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

NLP Solutions
Sue Knight

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.