It's been a while since I wrote any new reviews, and I've decided to do something more interesting: video reviews using FaceBook Live.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Elman on Elman
Title: Elman on Elman: Dave Elman's Earliest Hypnosis Works including H Larry Elman's Analysis
Author: Larry Elman and Dave Elman
Format: mp3s on DVD
Source: http://elmanhypnosis.com/
Price: $69
Rating: Excellent
So, back in 2012, I reviewed a product from the Dave Elman Hypnosis Institute called the Dave Elman Shorties; you can read that review here.
I found the Shorties truly delightful--really an amazing opportunity to time-travel and learn directly from Dave Elman, one of the most influential hypnotists of the twentieth century. Having a background in both vaudeville and radio, the elder Elman made excellent recordings that hold up very well today.
Of course, when I review any work, I point out a few areas in which it could be improved; I don't write fluff reviews. Anyway, my criticisms of the Shorties centered primarily on Larry Elman's commentary on his father's recordings, which lacked good audio quality and were done under the stress of deadline.
Now, when I offer criticisms, authors respond in one of three ways:
1. They ignore it and move on.
2. They get angry and want to either educate me or burn me at the stake.
3. They admit that my criticisms are accurate, and then they move on.
Larry and Cheryl Elman took a fourth approach, which surprised me: They took note of my criticisms and used that information to create a better product.
So, forget the Dave Elman Shorties (as awesome as they were); make room on your shelf for Elman on Elman.
Everything that was great about the Shorties is still there, and even more. The younger Elman has located additional (and better preserved) records of his father's work, so the new product expands on the old. There are techniques, strategies, and variants that fans of Elman's Hypnotherapy book will find to be wonderful new discoveries.
Colonel Larry Elman's commentary and analysis are also greatly expanded, sometimes running longer than the original recordings being analyzed. And while I criticized the commentary in the Shorties to be dull and dry, I must say that the new commentary is much livelier and more enjoyable than the old commentary, especially as the colonel gets warmed up and begins telling stories of his parents.
In particular, when Larry tells the story of how his mother first learned that his father was a hypnotist, and then how she learned to be a hypnotist and eventually a hypnosis teacher--Larry's presentation becomes heartwarming. I laughed aloud and actually teared-up a bit while listening to the colonel's loving tribute to his mother. Similarly, his discussion of why his father was never successful at smoking cessation provides both insight and a cautionary tale for the modern hypnotist.
My one criticism this time around really pertains to one of my pet peeves: Larry Elman uses the term "critical factor" rather than "critical faculty." As a word geek, I favor the historically accurate term "faculty"--which, by the way, is the term Dave Elman used in his writing as well.
All analysis aside, the fact is that it's just magical to put on a recording of Dave Elman and let him guide you through trance. That's a ride I'm happy to go on again and again.
Full Disclosure: Larry and Cheryl Elman are friends of mine. They have been very generous in offering review copies of their products, and after the destruction of my office (and library) in 2011, the colonel was kind enough to send me an inscribed copy of his father's book to help me rebuild my library.
So, back in 2012, I reviewed a product from the Dave Elman Hypnosis Institute called the Dave Elman Shorties; you can read that review here.
I found the Shorties truly delightful--really an amazing opportunity to time-travel and learn directly from Dave Elman, one of the most influential hypnotists of the twentieth century. Having a background in both vaudeville and radio, the elder Elman made excellent recordings that hold up very well today.
Of course, when I review any work, I point out a few areas in which it could be improved; I don't write fluff reviews. Anyway, my criticisms of the Shorties centered primarily on Larry Elman's commentary on his father's recordings, which lacked good audio quality and were done under the stress of deadline.
Now, when I offer criticisms, authors respond in one of three ways:
1. They ignore it and move on.
2. They get angry and want to either educate me or burn me at the stake.
3. They admit that my criticisms are accurate, and then they move on.
Larry and Cheryl Elman took a fourth approach, which surprised me: They took note of my criticisms and used that information to create a better product.
So, forget the Dave Elman Shorties (as awesome as they were); make room on your shelf for Elman on Elman.
Everything that was great about the Shorties is still there, and even more. The younger Elman has located additional (and better preserved) records of his father's work, so the new product expands on the old. There are techniques, strategies, and variants that fans of Elman's Hypnotherapy book will find to be wonderful new discoveries.
Colonel Larry Elman's commentary and analysis are also greatly expanded, sometimes running longer than the original recordings being analyzed. And while I criticized the commentary in the Shorties to be dull and dry, I must say that the new commentary is much livelier and more enjoyable than the old commentary, especially as the colonel gets warmed up and begins telling stories of his parents.
In particular, when Larry tells the story of how his mother first learned that his father was a hypnotist, and then how she learned to be a hypnotist and eventually a hypnosis teacher--Larry's presentation becomes heartwarming. I laughed aloud and actually teared-up a bit while listening to the colonel's loving tribute to his mother. Similarly, his discussion of why his father was never successful at smoking cessation provides both insight and a cautionary tale for the modern hypnotist.
My one criticism this time around really pertains to one of my pet peeves: Larry Elman uses the term "critical factor" rather than "critical faculty." As a word geek, I favor the historically accurate term "faculty"--which, by the way, is the term Dave Elman used in his writing as well.
All analysis aside, the fact is that it's just magical to put on a recording of Dave Elman and let him guide you through trance. That's a ride I'm happy to go on again and again.
