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.

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.

Blueprint of the Dave Elman Induction by H. Larry Elman

Title: Blueprint of the Dave Elman Induction

Author: H. Larry Elman

Format:  Book

Source: http://shop.daveelmanhypnosisinstitute.com/BLUEPRINT-of-the-Dave-Elman-Induction-by-H-Larry-Elman-Blprt-BK.htm

Price:  $13.95 (I received a review copy.)

Rating: Excellent

Well, I've been very busy with my studies at the Hypnosis Practitioner Training Institute, which means that even though I've been reading quite a bit, I haven't had time to post many reviews. Today, I decided to take a little break from studying and jot down my thoughts about a few of the books that have crossed my desk in the last eight months.

Last week, I attended a hypnosis practice meetup where the topic was the Dave Elman Induction, a piece of hypnotic work that may be, after progressive muscle relaxation, the most popular specific induction in modern hypnosis. I know many hypnotists who swear by it, using it with the majority of their clients. So before I went to the meetup, I took Larry Elman's Blueprint of the Dave Elman Induction off my shelf to review the process.

Please note—I said "process." The main reason Larry Elman wrote a book about his father's famous induction is that it is too often presented as a script rather than a process. Even when instructors explain that you may have to alter the wording or repeat steps, they still, almost universally, present it as a series of arbitrary actions with no discussion of why the induction calls for these actions. Indeed, some instructors I admire greatly refuse to teach the Elman Induction because they object to certain details in it—the touching or the eye catalepsy, for instance.

The Blueprint does an amazing job of addressing these misconceptions held by advocates and critics alike. Though brief, this work thoroughly explains the hows and the whys of every step in the process, even suggesting alternate details to use when necessary. (So that Elman Inductions without eye catalepsy, touching, or even "losing the numbers" can be invented.)  In short, this work is for anyone who wants to understand what they are doing rather than merely parrot back steps an instructor has taught.

The historian in me loves the insight into the creation and development of the Elman Induction provided in this work—straight from someone who was there as it happened. Reading Larry Elman's writing is perhaps the closest we'll get to stepping back in time and getting to hear Dave Elman himself provide further wisdom.

Though the book itself is small—a pamphlet really, unlikely to look impressive when other hypnotists glance at your shelf—the content is huge and the value incalculable. Anyone who learns and uses the Dave Elman Induction really ought to take the time to read this book and review it from time-to-time. After all, being a hypnotist is not about repeating the right magical incantations; it is about understanding the processes that have worked in the past so that we can develop and adapt in the future.