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The Language Teacher

NLP Resources: A Partially Annotated Bibliography of Books, Videos, Periodicals, Trainings, and Web-sites

Tim Murphey, Charles Adamson & William Acton

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How well-known is NLP?

It is estimated that over a million people have to date done some training in NLP. There are training centers in most major North American and European cities and even training session summers in Bali. For example, in Finland where suggestopedia is already mainstream, several thousand teachers have had short NLP trainings. Veli-Matti Toivonen, who trains trainers to teach NLP in Finish, says that NLP has become popular there because it (1) is practical and useful for people in many professions, (2) is not a cult and has no dogma, (3) is open to and respectful of other fields, and (4) is basically just a framework to learn about what is excellent in any field. NLP started with the modeling of different kinds of excellent therapists/ communicators. Continuing to do this in Finland, Toivonen organizes the government and university supported week-long Finish NLP conferences in conjunction with other types of therapy and learning groups.

And Japan? In addition to the meetings, workshops and trainings conducted by the Neuro Linguistic Programming Association of Japan (with a quarterly journal, MetaMaps, which comes with your membership), there are a handful of individual trainers. This TLT issue and partial list of resources is our attempt to help spread the excitement.

I. Short List for those New to NLP

  • O'Conner, J., & Seymour, J. (l993, Revised Ed.). Introducing NLP. London: Aquarian Press. The most popular introduction to NLP since l990. Easy to read and broad based.
  • Andreas S., & Faulkner, C. (l994). NLP: The new technology of achievement. New York: Quill, William Morrow. This new and exciting introductory book is also on a popular tape set (Price: $59.95) with the same name and same excellent trainers/authors. Contact NLP Comprehensive for both.
  • Bolstad, R., Hamblett, M., Ohlson, T. H., & Hardie, J. (l992; reprinted l994, 1996) Communicating caring. Auckland, New Zealand: Longman Paul. A good first book (see the review of this book in the review section).
  • Andreas, C., & Andreas, S. (1989). Heart of the mind. Moab, Utah: Real People Press. For those who want to jump straight in and see how NLP is used with real problems and people, this book provides lots of case histories with lots of variety.

II. Short List of NLP Textbooks for Regular Classes.

The term "Users" indicates teachers who have used the books as class texts in Japan and endorse them; level is also noted. Please contact the users for further information (see authors' contact addresses).

  • Anderson, J. (5th printing l993). Thinking, changing, rearranging: Improving self-esteem in young people. Portland, OR: Metamorphous Press. 66 pages. This book is based on Rational Emotive Therapy and reflects parts of NLP's Metamodel, observing your talk, self-talk and thinking in a way that junior and senior high school children can enjoy. (Users: Goto, Ossario;1st year university)
  • Murphey, T. (l996). Language hungry. Nagoya: South Mountain Press. 80 pages. (Users: Deacon, Scott-Conley; university, privates, business, professionals, native and non-native speakers)
  • Whisler, J., & Marzano, R. (l996). Dare to imagine. Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory. 12300 E. Iliff, Suite 201, Aurora, CO 80014, USA. 88 pages. A book for NS adolescents on making goals and taking action with lots of useful activities. (User: Murphey; university)
  • O'Conner, J. & Seymour, J. (l994). Introduction to NLP. See description above. (User: Murphey; university seminars on NLP)

III. Short List of NLP Resource Texts Specifically for Teachers

Organized from simplest (most practical) to more abstract.

  • Lloyd, L. (l990). Classroom magic. Portland, OR: Metamorphous Press. 66 pages. Written for elementary school teachers to use in class. Easy.
  • Jensen, E. (l988). Super teaching. Available from Turn Point, P.O. Box 2551, Del Mar, CA 92014. Practical applications full of energy.
  • Grinder, M. (l991). Righting the educational conveyor belt. Portland, OR: Metamorphous Press. Handouts and exercises from his wide workshop trainings with teachers in public schools.
  • Cleveland, B. (1987). Master teaching techniques. Lawrenceville, GA: The Connecting Link Press. Clear, well illustrated and explained.>
  • Dilts, R. (1994). Effective presentation skills. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. Honing your teaching and presentation skills.
  • Dilts, R. (1996). Dynamic learning. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. (Includes an excellent account of how NLP has been applied and researched in many educational settings. Cutting edge.

