm. It could also be called the Law of Attraction pattern.

A complaint of many NLP books is that they are difficult to read or the concepts are difficult to grasp. I can assure that this book is not difficult to follow, if you have a basic grasp of NLP. I highly recommend it. I wonder if you find this review helpful.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sourcebook of Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to NLP Change Patterns, October 11, 2005

By 

Roy Smith (Croydon, Surrey United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sourcebook of Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to NLP Change Patterns (Paperback)

I find this book immensely helpful as a resource for the 77 NLP Patterns, and also because of the NLP introduction at the beginning.
L.M.Hall outlines the different levels at which we process information highlighting the truth about sub-modalities. He then goes on to describe, "The Mechanism of Change" and how the magic works.
With each pattern he provides an explanation of when to use it and precisely how.
An excellent resource for those who, like me, need all the patterns in one book.