I've read mine twice now and greatly enjoyed all of it. Hmmm, even found out some things I didn't even know at my age!

It sure doesn't tell one how and that is part of the fun....brain going Ohhh, I bet he did this and this.

Lovely read IMO

Stay well,
Marjorie

Wow Marjorie, it seems like you read fast. When did your copy arrive? I am waiting mostly patiently for mine

I live "next door" to Colorado so I get mail rather quickly and I ordered it immediately upon receiving the e.

Stay well,
Marjorie

A note from Sharon at NLPComprehensive who sells the book said it is best to order directly from them to England. The postage isn't all that much, especially now considering everything is more than one-half off in the USA. If links are allowed, I'll put it up. They are not planning to put it on Amazon or any other site. Marjorie

PS - The pages are rather small (about the size of Frogs Into Princes), the print rather large and double spacing so it is not difficult at all to read it in an evening.

Stay well,
Marjorie

Yes, but I think Andrew put a natural break in there for folks to sleep on it. Or, am I mistaken, Andrew?

Probably a little on the order of Frogs and Trance-Formations without the how-to's. It's definitely worth more than one read. It's also proof positive of just how fantastic this "non-therapeutic" NLP we have can and does beat everything on Planet Earth.

As I said: "Lovely read".

Marjorie

A small amusememnt for me - from the index.

In reverse alphabetical order:

Grinder, John, 157

Erickson, Milton, 59, 87, 112, 115

Bandler, Richard, 45, 77, 84, 111, 153, 157

;-)

I have enjoyed reading the book and found it just what the NLPer ordered. His creativity is an inspiration to people who may be looking for that different angle, or that frame of reference that says 'go for it, do what is required for your outcome'. You know the one, the one addition that you'd like to apply but were afraid, very, very afraid... Flexibility!

I wondered at times if this book was a fantastically written 'How to' rather than some well written accounts of personal experience from someone; that was my level of intrigue and for that I thank the author.

Be Well

Now I know your name. LOL! Welcome my friend. Hugs, (Pood)

I'll be posting a full review on my website in the next couple of days. In the meantime a few quick observations:

1. The subtitle is "Tales from a Neurolinguist's Journal" - which describes the book very well indeed. The book basically consists of 55 "chapters", each of which is either a story, a "how to" or in a few cases, pages from a hypnosis training manual.

2. Whilst I agree with almost everything Andrew writes about the state of the mental health system in the UK, by the time I was halfway through the book I was getting a little put off by the seemingly unrelenting criticisms of psychiatrists, mental health staff (i.e. nurses, ward sisters, etc.)

3. According to the back cover blurb, Bill O'Hanlon, a long-establish writer on hypnosis, Erickson, etc., describes Andrew as "the British Milton Erickson," and for the first few pages I felt that I understood what he meant. As I got further into the book I was more inclined to think of Andrew as Britain's answer to Richard Bandler.

So, whilst I'm not quite sure what rating to give the book, yet, I certainly wouldn't want to discourage anyone from reading it.

Good luck Andy.

Be well

Andy B.

When is it being released in Australia Andrew?

The Rainbow Machine presents a rich mix of observations, teachings and anecdotes from someone who has clearly honed his NLP skills in challenging and stressful situations while working as a nurse and therapist. I imagine that for people currently working in the health services this book will have huge resonance. The rest of us are also likely to share the indignation and hunger for change that this marvellous book generates.

The book is structured as 55 short chapters (the longest of which has 12 pages, while most have just 2 or 3). Many of the chapters are from Andrew’s “casebook”; describing encounters with individual patients / clients, others are broader observations on key topics (e.g. types of problem or types of solution) and a few are straight text book style definitions of NLP / hypnotic techniques. While only one short chapter is pure autobiography, this is clearly a very personal book and the author’s voice is strong throughout. There are moments of frank disclosure about his personal history but we mainly get to know Andrew through his opinions, attitudes and behaviours in the professional encounters he describes. Only in the few “text book” style chapters does the author step back and present the content dispassionately; these cooling off moments provide an effective balance to the emotional charge of other parts of the book.