IV. Short List of the "Original Masterpieces"

  • Bandler, R., & Grinder, J. (1975). The structure of magic. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. Shows how we do not operate on the world itself, but rather on mental models of it. The book then develops a model of one of our mental models -- the Meta-Model -- which describes how we model the world with language.
  • Grinder, J., & Bandler, R. (1975). The structure of magic II. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. This book covers representational systems, congruity/incongruity, Fuzzy Functions (an expansion of the Meta-Model), Family Therapy, and a Formal Notation for the Meta-Model (Grinder was still a transformational linguist at this point).
  • Bandler, R., & Grinder, J. (1979). Frogs into princes. Moab, Utah: Real People Press. Perhaps the most widely read first book on NLP. These are transcriptions of some of their pioneering workshops concerning sensory experience, anchoring, and reframing.
  • These three books describe and illustrate what has become known as the Milton Model. The last book is based on transcriptions of Bandler and Grinder's workshops in which they teach and use the Milton Model.

Bandler, R., & Grinder, J. (1977). Patterns of the hypnotic techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. Volume 1. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications.

Grinder, J., DeLozier, J., & Bandler, R. (1977). Patterns of the hypnotic techniques of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. Volume 2. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications.

Bandler, R., & Grinder, J. (l981). Trans-formations: Neurolinguistic programming and the structure of hypnosis. Moab, Utah: Real People Press.

  • Dilts, R. (1983). Roots of neurolinguistic programming. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. Dilts systematically sets out the basic ideas of NLP and the research that supports them. Part I "Roots of NLP" is a technical exploration of the relationship between information theory, neurology and cybernetics as background for the NLP model. Part II "EEG and Representational Systems" describes a brain model and research experiments supporting the basic tenets of NLP. Part III "Applications of Neuro-Linguistic Programming to Therapy" provides therapeutic examples.
  • Gordon, D. (1978). Therapeutic metaphors: Helping others through the looking glass. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. Provides the structure and how-to of creating metaphors and illustrates how powerful they can be.

V. Short List of More Recent Cutting Edge NLP Texts

  • Bandler, R., & MacDonald, W. (1988). An insider's guide to sub-modalities. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. Modalities are our representational systems: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory. Sub-modalities are the components of the modalities. Sub-modalities of vision include color, size, brightness and distance. This book systematically investigates the sub-modalities through edited transcripts of presentations by Bandler.
  • Dilts, R., Hollbom, T., & Smith S. (1990). Beliefs: Pathways to health and well-being. Portland, OR: Metamorphous Press. Since collaboration on this book, the three authors have organized the popular NLP Health Certification course and continue to do a great deal of innovative work.
  • Bandler, R. (1993). Time for a change. Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. From Bandler's introduction: "In this book you will find powerful ways to understand, shape, and use your states of consciousness, your driving beliefs, and your experience of time itself. You can apply these to accelerated learning, achieve your ideals, contribute to others, and have a spectacularly good time. Start now."
  • Andreas, C., & Andreas, T. (l994). Core transformation: Reaching the wellspring within. Moab, Utah: Real People Press. A profound and simple process. Understandable to non-specialists and easily performed from the descriptions given.
  • Dilts, R. (l995). Strategies of genius (Vols. I, II, & III). Cupertino, CA: Meta Publications. Dilts models Mozart, Einstein, Disney, Jesus, and others (i.e., describes their strategies and beliefs based on their writings and third-person reports) and makes them "available" for others to emulate.

VI. Videos

For an introduction to NLP: Bolstad, R. (l994). The power of NLP. (2 volume set, 6 hours; Price: NZ$200). Available from The National Training Institute of NLP (New Zealand), 26 Southampton Street, Christchurch 8002, New Zealand. Fax: 64-3-337-1852. This is a good introduction edited from an NLP introductory weekend workshop.

For more advanced training the following videos can be ordered from: NLP Comprehensive, 4895 Riverbend Road, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301, USA. Fax: 303-442-0609. All tapes are edited sessions of workshops with excellent demonstrations.

  • Andreas, C., & Andreas, S. The swish pattern. (71 minutes; $75); The fast phobia/trauma cure. (42 minutes; $60); A strategy for responding to criticism (40 minutes; $50).
  • Hallbom, T., & Smith, S. Eliminating allergic responses: Retraining your immune system. (55 minutes; $50). An impressive introductory level tape.
  • Bandler, R. Submodalities and hypnosis. (four tape set). Available from NLP Comprehensive. Price: $280. This is a video recording of a four day advanced workshop covering amplifying kinesthetic states and body work, non-verbal elicitation and change; presuppositions and hypnosis; redesigning and changing states; and convictions, beliefs, and reality.
  • Dilts, R. Disney Strategy. (41 minutes; $70); Logical level alignment. (52 minutes; $70); The TOTE utilization process. (41 minutes; $70); The healing patterns of Jesus of Nazareth. (2 volumes 110 minutes; $120). Simple patterns and explanations and live demonstrations with real people and problems.

