The Structure of Magic II

by John Grinder, Richard Bandler

These seminal works in neurolinguistic programming (NLP) help therapists understand how people create inner models of the world to represent their experience and guide their behavior. Volume I describes the Meta Model, a framework for comprehending the structure of language; Volume II applies NLP theory to nonverbal communication.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Magic, Language, Communication, Personal Development

198 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1975

Reviews

[Shaun Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Structures of Magic 2 seemed to pick up where book 1 left off, except this time they seemed to be reaching to fill space. I struggled some with the integration of Satir's work, they seemed to introduce the ideas as if I'm previously exposed and then sort of talked in circles around it. The transcripts were helpful, as they better colored in what the author's were trying to explain. A lot of their techniques to display polarities were cumbersome for my practice, I could see ways to adapt and integrate some techniques. This is where the family therapy examples really came in handy, as it was a much more realistic application of technique.

[Charles Frode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic 1 and 2 give totally practical advice and theory about how to use modalities to both interpret another person's preferred way of inputting information and how to structure one's communications to fit another person's preferred modalities. The Patterns books 1 and 2 are also necessary to enable a professional communicator to have a full range of tools and the vocabulary to explain the process. Highly recommended. Look at Milton Ericson's books on my list too. He is the father of NLP.

[Count-daniel Fogarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for clarifying human communication...

[Alvin Soh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great continuation of volume I. It covers how to deal with incongruity, fuzzy logics, and how they apply to family therapy. The last chapter on the language of treatment is a great summary of both book I and II, thru a 6- variable function instantaneous description:

1. Input channel (V, K, A, D)
2. Representational system (V, K, A, D)
3. Output channel (V, K, A, D)
4. Satir Category (helplessness, blame, vulnerable, no place)
5. Semantic Ill-formedness (complex equivalence, mind reading, lost performative)
6. Violation of Meta model (deletion, distortion, generalisation)

While there are multiple strategies in therapy, the general steps are to:
1. Gather information
2. Identify the limits of the client’s model
3. Specify the techniques to be used for change

When there are incongruities, the general steps are to:
1. Identify incongruities (conflicting para-messages)
2. Sort the para-messages
3. Integrate the sorted para-messages

[Hai Dao · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the series "The Structure of Magic" attempts to supplement the first by introducing several new psychological concepts such as incongruities and polarities (placater, blamer, computer, distracter). It also expand on the three most commonly expressed representational system (sight, sound, and touch). The book concludes with short examples of two family therapy sessions.

While this second book in the series offer additional advices for therapists, I believe that this second reading is unnecessary for the average person looking to expand their perspective since the techniques presented in this book can only be practiced in groups of 2 or more people.

This second book also have many unnecessary mathematical analogy that only appeals to logicians.

Favorite quote: “People are not bad, crazy, or sick. They are simply making the best choice that they’re aware of”

[Ivan Voras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for understanding how / from what did some NLP ideas and practices evolve! Still very useful as a reminder on VAK / submodalities and group therapy.