Product Description

In the newly revised version of The Sourcebook of Magic you will discover afresh the basic 77 NLP patterns for transformational magic. What’s new? A change from merely describing the patterns to presenting the key questions that allow you to guide a client. The newly revised version streamlines the patterns so that they are even more succinct and offers some new insights about how the patterns work, that is, the cognitive-behavioral mechanisms that make the neuro-linguistic and neuro-semantic approach so powerful.

The Sourcebook of Magic arose in 1997 from a desire to collect in one place the basic or core NLP Patterns. Today it remains an excellent resource for coaches, therapists, psychologists, trainers, and managers. The book uniquely sorts and separates the patterns in key categories, those that deal with Self, Emotions, Languaging, Thinking Patterns, Meaning, and Strategies. This Sourcebook of Magic also provides guidelines for knowing what to do when and why. An excellent gift for those interested in the cognitive-behavioral model called NLP.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #226886 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 383 pages

David Slater, The Hypnotherapist, April 1005
.. a book worthy of a place on the bookshelf where it can be regularly dipped into.

The Milton H Erickson Foundation Newsletter, Winter 2006
.. a reference book I highly recommend for developing better
resources in one's self and in others.

About the Author
Michael Hall has authored many ground-breaking works on neuro-linguistics, communication, emotions and motivation. One of the foremost authors on the NLP scene, he is dedicated to taking its techniques into new and exciting realms of therapy and personal development. He currently works as a psychotherapist and trainer in Grand Junction, Colorado, and is an internationally renowned trainer.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Reference Resource
The Source Book of Magic co-authored by Michael Hall PhD and Barbara Belnap M.S.W., is in my opinion, the best book Michael Hall has written. It contains all the NLP protocols and processes, known at the time of printing; though that is a generalisation and I'm sure there were, and certainly are others now.

This book is essentially the trail of techniques that stem from the attitude and methodology espoused by Richard Bandler, one of the developers of NLP. Although some of the processes originate from the early days of NLP, they are still very valid and worth adding to anyone's toolbox of change and influence.

As an NLP Trainer, and having taught full 120 hours contact time Practitioner courses, I know, that even after that length of time, there are still powerful, effective skills and processes that we cannot cover. This book provides the practitioner and above, with a ready source of tools and techniques to add to their already extensive repertoire.

For this reason, "The Source Book of Magic" is, and will remain, a recommended reference book on our courses.

I have an older edition of the book, and the one thing I would have liked included, is an index by process and originator of the various patterns; having said that, it is still clear, concise and accessible and possibly the best value for money NLP reference book available.

Alan Jones

Great reference book but not for beginners
I actually proof-edited the second edition of the book and really enjoyed reading again the numerous patterns collected together in one place. However, these are outlines of patterns that work in 'perfect scenerios' in my opinion and NLP is far too powerful to be messed around with using step by step guidance when you don't know what to do if something goes wrong. For example, I know of someone who, after using the timeline material (from another book) became sucidally depressed after loosing his future time line! I also know that given the working of meta-states you can understand why someone starts crying when you ask them to access happy experiences but not necessarily when you know just NLP. Don't get me wrong - I shall be reading this excellent refresher in preparation for my trainers training BUT I do not reccomend it for learning NLP per se. Go on a course or read Introducing NLP by John Seymour and O'Connor. Then get together in a practice group with a more experienced practitioner.

sourcebook of magic second edition
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.How to Live in the Here and Now: A Guide to Accelerated Enlightenment, Unlocking the Power of Mindful Awareness