VII. Coming NLP Events in Japan

Feb 16JALT-Sendai
The Circle of Excellence by Adamson
Mar 29-30JALT-Nagoya/NLPAJ
NLP Two Day Conference
Apr 20JALT-Ibaraki
NLP in the Classroom by Murphey
Apr 27JALT-Kyoto
NLP in the Classroom by Murphey
May 18NLPAJ-Nagoya
Introduction to NLP by Deacon, and others
Jun 16NLPAJ-Nagoya
Introduction to NLP in Japanese by Goto, and others
Jun 21JALT-Sendai
NLP in the Classroom by Murphey
Jun 22 JALT-Tokyo
NLP in the Classroom by Murphey

Summer Trainings in Japan (for information contact ALF) by Bolstad and Hamblett
Jul 26-29Nagoya
NLP Trainer's Session (Master practitioner's certificate required)
Jul 30-31Nagoya
NLP Two-Day Introduction
Aug 2-5Nagoya
Educational Hypnosis (4 days)
Aug 7-12;
14-19
Nagoya
The 6 days above and these last two weeks will comprise the NLP Practitioner's Course

VIII. NLP Training Groups

If you are going to take a training course, we suggest that you find out who the trainer will be and talk to someone who has taken the course previously. Most courses are held during the summer and last from 18 to 22 days. Many courses are regularly advertised in Anchor Point and NLP World (see addresses below), and will gladly send a brochure. The centers below offer Practitioner, Master Practitioner and Trainer trainings.

  • ALF - The National Training Institute of NLP (Japan): 3B Heiwa Daini Mansion, 2-6 Mitsuke-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464. Tel/Fax: 052-781-3871. This is the only one that we know of in Japan which is running full trainings. Training Team: Tim Murphey with Richard Bolstad and Margot Hamblett during the summer.
  • The National Training Institute of NLP (New Zealand): 26 Southampton Street, Christchurch 8002, New Zealand. Fax: 64-3-337-1852. Training Team: Richard Bolstad, Margot Hamblett, Lynn Timpany, and Bryan Royds.
  • NLP Comprehensive: 4895 Riverbend Road, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301, USA. Fax: 303-442-0609. Until last year it was run by the Andreas, more recently by Laura Ewing. They usually have a group of about six to ten experienced trainers at their summer trainings.
  • NLP University: P.O. Box 1112, Ben Lomond, CA 95005, USA. Fax: 408-336-5854. Training Team: Robert Dilts and Judith DeLozier. This is where it all began and these are two of the originators.

IX. Periodicals

There are three periodicals that we recommend highly to those who are seriously interested in NLP. The first is Anchor Point (originating now in Salt Lake City), a monthly NLP magazine with relatively short articles, ranging from very practical to theoretical. The second is NLP World (published in Switzerland), a more academic trimesterly journal with articles on concepts being applied and researched in NLP internationally. Finally there is the quarterly MetaMaps by the NLP Association of Japan, containing practical applications of NLP mostly for educational purposes in English and Japanese.

  • Anchor Point: 346 South 500 East #200 Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 USA. One year subscription (12 issues). US$59. Visa or Mastercard.
  • NLP World: Individuals: US$50, CHF 70. Institutions: US$75, CHF 105. All major credit cards are welcome (the Swiss franc subscription rate applies for credit cards). To subscribe: mail to G. Peter Winnington, Les 3 Chasseurs, 1413 ORZENS, Switzerland; or fax: 41-21-887-7976. Ask for a sample copy or you can visit their web site (below).
  • MetaMaps: comes with membership in the NLP Association of Japan (¥4,000 a year). Contact Charles Adamson: 12-5-1 Yodomibashidori, Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi-ken 980, Japan. Fax: 022-262-0979. (Free back copy available on request.)

X. Internet

Over the past two years there has been a (not) surprising increase in the number of web sites devoted to Neuro Linguistic Programming. If you type "NLP" into your favorite Web search engine, as we did recently on "Yahoo," you'll get over 1500 hits. To save some time, start with one of these two indexes:

Both of those provide good links to everything else. For recent articles on NLP, check out:


Tim Murphey may be contacted at: Nanzan University, 18 Yamazato-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya. 466. Tel: 052-832-3111; Fax: 052-832-5330. e-mail: <mits@i.nanzan-u.ac.jp>

Charles Adamson may be contacted at: 12-5-1 Yodomibashidori, Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken. 980. e-mail: <CHarles_Adamson@msn.com>

William Acton may be contacted at: Nagoya Shoka Daigaku, Nisshin-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-ken. 470-01.


All articles at this site are copyright © 1997 by their respective authors.
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Last modified: February 10, 1997
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