Cynthia Lou.

Cynthia Lou 10 August 2009 Book Reviews, Growth and Development One Comment

BOOK OVERVIEW

In the book, “Conversations With Richard Bandler”, Owen Fitzpatrick outlines a plan for successful living by weaving together tales gathered, organized, and co-written with Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) co-creator Richard Bandler.

True to the story-infused NLP teaching style, Fitzpatrick’s “Conversations With Richard Bandler” walks the reader from explorations of what hinders freedom, to an understanding of how we have all the power and resources required to effect the change we seek, all the way to the other side where we are met with freedom, joy, and connection.

After a basic definition of Neuro Linguistic Programming and a history of FItzpatrick’s relationship with Bandler, Fitzpatrick examines “The Art of Personal Freedom”. In this section we look at what holds us stuck in our lives, in our relationships, and what holds us back from the happiness we are meant to have and the achievements we set out to achieve.

The next section, “The Keys To Changing Your Life” provides tips and tools to shift our perspective to one that serves us in a positive way. After all, the “realities” we create are merely maps and representations of the world, not the actual world itself. If this is the case, why not create our worlds to serve us?

Finally, Fitzpatrick carries the conversation to “Breaking The Chains of the Self”, “The Art of Loving Freedom”, and “The Art of Spiritual Freedom” – examining personal freedom from the perspective of the self, to the interpersonal, to the community at large and spiritual realms of connection, respectively.

By the end, we are left with an increased disctinction of freedom and ease, as well as with practical and reuseable tools and exercises for successful living.

OVERALL…..

PROS
- Good for someone looking to improve their overall happiness and sense of freedom in an easy, fun-to-read manner. By the end of this book, expect to enjoy a few good stories, knowing that the lessons of the stories are working on your subconscious effortlessly.

- Fantastic introduction to the world of Richard Bandler and NLP. This book makes it easy for anyone to enjoy NLP’s benefits without having to learn all of NLP’s mechanics

- For those who are already fans of Richard Bandler, expect Bandler’s famously (infamously?) fun, no-nonsense, dry-witted sense of humor

- Inter-woven conversations + practical teaching make this an easy read

- Relevant, practical exercises to apply immediately to help guide decision making and craft a life that is free, creative, and alive

CONS
- This is not an in-depth study of NLP. If you were hoping for rigors and structures behind NLP and how it works, you will not find it here.

- The title does not do the book justice. Yes, Richard Bandler has created a name for himself. But to simply play off his “famousness” by naming the book “Conversations With Richard Bandler” without describing what the reader can enjoy as a result of consuming this book does this book a disservice.
It seems that this book targets someone who is less familiar with NLP concepts and ideas, one who may not necessarily know Richard Bandler.