Book Report: Hypnosis (How to Unleash The Power of Your Mind WITHOUT DRUGS!) by H. D. Birns (c) 1968

Hypnosis (How to Unleash The Power of Your Mind WITHOUT DRUGS!) by H. D. Birns (c) 1968

This is a very competent introduction to the subject, with good, basic instructions in self hypnosis. As with most other books of this type, it discusses a bit of the history of hypnosis, common conceptions of hypnosis versus actual facts, and a few "case histories" to illustrate how individuals were affected by the use of hypnosis. At the time of writing this book, Hypnosis was practiced primarily by psychologists, and it was one of the possible treatment modalities that they might apply. One interesting historical note is that hypnosis, he says, became popular after WW2 to assist soldiers when there just weren't enough psychologists to go around, and Freudian Analysis (the common approach at the time) took too long.

The title itself is interesting and timely for the '60s when both psychiatric as well as psychedelic/recreational drugs were a hot topic.

The "payload" of this book is a straightforward, basic method of self-hypnosis that readers can use for themselves to create changes in their own habits. He distinguishes three levels of trance to help experimenters get to the levels that are best suited for the changes they want to make, visualization, and post-hypnotic suggestion.. He includes basic instructions for "glove anesthesia" an hypnotic method for pain control, and entire chapters discussing weight control, smoking, drinking anxiety, and general self-improvement. 

Further chapters discuss the spookier, more questionable applications of hypnosis that were particularly hot topics in those Cold War years, including commission of crimes, brainwashing, and subliminal advertising. Hypnotists are generally divided over whether a person can be hypnotized to do things they wouldn't normally do. This author feels that it is possible, and offers cases to back himself up, including legal cases, and the kind  of brainwashing done by Nazis and by the Communist Chinese. His discussion about "Subliminal Perception" (subliminal advertising) was also a hot topic at the time, and he has great faith in the power of it. Finally, he touches on hypnosis for ESP, and introduces Charles Richet's term "cryptesthesia" for telepathy, and feels hypnosis can enhance it. 

Overall, it's a really good, thorough introduction to the subject with enough practical information on self-hypnosis to get a curious beginner started, but without being overwhelming. He addresses a lot of hot-button issues of the time, which are still timely today, and for all the stories and studies he discusses, he includes the authors and sources, which is often not done.I'm actually surprised I wasn't able to find out more information about the author on line.

Book Report Cross Reference by Topic

Before I post too many more book reports, I though it would be useful to cross reference them by topic:

Hypnosis:
Advance Techniques of Hypnosis,
Hypnotism,
Practical Hypnotism and Mesmerism,
The Power of Hypnosis,
Professional Stage Hypnotism,
25 Lessons in Hypnotism,
The Science of Hypnotism,
Master Secrets of Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis,
The Laws of Psychic Phenomena,
Witchcraft and Folklore of Dartmoor,
Hypnotherapy,
Hypnotism,
Hypnosis: Key to Psychic Power,
Hypnosis: How to Unleash the Power of Your Mind WITHOUT DRUGS!
Clinical Hypnosis (Crasilneck & Hall)

Mesmerism:
Practical Hypnotism and Mesmerism,
The Science of Hypnotism,
The Laws of Psychic Phenomena,
Mesmerism Unveiled!

NLP: Neuro Linguistic Programmming Vol. 1

Auto-suggestion and Self-Hypnosis:
Advance Techniques of Hypnosis,
Self-Mastery Through Conscious Auto-suggestion,
The Practice of Auto-Suggestion,
Self Hypnosis: Creating Your Own Destiny,
Master Secrets of Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis,
The Self Hypnosis Book,
Hypnosis: How to Unleash the Power of Your Mind WITHOUT DRUGS!
Thresholds of the Mind

Mind Control

Telepathy and ESP:
Dream Telepathy,
Parapsychology Today,
Are You Psychic?,
You Are Psychic!,
Psycho-Kinesis,
The Laws of Psychic Phenomena,
Spiritualism and Clairvoyance for Beginners,
Paravision,
Crystal Gazing,
Hypnosis: Key to Psychic Power,
Mental Dominance,
Training Manual for Sight Without Eyes
Science of Breath
Sorcery 
Mind Control  
Master Guide to Psychism

Scientific Methodology:
Dream Telepathy,
Parapsychology Today,
Science and the Supernatural,
The Invisible Gorilla
Clinical Hypnosis (Crasilneck & Hall)
Thresholds of the Mind

Self-Help and Positive Thinking:
Self-Mastery Through Conscious Auto-suggestion,
The Practice of Auto-Suggestion,
Secret Mental Powers:The Miracle of Mind Magic,
The Magic of Psychic Power,
The Einstein Factor,
Hypnosis:
How to Unleash the Power of Your Mind WITHOUT DRUGS!,
Getting What You Want,
Outliers,
Thresholds of the Mind
Mind Control
Transcendental Meditation