Full Disclosure: Larry and Cheryl Elman are friends of mine. They have been very generous in offering review copies of their products, and after the destruction of my office (and library) in 2011, the colonel was kind enough to send me an inscribed copy of his father's book to help me rebuild my library.
Street Hypnosis by Sean Michael Andrews
Title: Street Hypnosis
Author: Sean Michael Andews
Format: Book, Kindle Book
Rating: Excellent
Due to his relentless use of YouTube and his excellent newsletter--not to mention his skill as the World's Fastest URL Registrant--Sean Michael Andrews (SMA) is one of the best known and most respected international teachers of street hypnosis. I've reviewed a number of his video products and generally been quite impressed by them. However, video and print are two very different media, so I wondered whether Mr. Andrews could write a book that would measure up to his videos and live instruction.
Well, in short, the answer is YES. His new book, Street Hypnosis, is not only an easy and enjoyable read, but a treasure trove of information for anyone who wants to practice street hypnosis.
As an aside, I believe that even if you intend to spend your entire career doing changework in an office--which is my main emphasis--you will benefit from practicing some street hypnosis. You will gain confidence in what you do as well as expanding your toolbelt. I once worked with a man who'd already been to see the best Ericksonian in town; the client's comment was "It did me no good. I don't think he even hypnotized me; we just talked." Now, I'm a fan of conversational, permissive hypnosis with lots of storytelling and metaphor, but when I asked this man what he needed in order to make the change, he said, "You know how people at shows forget their names and stuff. If you can do that, I'll know I'm really hypnotized." So I did a street routine with him, right there in my office. He had phenomenal results. That's true utilization.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand--I long ago commented that SMA's newsletter--which goes out to thousands--always feels like he wrote it just for me. His book has a similar quality; reading it feels much like we've sat down for a beer together, and he's filling me in on his vast knowledge gained through various adventures (and many misadventures) performing and teaching street hypnosis all over the world.
The book is written with the novice in mind, so in that sense, there's a lot of information (and some stories) I've already gleaned from SMA over the years. That said, I found some new insights. SMA covers the whole gamut of doing street hypnosis: how to understand it, why it's valuable, where to do it, how to get a crowd, how to pick your volunteers. He also covers the hypnosis itself, from the pre-talk through inductions, deepener, skits, and re-emergence. One thing I value is that SMA emphasizes safety and respect for your volunteers throughout the entire practice. He even addresses such issues as the history of street hypnosis, how to post hypnosis videos on YouTube, and which organizations and conventions might best fit the reader's interests.
Did I find anything to criticize? I'd say that there's a bit of overlap between the FAQ and the Parting Thoughts section, which feels redundant if you read the book straight through. Otherwise, it's a great read for any hypnotist.
Full Disclosure: SMA sent me a pre-release copy of his book for review. I count him among my friends, but as readers of this blog know, I don't let that keep me from making honest assessments.
Author: Sean Michael Andews
Format: Book, Kindle Book
Rating: Excellent
Due to his relentless use of YouTube and his excellent newsletter--not to mention his skill as the World's Fastest URL Registrant--Sean Michael Andrews (SMA) is one of the best known and most respected international teachers of street hypnosis. I've reviewed a number of his video products and generally been quite impressed by them. However, video and print are two very different media, so I wondered whether Mr. Andrews could write a book that would measure up to his videos and live instruction.
Well, in short, the answer is YES. His new book, Street Hypnosis, is not only an easy and enjoyable read, but a treasure trove of information for anyone who wants to practice street hypnosis.
As an aside, I believe that even if you intend to spend your entire career doing changework in an office--which is my main emphasis--you will benefit from practicing some street hypnosis. You will gain confidence in what you do as well as expanding your toolbelt. I once worked with a man who'd already been to see the best Ericksonian in town; the client's comment was "It did me no good. I don't think he even hypnotized me; we just talked." Now, I'm a fan of conversational, permissive hypnosis with lots of storytelling and metaphor, but when I asked this man what he needed in order to make the change, he said, "You know how people at shows forget their names and stuff. If you can do that, I'll know I'm really hypnotized." So I did a street routine with him, right there in my office. He had phenomenal results. That's true utilization.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand--I long ago commented that SMA's newsletter--which goes out to thousands--always feels like he wrote it just for me. His book has a similar quality; reading it feels much like we've sat down for a beer together, and he's filling me in on his vast knowledge gained through various adventures (and many misadventures) performing and teaching street hypnosis all over the world.
The book is written with the novice in mind, so in that sense, there's a lot of information (and some stories) I've already gleaned from SMA over the years. That said, I found some new insights. SMA covers the whole gamut of doing street hypnosis: how to understand it, why it's valuable, where to do it, how to get a crowd, how to pick your volunteers. He also covers the hypnosis itself, from the pre-talk through inductions, deepener, skits, and re-emergence. One thing I value is that SMA emphasizes safety and respect for your volunteers throughout the entire practice. He even addresses such issues as the history of street hypnosis, how to post hypnosis videos on YouTube, and which organizations and conventions might best fit the reader's interests.
Did I find anything to criticize? I'd say that there's a bit of overlap between the FAQ and the Parting Thoughts section, which feels redundant if you read the book straight through. Otherwise, it's a great read for any hypnotist.
Full Disclosure: SMA sent me a pre-release copy of his book for review. I count him among my friends, but as readers of this blog know, I don't let that keep me from making honest assessments.
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