Recently, several readers of the blog have asked me to recommend
books to learn NLP. Here is my shortlist and why you absolutely must
read these books.
Frogs Into Princes: Neuro Linguistic Programming , by Richard Bandler and John Grinder
This book, in my opinion, is the grand-daddy of NLP books. If you
haven't already read it or leafed through it, it's a transcript from a
live seminar Richard Bandler and John Grinder gave in the early days of
NLP. This particular format, chosen by Steve Andreas, protects the
juiciness of the original delivery by the two co-founders. More
fundamentally, Frogs Into Princes reveals between the lines the curious
and ruthless attitude proper to the practice of NLP. You MUST read this
book.
Unlimited Power : The New Science Of Personal Achievement , by Anthony Robbins
This book was probably the first to take NLP to the masses. While it
gives Anthony Robbins's spin of personal excellence to NLP, it exposes
in very simple and entertaining language many of NLP's classic models
and patterns, such as representational systems, well-formed outcomes,
reframing, among others. A really good introduction for the beginning
student.
Turtles All the Way Down: Prerequisites to Personal Genius , by John Grinder and Judith DeLozier
This book definitely does not circulate on the usual NLP box office
hits. But it's one of the most provocative books available to the
NLPer. It offers countless descriptions and exercises to stimulate the
reader to access the know-nothing state, absolutely essential to
modeling using the NLP methodology. Again, it's one of the rare places
where you can get a "whiff" of Grinder-style NLP.
Trance-Formations: Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the Structure of Hypnosis , by Richard Bandler and John Grinder
Another book edited by Steve Andreas. This one exposes, in seminar
format, hypnotic patterns that the co-founders learned by modeling
Milton Erickson. Once again, the live seminar format offers a more
organic and juicy reading experience than the habitual dryness of the
textbook. This one is still considered by many practicioners of NLP as
one of the best books on hynosis. Be ready to pay top dollar for it as
it's held as a collectible these days.
Reframing: Neuro-Linguistic Programming and the Transformation of Meaning , by Richard Bandler and John Grinder
"Reframing" is the seminar equivalent of The Structure of Magic
(also recommended below). Also in seminar format, this book shows how
to use the language patterns of the meta-model to challenge and
reorganize a client's Model of the World. Another classic among the
seminal texts of the early days of NLP. You'll love it.
Using Your Brain–For a Change: Neuro-Linguistic Programming , by Richard Bandler
By this point, Richard Bandler and John Grinder had already split
up. In this book, also edited by Steve Andreas in live seminar format,
you'll get to read Richard Bandler's dabblings and experiments with his
new neurolinguistic toy: submodalities. I believe this book was the
first to present the Swish Pattern, one of the best-known NLP
patterns/techniques.
Beliefs: Pathways to Health and Wellbeing , by Robert Dilts, Tim Hallborn and Suzi Smith
Robert Dilts et all do an outstanding job in presenting beliefs, how
they constellate our unconscious and the impact they have on our view
of the world. While beliefs generally do not show up until Master
Practicioner levels of training, you'll really enjoy this book's simple
language.
Whispering In The Wind, by John Grinder and Carmen Bostic St Clair
This book, while incredibly complex, will give you a very, very
solid grounding in the scientific underpinnings of NLP. In it, Grinder
and Bostic St Clair expose rigorously the influences that cybernetics,
linguistics, psychology and other fields had in the founding of NLP.
While it's a hairy read and not easy to digest, you have to read it if
you're committed to mastering NLP.
The Structure of Magic: A Book About Language and Therapy , by Richard Bandler and John Grinder
Both Volume I and Volume II of The Structure of Magic present
systematically how Bandler and Grinder modeled Fritz Perls and Virginia
Satir. They also reveal the way Bandler and Grinder found to code their
newfound communication model. While you may find it a tough read as
well, you have to read this to get a sense of how a formal NLP model
should be presented. I doubt that a model has been presented so
thoroughly since the publication of this two-part series.
Patterns of the Hypnotic Techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D , by Richard Bandler and John Grinder
You have to read Volume I and Volume II of this two-tome essay for
the same reasons that you have to read The Structure of Magic: because
they reveal how to code patterns formally. Imagine what it would be
like to stand in front of the world's greatest hypnotherapist and
trying to figure out what the heck he's doing… "Patterns" will enchant
you in some parts, challenge you in others, but definitely will impress
you with the commitment and determination with which Bandler and
Grinder pursued this peculiar modeling project.
Of course, different students of NLP will argue for a different Top
10 list. But this one will definitely set you on your way to
understanding what NLP is all about, while at the same time getting you
to use some of the practical tools that NLP offers, such as the Swish
Pattern. One thing is for sure, keep Whispering In The Wind for
dessert… 
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