Psychology:
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,
The Hidden Brain,
The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity,
Blink,
Getting What You Want,
The Invisible Gorilla,
Fundamentals of Psychology in Context, 
Clinical Hypnosis (Crasilneck & Hall)

Intelligence:
The Einstein Factor, 
Outliers,

History of Hypnosis:
The Science of Hypnotism,
The Laws of Psychic Phenomena,
25 Lessons in Hypnotism,
Practical Hypnotism and Mesmerism,
Hypnotism

Stage Hypnosis:
Professional Stage Hypnotism, 

Spiritualism:
Spiritualism and Clairvoyance for Beginners,
The Celestine Prophesy,
The Human Dynamo,
Psychonavigation

Symbol Interpretation:
Spiritualism and Clairvoyance for Beginners,
The Einstein Factor

Folklore:
Witchcraft and Folklore of Dartmoor,
Crystal Gazing,
Psychonavigation
Sorcery 

Other Metaphysical:
Astral Travel for Beginners,
The Secret Wisdom of the Qabalah,
Psychonavigation
Science of Breath
Sorcery 

Remote Viewing: 
Training Manual for Sight Without Eye, 
The Laws of Psychic Phenomena

Book Report: The Science of Hypnotism by L.E. (Lou Ella) Young -- History and How-to

The Science of Hypnotism by L.E. (Lou Ella) Young, (c) 1899 to 1953 (at least)

Background Information: This book has been reprinted for over half a century! I haven't been able to find any biographical information on the author. 

This 300+ page tome is an extensive textbook of hypnosis and mesmerism as it was at the beginning of the 20th century. The first 10 or so chapters delve deeply into the history of hypnosis through the 19th century, He explores the various methods and theories of the old masters. It is the most in-depth discussion of their comparative approaches I've found in a general hypnosis test book, but at the time of writing, I imagine this was far more current than it is to us today. Indeed, the author seems to be greatly influenced by Bernheim, a major hypnotist of the 19th century. 

There's a lot of discussion of various treatments and suggestions, and also the psychology behind effective suggestion. 

While the greatest value of this book nowadays is the history, it was written to be as thorough an education to the practitioner as possible.

Book Report: Wehman's Bros Practical Hypnosis and Mesmerism (c.1900's) -- Hypno History

 Wehman Bros Practical Hypnosis and Mesmerism, no author or copyright date listed. 

Background information: Wehman Brothers was a pulp publisher at the turn of the century located at Park Row in NY, the publishing center of the city in the 19th century, with an extensive catalog of titles on nearly every topic imaginable, including sports, letter writing, stage skills, and jokebooks. Their books were usually inexpensively printed on newsprint, sized to fit in a back pocket and sold inexpensively. This volume is printed on glossy paper and bears the "Zone Code" of "New York 3 NY" indicating it is probably from the 1940s, since our 5-digit "Zip Code" didn't come into use until the early 1963. Wehman Brothers Publishing appear to have survived from the 19th century and are still working in some capacity as an intermediary publisher. 

If you're interested in the historical evolution of hypnosis from Mesmerism to the present day, this booklet is a great place to start. Many books put out by Wehman Bros. were taken from other sources, and this book is literally taken from someone else's work--for one thing, the first page in the booklet is marked page 35. 

The author of this work was apparently working at a time early in the 20th century when hypnosis was being to displace Mesmerism, and he was clearly well experienced in both arts. (FYI: in a nutshell, hypnosis induces trance though verbal suggestion and fixed attention, and occasionally some other elements, while Mesmerism believes it induces trance through the projection of "Animal Magnetism" from the practitioner to the subject via "magnetic passes" of the hands and the "Magnetic Gaze" of the eyes. It's something like Chinese chi-gung therapy, or laying on of hands). 

The first part of the book describes the characteristics of mesmerism, including the best qualities for a mesmerist and for a mesmeric subject, how to cultivate the mesmeric aura and transmit it to a subject. In addition to describing his method, the author quotes several other experts, who I presume were well respected mesmerists of their day, for additional advice and insight. 

He closes the discussion of mesmerism by warning the practitioner that Mesmerism is slow and unspectacular, and if one is performing for an audience, it is better to employ the new science of hypnosis. 

The hypnosis portion of the book is pretty basic, and of more interest for historical purposes. The author include the methods of some of the leaders of the early 20th century, including James Braid, Albert Moll, and James Coates. 

There is a discussion of phrenohypnosis (phrenology and hypnosis, something I've never read about elsewhere!), medical mesmerism, charging water with mesmeric power, and hypnotizing animals.

Despite the small size of this book, it does contain a lot of information and attempts to earnestly present useful information and aspiring mend control enthusiast can practice.