Recommended NLP Books

The Structure of
Magic Vol I, John Grinder, Richard Bandler

Early explanation of the language
patterns of NLP. I came back from my practitioner course, read this
and went, “Now I get it”.

As language is so important, this book explains how the structure
of language (syntax) reveals the underlying meaning and thinking
(semantics) of a person. Also how you can work with that to reveal
more.

Highly recommended. NLP as it started

The Structure of
Magic Vol II, John Grinder, Richard Bandler

Follows on from Volume I but a less
structured read. Expands further on the structure of language. Also
introduced the Satir model. Contains the formal language structures
that were initially used and still form the basis of how much NLP
is taught.

See how you get on with Volume I
first. Then dive in.

Worth reading if you are serious.

Frogs into Princes: Introduction
to Neuro Linguistic Programming

This seems an odd book because it
is actually the transcript of a seminar. As such it takes a while
to understand the structure. Don’t worry, there isn’t any. Just
imagine you are there listening and watching and noticing what is
happening.

Do that and you will find that you
are noticing both the conscious and unconscious mechanisms that
they are using in their teaching of NLP. I believe the very first
NLP book. Another “Now I get it” book.

A must read that you will notice
operates at many levels.

Turtles all the way down: Pre-requisites
for Personal Genius. Judy DeLozier, John Grindler

Another early NLP book that is the
transcript of a seminar. The advantage is that you hear and read
the language as if you were there. You experience the embedded unconscious
learning as you read the book. Not an easy read.

The introduction cautions the reader
to look for NLP trainers with integity and congruence: to find for
themselves both the skill of NLP and to integrate the skills into
their life.

Take your time, read this well,
and notice the many levels at which it operates

Steps to an Ecology
of Mind. Gregory Bateson

Possibly the most important NLP
book that nobody has read. Listen to anyone from when NLP started
and they all say they were strongly influenced by Gregory Bateson.

Not an easy read, but worth it.
Includes papers on anthropology, linguistics, learning and philosophy.
Vital to understand a key influence on NLP thinking.

A “Must read” book for
anyone truly interested in understanding the origins of NLP. Take
your time though.

NLP Encyclopedia

Robert Dilts & Judy DeLozier

The definitive guide to NLP techniques.
The amount of information that they have put into this is staggering.
Every single NLP technique and phrase is defined and explained extensively.

Very highly recommended as a the
definitive source on NLP

Modeling with NLP

Robert Dilts

Robert Dilts is one of the most
prolific NLP writers. This book explains his NLP modelling techniques
and introduces the Neuro-logical levels model.

Even though this is a bit dated,
if you are serious about modelling this is a must read.

If you want to understand NLP modelling
betterm, this is a good place to start.

Alpha Leadership

Robert Dilts, Anne Deering, Julian Russell

Robert worked extensibvely in the
area of leadership. With his co-authors, they have developed a model
of leadership sensitive to the environment, aligned through relationships
and embodiment, and that causes things to happen. If you believe
leadership is about creating the space to perform, this book will
help you.

Good book on leadership with practical
exercises and actions

Presenting Magically

Tad James & David Shepherd

NLP based presentation skills. An
excellent and very practical book on how to prepare yourself for
presentations, engage your audience, handle the audience, and ensure
that your message comes across well.

I first read this book on a train
to a presentation and immediately applied many of the lessons in
the session which had a clear effect on the audience.

Strongly recommended for anyone
doing presentations

Words that Change
Minds

Shelle Rose Charve

Possibly the most useful and practical
NLP book I have come across. Words that change minds explains how
to detect, pattern of thinking that people use (Meta-programmes)
and how to work with them to influence those people;s thinking:
To use words that will change people’s minds.

Includes that rare thing: A summary
page that encapsulates the whole book.

Excellent. Strongly recommended
as compulsory NLP reading study and application.

The Satir Model:
Family Therapy and beyond

Virginia Satir

Virginia Satir was one of those
modeled by the original NLPers. There are (at least) two Satir models.
One is the Satir model of change that people go through. The other
models the patterns and behaviours of people in families. Both are
here. Both have much wider application.

Strongly recommended to understand
group relationships

The New People Making

Virginia Satir

Earlier that “The Satir Model,
and an update on “People Making” this is an excellent
book about how families work and group therapy.

Contains many fascinating examples
of family relations that you will easily relate to,

Recommended for family, group and
team relations

Time Line Therapy and the Basis
of Personality

Tad James, Wyatt Woodsmall

Understanding how your time line
is arranged, noticing others’ time lines and dealing with time lines
is so fundamental to modeling in NLP that this book has to be a
recommendation. Even if you are not using it for therapeutic purposes,
this book has a lot to offer.

Strongly recommended to understand
time lines

I Can Make You Thin (Book &
CD). Paul McKenna

Applied NLP. Four simple rules,

1) Eat what you want

2) Eat consciously

3) Stop when you are full

4) Start again when you are hungry.