The Rainbow Machine succeeds in presenting a set of self contained sections that you can dip into, as you might dip into a book like Sidney Rosen’s “My Voice Will Go With You”. However it also has an overall unity and flow that makes it more than just a collection of anecdotes and observations. The book is wise, funny, poignant, provocative and always entertaining as it moves along at a brisk pace, eliciting a chain of states and enriching our understanding of NLP as a life changing technology.

In the first chapter we discover what “The Rainbow Machine” is, and the book ends with an equally poignant metaphor. By then Andrew has taken us on a wonderful journey through his world, leaving us energised and inspired.

Here's the 5 star review I've just given it on Amazon:

'With hindsight, maybe dressing up as Satan was a step too far, but sometimes I just cannot resist. When a consultant psychiatrist called me to book an appointment to "confront her Catholic guilt", then something inside my head just started shouting "Go on!! She's a psychiatrist! Do it!! Do the session dressed as Satan!!"'

If you like that extract, then you'll love this book. It's a series of bite-sized articles, case studies and "Tales from a neurolinguist's journal" drawn from Austin's practice as a hypnotherapist and former career as a psychiatric nurse.

The book comes with heavyweight endorsement from the likes of Steve Andreas and Bill O'Hanlon, who describes Austin as 'the British Milton Erickson' - although given the degree of irreverence for the psychiatric establishment and the willingness to satirise some elements of the NLP community, "the British Richard Bandler" might be a little bit closer to conveying the flavour of the book.

Published by Real People Press, the Mark Andreas hippy-art cover makes it look like classic NLP works such as 'Frogs Into Princes' and 'Trance-Formations', and it's good enough to stand in that company. There really is an insight on nearly every page. The psych nursing background gives Austin an unusual depth of knowledge of the oft-neglected 'neuro' part of NLP, which provides useful perspectives on disorders like OCD.

Many people will be familiar with the "That's so obvious - why didn't I notice that before?" moments that come thick and fast when you first encounter NLP. I'm pleased to say that after 10 years as an NLP trainer, this book could still give me plenty of those. Of course a decision-making process that uses movies is going to get better results than one restricted to stills! Damn!

One tiny quibble is that despite being Austin being English, the book sometimes lapses into American. Does he really use "gotten" in everyday conversation? Maybe he's been over there a lot and it's rubbed off. But you'd have to be a Kingsley Amis character to take that as anything more than a minor irritation.

Did I mention that the book is often laugh-out-loud funny? He got away with that "Satan" thing too - in fact the client was so pleased with the results that she paid about six times what he asked. One thing I'm taking away from it is to be braver in my changework sessions.

For my money this is the most significant NLP book of the last five years. Luckily it's also one of the most readable. More please!

Oops! When I wrote that bit about "the British Richard Bandler" I hadn't read Mr Bradbury's posting which made the same point earlier. Great minds etc...

I would like to give a quick plug for Andy's book.

I am working my way through this book at leisure and enjoying it. Actually, it has become my "bedtime story" book, as each chapter is self-contained, and thoroughly entertaining.

If you want to read excellent examples of a person who uses NLP in a totally "outside the box" fashion, then this is the book for you!

Enjoy!

Phil

I've already read it twice, too, and can't wait to read it again!!

Great fun!!

Venus

I never knew what happened to my original order, but I've just been on Amazon and ordered it again, however it has the author as Rob Hunt and not Andrew, which concerned me a little:

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-Reading-Tree-Storybooks-Rainbow/dp/0198452608/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223278788&sr=8-2"]Amazon.co.uk: Oxford Reading Tree: Stage 8: Storybooks (magic Key): the Rainbow Machine (Oxford Reading Tree): Rod Hunt, Alex Brychta: Books[/ame]


Ah well I bet it's still a good read, most people seem to like it

It is a really good read and a fine collection of stories demonstrating the need to work with what is in front of you rather than to 'technique' the problem.

And thanks for reminding me to add this to the book list on our web site.

Cheers

John

I just finished it last night, finally!

What a great read. Anyone with any interest in changework application of NLP should read this book!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Phil

Damn that was qick, just received my copy, like them or loathe them, but Amazon are good

Now the big question is do I wait for my trip to Indonesia to read it, hmm tough decision to make, that said I've a 2 1/2 month stint in Indonesia coming up, think I may need a few books