All wrapped up in NLP techniques of visualisation and a language
of positive thought and suggestion.

Study the book’s style as well
as applying its approach

NLP at Work: The Difference
that Makes a Difference in Business.

Sue Knight

One of the books that applies NLP
in a work context. It addresses NLP in three parts. Explains N L
P. Sets out how you can use NLP in management. Provides a toolkit
of detailed techniques and applications.

Easy to read and full of practical
NLP,

Recommended way into NLP with a
work application

My first NLP course was with Sue
Knight and this book was part of my Practitioner course.

Practical NLP, explained well, in an easy read.

Good introductory material that
applies NLP and explains how to use and do it

Six Blind Elephants Vol 1

Fundamental principles of Scope and Category. Steve Andreas

How we classify, descibe and hold
our models of the world within our sensory experience determines
our ways of thinking and acting.

This recent pair of books expand
sthe traditional NLP models of people’s maps of the world and will
help you widen your experiences, and those of others. See also Vol
2

Vital to get your NLP models, and
modelling, up to date

Six Blind Elephants Vol 2

Applications & Explorations of Scope and Category. Steve Andreas

Volume 2 of the pair of books. Its
important to note that Steve Andreas works closely with Charles
Faulkner who is also challenging the early models and concepts of
NLP and stretching the boundaries to where they should be. Reading
this series will widen your thinking from teh tarditional NLP models
developed over 40 years ago!

Vital to get your NLP models, and
modelling, up to date

NLP: The New Technology
of Achievement

Steve Andreas, Charles Faulkner

I have tremendous respect for the
work of Charles & Steve. They are buidling on NLP and taking
it forward, rather than assuming what was true in California 1968
is still true today. Bear in mind much early NLP modelled high performers
dealing with disfunctionality. The emphasis he is on “normal”
people ‘s achievement.

This is an extremely practical introduction
to understanding and applying NLP in your life.

Highly recommended introduction
to NLP

The Motivated Mind: How to get
what you want from Life

Dr Raj Persaud

A useful and fascinating insight
into motivation from a psychiatrist’s perspective. Again, explicitly
an NLP book but well written and full of tools and techniques that
you can choose model or use.

Unlike many NLP books it is extensively referenced with acedemic
research. Covers all angles from high performance to why people
commit suicide.

Excellent compliment to NLP motivational
books

Teach yourself NLP

Steve Bavister & Amanda Vickers

Steve & Amanda did a lovely
session on presenting using NLP at the group. They have since written
the NLP book for the “Teach yourself” series.

If they are good enough for the
“Teach yourself” series, they are good enough for me.
Good introduction to NLP.

Coach: Be your best and beyond.

Steve Bavister & Amanda Vickers

If you are thinking of becoming
a coach, or have even started on the path, this book will help you.

At a time when every seems to be
a coach, this book will help you question WHY you want to become
a coach. It will help you explore HOW to become one and the practicalities
of coaching.

Valuable guide to ensure you want
to be a coach and what to do to be a better one

Coaching for Performance

John Witmore

John explains the responsibilities
and role of coaching in various environments and introduces the
SCORE model. I was fascinated to hear John describe driving at Le
Mans 24hrs at 150mph in fog with a visibility of 25 yards. Interesting
exercise: hit a golf ball, blindfold. That makes you feel what is
going on.

Useful model and framework for
coaching

The Inner Game of Tennis

Tim Galway

Not obviously an NLP book. Not actually
about tennis.

Actually helps you to switch off the inner critical dialogue
so you can tune into what is actually happening and perform to your
best. Brought to the UK by John Witmore.

Fundamental sports coaching book
for any sport

Peak Performance: Mental Training
techniques of the World’s Greatest Athletes. Charles Garfield

Again, not explicitly an NLP book.
But I have used the mental training techniques in this book to complete
6 marathons, two Ironman Triathlons and come 14th in my age-group
at the Long Course triathlon World Championships.

If I can do that, then anyone can, as this book explains.

Sports Psychology explained and
made easy to apply

Metaphors in Mind: Transformation
through Symbolic Modelling

James Lawley & Penny Tompkins

NLP deals extensively with metaphor
and modelling. So, whether you are already convinced of the power
of clean language and clean space, or not, this is a valuable book.
Building in David Groves’ work, this book calls upon therapists
to work with their client’s metaphors and explains how you can do
it.

Excellent introduction to Clean
Language and working with metaphor

Communicating Strategy

Phil Jones

OK, I wrote it and its my own book,
so I am allowed to plug it. Judy DeLozier kindly wrote an endorsement
for it. Full of NLP but embedded inside the practical issues of
what does a management team believe about communicating strategy
as well as how to communicate strategy.

Recommended by me because I am
biased.